BIOSC-116 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: Growth Hormone, Posterior Pituitary, Gigantism
16 Jun 2020
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Gh stimulates growth by increasing cell size and the rate of cell division. Target cells are diverse, but bone, cartilage and muscle cells are highly affected. Lots of receptor on bone cells, muscle cells and cartilage. Increasing cell size as well as increasing the number of cells. Abnormally high levels of gh during development leads to abnormally large stature, 8 to 9 feet. Gigantism is associated with a shortened life expectancy. Too much pressure for the organs to be that big. Abnormally high levels of gh in adulthood causes thickening of bones in the face, hands and feet. Shortened life span and may also be due to a pituitary gland tumor. When you reach adult stature, your bones fuse. Once that happens they can"t increase in size any longer. They end up having bone tissue added onto their bones which makes it thicker and it accumulates in typically the jaw bones, hands and feet.
