Health Sciences 3300A/B Lecture 8: Lecture 8 - Hormones, Hypothalamus & Pituitary II

• School: Western University
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: Health Sciences 3300A/B
• Professor: Oleksiy Zaika

Document Summary

Lecture 8 - hormones, hypothalamus & pituitary ii. A peptide hormone that is unique in its function w/ receptors peaking prior to childbirth because it is key to the process of childbirth. When the baby approaches the cervix it causes a stretching reflex which starts a feedback loop. Goes to the hypothalamus which releases oxytocin when the reflex occurs. The more stretching = more oxytocin = more stretching, and so on. If this doesn"t happen fast enough, synthetic oxytocin (pitocin) is given to the mother. The feedback loop also causes milk ejection and is very important in forming bonds b/w mother and child. An important and diverse hormone that the posterior pituitary releases. Forms from the top of the oral cavity (rathke"s pouch) and reaches up to the nervous system as we develop. The hypothalamus creates hormones to tell other organs to secrete glands - messengers in the hormonal system.