Abnormality of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis

What it means

Abnormality of the pituitary gland (also known as hypophysis), which is an endocrine gland that protrudes from the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain. The pituitary gland secretes the hormones ACTH, TSH, PRL, GH, endorphins, FSH, LH, oxytocin, and antidiuretic hormone. The secretion of hormones from the anterior pituitary is under the strict control of hypothalamic hormones, and the posterior pituitary is essentially an extension of the hypothalamus, so that hypothalamus and pituitary gland may be regarded as a functional unit.

Rare diseases that can present with this20

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category