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The roles of the pituitary gland to the height development
The pituitary gland, which locates at the base of the brain and protrudes below the cerebrum, has super micro-size (weighing only 0.5 grams). It regulates many endocrine glands of the body such as the thyroid gland, adrenal gland, reproductive gland, etc. It especially produces growth hormone (GH for short).
The pituitary gland produces the growth hormone to grow taller
When the pituitary gland operates normally, it will secrete much growth hormone, especially during sleep (from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM). Growth hormone affects most of the body tissues, increases the number and sizes of cells and increases the viscera's sizes. At the same time, the growth hormone stimulates the development of cartilage tissues at the epiphyses and made the diaphyses longer. The cartilage tissues also begin to develop and work more smoothly and help prevent osteoarthritis and other bone diseases. Therefore, the growth hormone controls bone tissue growth, maintains the proper balance of muscles and adipose tissues and increases the height of children and teenagers.
Moreover, the pituitary gland also creates the interaction between the growth hormone and somatomedin in protein metabolism to promote cartilage growth and body growth and stimulate the sulfate incorporation into the cartilages. Simultaneously, under the effect of the growth hormone, lipids are used to create the necessary energy to save proteins for body growth and stimulate the maximum height growth.
Children with pituitary failure will be short
The pituitary gland is the gland that is responsible for controlling and regulating the growth and development of the body. Therefore, when a child suffers from pituitary failure, his/her pituitary gland will reduce the secretion of the growth hormone and his/her height development will be very different from that of his/her peers.
Children with pituitary failure will be shorter than their peers
The pituitary failure is often progressive. Therefore, it causes exhaustion, inadequate production of the growth hormone, difficulties in regulating bone density, a decrease in muscle mass and the change in glucose and lipid metabolism. The body cannot produce its own factors to stimulate the development of the cartilage tissues at the epiphyses so the cartilage tissues are prematurely degenerated. At that time, the epiphyses and the diaphyses are merged together and the bones no longer grow. This is clearly showed through the developmental stages of the body and maintained throughout life. Mostly, people with pituitary failure have very limited height: male under 4'3" and female under 3'11".
Furthermore, when a child suffers from pituitary failure, the pituitary gland fails to release the growth hormone. The body cannot secrete enough reproductive hormone of the reproductive organs. As the result, the child stops growing, has no sex expression and is infertile. If the pituitary failure is not treated promptly, the child will not grow and mature.
Pituitary failure should be treated as soon as possible
According to experts, if you suffer from pituitary failure due to traumas, severe head injuries, brain tumor or meningococcal infection and encephalitis, you need surgery to remove your brain tumor to return normal space for the pituitary gland, produce enough growth hormone and support the height development process.
However, if a child suffers from congenital pituitary failure and loss of pituitary function, he/she should be promptly supplemented with the growth hormone from the outside sources to stimulate height development. The treatment should be done as soon as possible because stimulating the height development by the growth hormone from the outside sources requires certain periods.
The growth hormone supplementation from the outside sources needs to be carried out before the age of puberty, preferably from 4 to 5 years old and under 13 years old. If this "golden time" is missed, the child's unstimulated cartilages and bones will stop growing. As the result, the use of the growth hormone is no longer effective. This means that it is impossible to return the puberty to the child and the infertility is forever.
The pituitary gland is a very important factor in body growth, especially in a child's height development process. Moreover, it is also a decisive factor to help the child possess an ideal height when he/she grows up.
