| Direction of Body | Disease | Definition | Notes |
| Anterior | Hyperpituitarism | General term for hypersecretion of one or more hormones from the
anterior pituitary gland. | • Caused by presence of an adenoma.
• Treatment is drug therapy to suppress hormone secretion or
surgery to remove the adenoma followed by radiation therapy. |
| Anterior | Hypopituitarism | General term for hyposecretion of one or more hormones from the
anterior pituitary gland. | • Caused by injury or defect in the anterior pituitary gland.
• Hyposecretion of all seven hormones is known as
panhypopituitarism.
• Treatment is drug therapy to replace the deficient hormones. |
| Anterior | Galactorrhea | Hypersecretion of prolactin due to an adenoma in the anterior pituitary gland | results in production of milk even though the patient is not
pregnant or nursing. |
| Anterior | Failure of
lactation | Hyposecretion of prolactin due to a defect in the anterior pituitary gland | prevents development of the milk glands during puberty and results in
inability to breastfeed. |
| Anterior | Gigantism | Condition in which hypersecretion of growth hormone during childhood
and puberty causes excessive growth of bones and tissues. | |
| Anterior | Acromegaly | Condition in which hypersecretion of growth hormone during adulthood
causes a person’s facial features, jaw, hands, and feet to widen and
enlarge. | |
| Anterior | Dwarfism | Condition in which hyposecretion of growth hormone during childhood
and puberty causes a lack of growth and short stature, but with normal
body proportions. | |
| Posterior | Syndrome of
inappropriate ADH
(SIADH) | Condition in which hypersecretion of ADH causes the kidneys to
increase reabsorption of excessive amounts of water and some
sodium. | • Reabsorption dilutes the blood and causes a low blood
sodium level.
• Low blood sodium leads to headache, weakness, confusion,
and coma. |
| Posterior | Diabetes insipidus
(DI) | Condition in which hyposecretion of ADH causes the kidneys to
decrease reabsorption of sodium and water. | • Decreased reabsorption results in polyuria.
• Water loss from polyuria leads to weakness and polydipsia. |
| Posterior | Uterine inertia | Condition in which hyposecretion of oxytocin causes weak and
uncoordinated uterine contractions during childbirth. | • Results in prolonged labor and delayed birth.
• Postpartum hemorrhage may occur because the uterus does not contract properly. |
