Common disorders of the pituitary gland: hyposecretion versus hypersecretion.

An understanding of pituitary disorders requires much more than a knowledge of the definitions associated with them. To grasp fully their complexity, one must recognize not only the powerful role the pituitary gland plays in the endocrine system, but also its effects on homeostasis throughout the entire human body, its association with the hypothalamus, and ultimately its associated end organs. Because of the many hormones stored or produced by the pituitary, associated disorders often are confusing and challenging. However, by simplifying the classification of these disorders into the categories of hyposecretion and hypersecretion, the understanding of pituitary disorders is made simple, and the associated interventions become apparent.