The pineal gland is an endocrine gland located in the brain. Thanks to it, we feel tired and want to sleep when the body's energy resources are depleted, and thanks to it, we feel a surge of strength during wakefulness.
Features of the gland
Consider what it is - the pineal gland of the brain. The pineal body is also called the epiphysis and pineal body. The gland belongs to the organs of the endocrine system and is located in the interthalamic region - between the brain stem and the brain.
Of particular importance are the hormones of the pineal gland:
- - a hormone responsible for the change in sleep and wakefulness, the depth and duration of sleep phases, awakening.
- Serotonin is a well-known hormone of happiness, a neurotransmitter of the central nervous system that facilitates physical activity. Participates in the regulation of the pituitary gland and the normalization of vascular tone, the process of blood clotting, inflammatory and allergic processes in response to the pathogen.
- Adrenoglomerulotropin is a derivative of melatonin that affects the cells of the adrenal cortex.
Thus, the pineal gland extends its functions far beyond the brain, directly or indirectly affecting the entire system of hormonal regulation in the body.
The pineal gland performs the most important functions for the cardiovascular, reproductive and endocrine systems. The work of other glands depends on this endocrine gland, the pathologies of which cause a number of indirect diseases, therefore the influence of the pineal gland is difficult to overestimate.
The pineal body also regulates the following processes:
- Inhibition of growth hormone secretion
- Participation in the processes of puberty
- Maintaining a constant environment in the body
- Biorhythm control.
An interesting fact is that in the Middle Ages the pineal gland was considered the location of the soul in the human body. For the same reason, esotericists still call the pineal gland the third eye. In esotericism, there are special practices for activating the pineal gland to develop telepathic abilities.
Organ pathologies
Calcification of the pineal gland also takes place - the formation of calcium accumulations in the tissues of the gland. Such a pathology occurs quite often and is considered a consequence of the natural aging process of the body, or as a result of congenital pathologies.
The accumulation of calcium salts is a cystic, but dense calcareous plate or ball no more than 1 cm in diameter. If calcareous accumulations increase in size, an MRI should be diagnosed, since such formations can be precursors of tumors.
Among the pathologies of this organ, the most common cyst of the epiphysis
Bone epiphysis
There is the same term in the skeletal system. This is an expanded section of the tubular bone. This part of the bone belongs to the articular section, it is also called the proximal epiphysis. It is involved in the formation of the articular surface.
In this section of the bone, a spongy tissue structure is observed, and the proximal epiphysis itself is covered with a cartilaginous type of tissue. The metaphysis adjoins the epiphyseal plate. Between the two epiphyses of the bone is the diaphysis.
Under the layer of cartilage tissue of the bone is a plate with a cluster of nerve endings.
From the inside, the pineal gland fills the red bone marrow, which is responsible for the production of red blood cells and the normal functioning of blood vessels and capillaries. The diaphysis is formed by compact bone tissue and has a trihedral shape. Its growth causes the metaphysis.
Bone diseases
The diaphysis is often exposed only to malignant processes. A well-known disease in which the diaphysis is affected is Ewing's sarcoma. Also, the diaphysis is affected in lymphoma, myeloma, fibrous dysplasia.
The metaphysis is more often prone to osteomyelitis in childhood and requires serious treatment. Since the metaphysis is abundantly supplied with blood, especially in large bones, its lesions are observed with:
- osteoblastoma;
- Chondrosarcoma;
- fibrous dysplasia;
- Fibroma;
- Osteome;
- bone cyst;
- Enchondrome.
Causes of cystosis
The causes of the cyst of the epiphysis of the brain can be divided into three large groups, since a clear answer on the etiology of the disease has not yet been given.
The first group includes the wrong outflow of melatonin from the pineal gland. The reason for this may be blockage, compression and narrowing of the ducts through which the hormone is secreted. This phenomenon can be provoked by:
- Hormonal restructuring;
- autoimmune diseases;
- brain infections;
- Traumatic brain injury;
- Cerebrovascular pathologies.
As a result, melatonin that has not been released through the ducts accumulates inside the gland, forming a capsule.
The third group is a hemorrhage in the pineal gland. It does not end in death, if not extended to other brain regions, but acts as a factor provoking the formation of a pineal cyst.
There are also congenital cysts, which are detected even at the stage of the initial examination of newborns. The reasons for the formation of congenital cysts can be:
- Intrauterine pathologies;
- Severe pregnancy accompanied by infectious diseases of the mother;
- Injury to the child's brain when passing through the birth canal;
- Infectious diseases in a child in the first days of life.
Most often, the causes of congenital cysts of the epiphysis are precisely in the severe course of pregnancy and trauma to the head of the child during childbirth.
Clinical picture
A small cyst of the pineal gland of the brain most likely will not show any symptoms. Such cysts are detected by imaging diagnostics quite by accident, and do not threaten the patient in any way. Such a cyst of the epiphysis is called silent non-progressive.
A fast-growing cyst is considered dangerous, which threatens the patient with hydrocephalus at best. The rapid growth of the cyst clinically manifests itself in:
- Frequent headaches;
- dizziness;
- Double vision, lack of focus of vision;
- Reduced visual acuity;
- Increased fatigue;
- Constant drowsiness and reduced performance;
- Violation of coordination of movements;
- Violation of space-time orientation.
If the cause of the cyst was the defeat of echinococcus, lesions are observed both in the pineal gland and in the substance of the brain. Against this background, intoxication of the body and the following symptoms are observed:
- Reduced psychomotor;
- depression;
- Decreased sensitivity;
- cognitive disorders;
- epileptic seizures;
- extrapyramidal disorders.
Diagnostics
The pineal gland of the brain can only be studied with the help of magnetic resonance imaging. This is a painless 3D visualization procedure of internal organs and nearby vessels.
The method allows not only to detect pathology, but also to determine its benign or malignant nature, to monitor the dynamics of the development of the disease.
If a malignant tumor is suspected, a biopsy is mandatory, during which part of the cyst is taken for histological analysis. This allows you to differentiate the cyst and malignant neoplasms of the brain.
Treatment Methods
Such a cyst is not amenable to drug treatment. The only method by which you can get rid of the cyst of the pineal gland is surgery.
If the cyst was formed due to infection with echinococcus and is growing rapidly, disrupting the brain as a whole, surgical removal is mandatory. Otherwise, the quality of life of the patient is significantly reduced.
There are strict indications for surgical removal of the pineal cyst:
- Violation of the functions of neighboring parts of the brain;
- Disturbances in the blood supply to the brain;
- Pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
- Hydrocephalus;
- Pathologies in the movement of cerebrospinal fluid.
The operation can be performed endoscopically or using craniotomy. The latter method is used in cases where the cyst is large or malignant.
For cysts that do not require surgery, the patient may be prescribed drugs that eliminate the symptoms:
- ibuprofen;
- Carbomazepine;
- Eleutherococcus tincture;
- Normoven;
- Melaton;
- Cerucal.
Forecast
The formation of small cysts is not considered a dangerous condition and does not cause serious consequences for the body. If the cyst is voluminous, it can compress adjacent tissues and nerve endings, leading to impaired outflow of cerebrospinal fluid.
Large cysts are also dangerous by disrupting the movement of cerebrospinal fluid, which leads to a decrease in intelligence, poor memory, loss of vision and hearing.
The diameter of the cyst up to one centimeter indicates the safety of the neoplasm, if it does not increase in size. The length can be no more than two centimeters. Exceeding these parameters can be dangerous, because such a formation appears as a result of gonococcal lesions of the spinal cord.
EPIPHYSIS
(pineal, or pineal, gland), a small formation located in vertebrates under the scalp or deep in the brain; functions either as a light-receiving organ or as an endocrine gland, the activity of which depends on the illumination. In some vertebrate species, both functions are combined. In humans, this formation resembles a pine cone in shape, from which it got its name (Greek epiphysis - cone, growth). The pineal gland develops in embryogenesis from the fornix (epithalamus) of the posterior part (diencephalon) of the forebrain. Lower vertebrates, such as lampreys, can develop two similar structures. One, located on the right side of the brain, is called the pineal gland, and the second, on the left, the parapineal gland. The pineal gland is present in all vertebrates, with the exception of crocodiles and some mammals, such as anteaters and armadillos. The parapineal gland in the form of a mature structure is found only in certain groups of vertebrates, such as lampreys, lizards and frogs.
Function. Where the pineal and parapineal glands function as a light-perceiving organ or "third eye", they are only able to distinguish between different degrees of illumination, and not visual images. In this capacity, they can determine some forms of behavior, for example, the vertical migration of deep-sea fish depending on the change of day and night. In amphibians, the pineal gland performs a secretory function: it produces the hormone melatonin, which brightens the skin of these animals, reducing the area occupied by the pigment in melanophores (pigment cells). Melatonin has also been found in birds and mammals; it is believed that in them it usually has an inhibitory effect, in particular, reduces the secretion of pituitary hormones. In birds and mammals, the pineal gland plays the role of a neuroendocrine transducer that responds to nerve impulses by producing hormones. So, the light entering the eyes stimulates the retina, impulses from which, along the optic nerves, enter the sympathetic nervous system and the pineal gland; these nerve signals cause inhibition of the activity of the epiphyseal enzyme necessary for the synthesis of melatonin; as a result, the production of the latter ceases. On the contrary, in the dark, melatonin begins to be produced again. Thus, cycles of light and dark, or day and night, affect the secretion of melatonin. The resulting rhythmic changes in its level - high at night and low during the day - determine the daily, or circadian, biological rhythm in animals, including the frequency of sleep and fluctuations in body temperature. In addition, by responding to changes in night length by changing the amount of melatonin secreted, the pineal gland likely influences seasonal responses such as hibernation, migration, molting, and reproduction. In humans, the activity of the pineal gland is associated with such phenomena as a violation of the daily rhythm of the body in connection with the flight through several time zones, sleep disorders and, probably, "winter depressions".
Collier Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .
Synonyms:See what "EPIPHYSIS" is in other dictionaries:
End, appendage, gland Dictionary of Russian synonyms. epiphysis n., number of synonyms: 3 glands (20) end ... Synonym dictionary
1) the pineal, or pineal, gland, an organ of vertebrates and humans, located in the diencephalon. It produces a biologically active substance (melatonin), which regulates (inhibits) the development of the gonads and the secretion of hormones by them. Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (pineal, or pineal, gland), a small Gland located on the lid of the diencephalon in vertebrates. In humans, it performs an endocrine function, releasing the hormone melatonin, which is involved in the control of circadian rhythms. see also… … Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary
- (from the Greek epiphysis outgrowth, bump), pineal, or pineal, gland (glandula pinealis), a cone-shaped outgrowth of the roof of the diencephalon. E., undergoing means, morphofunctional. changes in phylogeny, in the ancestors of vertebrates it developed as an organ ... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary
EPIPHYSIS- EPIPHYSIS, epiphysis, a term used to refer to the end of a long (tubular) bone. In long bones, the middle part of the body is distinguished, or the diaphysis (see) (diaphysis), and two terminal sections, or E. (proximal and distal); outgrowth of bones ... ... Big Medical Encyclopedia
- (from Greek epíphysis outgrowth, bump) 1) pineal gland, pineal gland, an organ of vertebrates and humans, located between the anterior tubercles of the quadrigemina of the brain and connected by means of a leg with the 3rd ventricle. ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
The term epiphysis has the following meanings: The pineal gland is an endocrine gland. The bone epiphysis is the expanded end of the tubular bone ... Wikipedia
- (gr. epiphysis growth) anat. 1) superior cerebral appendage, or pineal gland; refers to glands with internal secretion; 2) the articular end of the tubular bone cf. diaphysis), New Dictionary of Foreign Words. by EdwART, 2009. epiphysis [Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
1) the pineal, or pineal, gland, an organ of vertebrates and humans, located in the diencephalon. It produces a biologically active substance (melatonin), which regulates (inhibits) the development of the sex glands and their secretion ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
epiphysis, or pineal gland, is a part . Mass of the epiphysis is 100-200 mg.
A biologically active substance was isolated from the pineal gland - melatonin. It, being an antagonist of intermedin, causes a lightening of the color of the body due to the grouping of the melanin pigment in the center of the cell. The same compound acts negatively on the function of the gonads. With the defeat of the epiphysis in children, premature puberty is observed. It is believed that such an action of the pineal gland is realized through the pituitary gland: the pineal gland inhibits its gonadotropic function. Under the influence of lighting, the formation of melatonin in the pineal gland is inhibited.
The epiphysis contains a large amount serotonin, which is the precursor of melatonin. The formation of serotonin in the pineal gland increases during the period of greatest illumination. Since the cycle of biochemical processes in the pineal gland reflects the change of periods of day and night, it is believed that this cyclic activity is a kind of biological clock of the body.
pineal gland
epiphysis, or pineal gland, - an unpaired endocrine gland of neuroglial origin, located in the epithalamus, next to the anterior colliculi of the quadrigemina. Sometimes it has the shape of a pine cone, more often it is rounded. The mass of the gland in newborns is 8 mg, in children from 10-14 years old and in adults - about 120 mg. Features of the blood supply to the pineal gland are a high blood flow rate and the absence of a blood-brain barrier. The pineal gland is innervated by postganglionic fibers of neurons of the sympathetic nervous system, the bodies of which are located in the superior cervical ganglia. The endocrine function is performed by pinealocytes, which are synthesized and secreted into the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. hormone melatonin.
Melatonin is a derivative of the amino acid tryptophan and is formed through a series of its successive transformations: tryptophan -> 5-hydroxytryptophan -> 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) -> acetyl-serotonin -> melatonin. It is transported by the blood in a free form, the half-life is 2-5 minutes, it acts on target cells, stimulating 7-TMS receptors and the system of intracellular mediators. In addition to pinealocytes of the pineal gland, melatonin is actively synthesized in endocrine cells (apudocytes) of the gastrointestinal tract and other cells, the secretion of which in adults determines its content in the circulating blood by 90%. The content of melatonin in the blood has a pronounced daily rhythm and is about 7 pg / ml during the day, and about 250 pg / ml at night in children from 1 to 3 years old, about 120 pg / ml in adolescents and about 20 pg / ml in people over 50 years old.
Main physiological effects of melatonin in the body
Melatonin is involved in the regulation of biorhythms of endocrine functions and metabolism of the body due to the expression in the cells of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland of the gene, which is an integral part of the endogenous clock of the body. Melatonin inhibits the synthesis and secretion of GnRH and gonadotropins, and also modulates the secretion of other adenohypophysis hormones. It activates humoral and cellular immunity, has antitumor activity, has a radioprotective effect, increases diuresis. In amphibians and fish, it is an α-MSH antagonist, lightening the color of the skin and scales (hence the name of the hormone "melatonin"). In humans, it does not affect skin pigmentation.
The regulation of synthesis and secretion of melatonin is subject to the daily rhythm and depends on the level of illumination. The signals used to regulate the formation of melatonin in the pineal gland come to it from light-sensitive retinal ganglion cells via the retinohypothalamic pathway, from neurons of the lateral geniculate body via the geniculogopothalamic pathway, and from neurons of the raphe nuclei via the serotonergic pathway. Signals coming from the retina have a modulating effect on the activity of pacemaker neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. From them, efferent signals are conducted to the neurons of the paraventricular nucleus, from the latter to the preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system of the upper thoracic segments of the spinal cord and further to the ganglion neurons of the upper cervical ganglion, which innervate the pineal gland with their axons.
Excitation of neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus caused by illumination of the retina is accompanied by inhibition of the activity of ganglionic neurons of the upper cervical ganglion, a decrease in the release of norepinephrine in the pineal gland, and a decrease in melatonin secretion. The decrease in illumination is accompanied by an increase in the release of norepinephrine from the nerve endings, which through β-adrenergic receptors stimulates the synthesis and secretion of melatonin.
The pineal gland is a part of the diencephalon, which is part of the nervous and endocrine systems. This gland has a small volume and weight. The shape of the pineal gland resembles a pine cone, because of this, another name for the organ is the "pineal gland". The anatomical location of the pineal gland in the brain connects it with the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, third ventricle.
The formation of the epiphysis begins from the 5th week of intrauterine development. The hormonal activity of the cells of the pineal gland of the fetus is demonstrated already in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.
Pineal gland: functions
The pineal gland regulates the activity of the endocrine system. Its cells are connected with the perceiving part of the organ of vision. The pineal gland responds to environmental light. The onset of darkness causes the activation of its work.
In the evening and at night, the blood supply to the pineal gland increases dramatically. Hormonally active cells of the gland during this period secrete and secrete a large amount of biologically active substances. Hormone production peaks between midnight and early morning.
Functions of pineal hormones:
- inhibition of the activity of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus at night;
- harmonization of the daily rhythm of sleep and wakefulness;
- decrease in nervous excitement;
- hypnotic effect;
- normalization of vascular tone;
- physiological suppression of the reproductive system in childhood.
The main biologically active substance of the pineal gland is hormone melatonin. In addition, pineal cells secrete arginine-vasotocin, adrenoglomerulotropin, neurophysins, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The pineal gland also produces neurotransmitters such as serotonin.
secretion of melatonin
The function of melatonin in the pineal gland is extremely important for human health. This substance is formed by a complex chemical transformation of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Indirectly, the concentration of secretion in the blood affects the level of melatonin. But this dependence can be traced only in the dark.
During the day, much less melatonin is produced in the brain. If the total amount of the hormone per day is considered as 100%, then only 25% is produced during daylight hours.
It is known that the nights are longer in winter, so in the natural environment, the level of melatonin in the cold season is higher.
But modern man lives in conditions far from natural. The presence of artificial lighting allows you to relax and work at night. Of course, by extending daylight hours, a person exposes his health to a certain risk.
Daily duty, wakefulness after midnight, late rise contribute to the suppression of melatonin secretion in the pineal gland of the brain.
Ultimately, these changes can lead to the development of diseases associated with the function of the pineal gland.
It is believed that insomnia, depression, hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes and other serious pathologies may be the result of disorders of the pineal gland.
Pineal gland: diseases and their treatment
A decrease in the secretion of pineal hormones can be caused by:
- functional disorders;
- congenital malformations;
- serious brain disease.
Functional disorders are relatively easily overcome with the help of adherence to the daily regimen and the treatment of concomitant diseases. An important condition for the normalization of the production of melatonin and other hormones of the pineal gland is sufficient night sleep and a balanced diet.
Congenital malformations of the epiphysis are quite rare. Underdevelopment (hypoplasia) of the epiphysis may be asymptomatic, and may cause complaints in children and their parents. One of the signs of a lack of pineal hormones in childhood is premature sexual development.
Serious diseases affecting the pineal gland at any age:
Volumetric neoplasms have a clinical picture with a size of more than 3 cm. Patients are worried about severe persistent headache, decreased vision. Doctors make a diagnosis of a tumor after a CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging. Large neoplasms require surgical treatment. After removal of the pathological tissue, its histological examination is carried out. If oncology is confirmed, then the patient's treatment continues. Experts recommend radiation or chemotherapy.
Bleeding into the pineal tissue can occur at any age. The most common cause of this vascular catastrophe is atherosclerosis. In addition, stroke can be caused by anatomical congenital features (aneurysms). The diagnosis of hemorrhage is established by tomography of the brain. Treatment is carried out by neurologists and other specialists. The volume of therapy depends on what other parts of the central nervous system have suffered from a stroke.
Prevention of diseases of the pineal gland
The development of some diseases of the pineal gland can be prevented.
Functional disorders of the pineal gland often occur in adulthood. To eliminate the risk of such diseases, a healthy lifestyle and sufficient sleep are essential. The diet should include foods rich in the amino acid precursor of melatonin (tryptophan).
To reduce the risk of congenital anomalies in the structure of the pineal gland of the expectant mother, it is necessary to avoid harmful occupational exposures, viral diseases, alcohol and nicotine during pregnancy.
The causes of oncological and benign tumor processes in the brain are not fully understood. Prevention of neoplasms of the epiphysis can be considered the exclusion of x-ray exposure to the head and neck.
Modern treatment of atherosclerosis and hypertension helps to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke and hemorrhage in the pineal gland tissue.
Between the hemispheres of the brain is a formation that looks like a gray-red pine cone - the pineal gland. The hormones produced by this organ inhibit many endocrine glands - the pituitary, thyroid and genital. Main Feature- change in the functional activity of the epiphysis depending on the degree of illumination. The pineal gland cannot perceive objects, but reacts to light.
The pineal gland has the ability to respond to the magnetic field of the earth. Such an opportunity is kind of built-in compass allowing you to navigate in space. Generally the pineal gland is able to change the hormonal background and body reactions with changes in the external environment helping a person to adapt to new conditions.
The gland is covered with a sheath of connective tissue, which is a continuation of the choroid of the brain. Partitions pass from it inside, dividing it into shares. So outwardly, the organ resembles a bump. The cellular composition is represented by light and dark pineocytes (pinea - pine cone). They contain many different vesicles with hormones and biologically active substances.
The main function of the epiphysis- the formation of hormones (melatonin, adrenoglomerulotropin, serotonin) and the coordination of the work of the organs of the endocrine system. Hormone features:
- formed during the hours of darkness. With a night's rest in a lit room, regular lack of sleep at night, the formation of melatonin decreases, the nervous system is not fully restored, manifests itself in the form of apathy, depression, severe mental disorders are possible with chronic lack of sleep.
- O It has an activating effect, improves the background of mood, relieves pain, inflammation, and reduces the manifestations of allergic reactions. With its participation, the maturation of the eggs and their release from the ovaries occurs. At night, the pineal gland produces melatonin from it.
- Adrenoglomerulotropin obtained during the processing of melatonin. It acts on the glomeruli in the adrenal glands, which produce aldosterone. Due to this interaction, the pineal gland can influence blood pressure and water-salt metabolism, but the degree and direction of its action have not been definitively established.
Dimensions in a newborn they are 7-10 mg, and the dimensions are about 1 mm. In an adult, the length is slightly more than 1 cm, and the thickness is about 4 mm. The mass of the pineal gland does not exceed 175 mg.
In childhood, the pineal gland shows maximum activity. Not only sleep, but also memory, learning, and intellectual development depend on the work of this organ.
When the pineal gland is disturbed, sleep disorders occur. This is accompanied by insomnia at night, frequent awakenings, light sleep, daytime sleepiness and lack of feeling of cheerfulness in the morning. Such conditions are called biological disorders. They appear during stressful conditions, disruption of the nervous system, passion for gadgets, the use of stimulant drugs and drinks in the evening.
- developmental anomalies;
- accumulation of fats and calcium salts in elderly patients;
- replacement of cells with non-functioning ones during age-related changes, rheumatism, kidney diseases, strokes, intoxications;
- hemorrhages in the epiphysis;
- pineal cyst;
- epiphyseal tumor.
Read more in our article on the pineal gland of the brain.
Read in this article
What is the pineal gland of the brain
Between the hemispheres of the brain is a formation that looks like a gray-red pine cone - the pineal gland. The gland is located behind the third ventricle of the brain next to the canal connecting its cavity with the fourth ventricle. Anatomically, this area is higher than the thalamus, therefore it is called epithalamic. The pineal gland belongs to the endocrine glands, although, given its functions, it is closer to the diffuse endocrine system, the cells of which are located throughout the body.
The hormones produced by this organ inhibit many endocrine glands - the pituitary, thyroid and genital. The main feature is the change in the functional activity of the pineal gland depending on the degree of illumination. This is because the light impulses from the eyes are sent along the nerve fibers to the epiphyseal cells.
The pineal gland cannot perceive objects, but reacts to light. Thanks to this feature, esotericists attribute to it the functions of the third eye. Previously, it was considered the receptacle of the human soul.
The pineal gland has the ability to respond to the magnetic field of the earth. This feature is a kind of built-in compass that allows you to navigate in space. In general, the pineal gland is able to change the hormonal background and the body's reactions to changes in the external environment, helping a person to adapt to new conditions.
Serotonin
This hormone has an activating effect, improves the background of mood, relieves pain, inflammation, and reduces the manifestations of allergic reactions. With its participation, the maturation of the eggs and their release from the ovaries occurs.
The pineal gland is not the only organ that produces serotonin. During the daytime, it ensures that it enters the blood along with other cells of the nervous system, and at night the pineal gland produces melatonin from it.
Adrenoglomerulotropin
The third hormone of epiphyseal cells is obtained during the processing of melatonin. It acts on the glomeruli in the adrenal glands, which produce aldosterone. Due to this interaction, the pineal gland can influence blood pressure and water-salt metabolism, but the degree and direction of its action have not been definitively established.
Size of the gland
In a newborn, the weight of the pineal gland is only 7-10 mg, and the size is about 1 mm. In an adult, the length is slightly more than 1 cm, and the thickness is about 4 mm. The mass of the pineal gland does not exceed 175 mg.
Watch the video about the pineal gland (pineal gland):
Features in children
In childhood, the pineal gland shows maximum activity. In inappropriate and children under 5 years of age, its structure is represented mainly by functioning tissue and a small amount of fibrous fibers. Not only sleep, but also memory, learning, intellectual development depend on the work of this organ.. Therefore, it is important that young children have a strict day regimen with the duration of sleep corresponding to the age norm.
As we grow older, partitions appear in the epiphysis, and in older people it looks like small lobules. The volume of connective tissue in adults increases significantly compared to children, and functional activity decreases.
Major diseases to be faced
If the pineal gland is disturbed, sleep disorders occur. This is accompanied by insomnia at night, frequent awakenings, light sleep, daytime sleepiness and lack of feeling of cheerfulness in the morning.
Such conditions are called a violation of biological (circadian rhythms). They appear during stressful conditions, disruption of the nervous system, passion for gadgets (light sources at night), the use of stimulants and drinks in the evening.
The causes of dysfunction can also be:
- developmental anomalies - absence, displacement to the deep layers of the brain. Such a malformation is not life-threatening, since the functions of the epiphysis are transferred to the pituitary gland;
- deposition of amyloid protein in widespread amyloidosis, hypertension;
- accumulation of fats and calcium salts (brain sand) in elderly patients (fatty degeneration and calcification);
- replacement of non-functioning cells (gliosis) with age-related changes, rheumatism, kidney disease, stroke, intoxication;
- circulatory disorders in infections, intoxications, hemorrhagic diathesis;
- hemorrhages in the epiphysis;
- thrombosis of vessels that feed the gland in atherosclerosis, purulent meningitis, sepsis;
- inflammation in tuberculosis and syphilis;
- pineal cyst;
- epiphyseal tumor.
MRI study (pineal cyst) The manifestations of all these conditions are such symptom complexes:
- hyperpinealism- the activity of the thyroid gland and the gonads decreases, sexual desire decreases, the development of secondary sexual characteristics in adolescents is disrupted, a menopausal syndrome develops;
- hypopinealism- the synthesis of lutropin, follitropin increases, the production of estrogens increases with the growth of the inner layer of the uterus, polycystic ovaries, menstrual irregularities with heavy bleeding. With tumors, premature puberty and an increase in the external genital organs occur;
- dispinealism happens with protein starvation, deficiency of B vitamins, manifests itself as ovarian dysfunction, disruption of the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness; And more about the disease and Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome.
The pineal gland produces a number of hormonal compounds, of which the most studied are melatonin, serotonin, adrenoglomerulotropin. Melatonin is responsible for the onset of sleep at night, and also inhibits the activity of the pituitary gland, endocrine glands. It has an immunostimulating, antitumor effect, prevents early aging of the body.
In children, it inhibits the activity of the gonads, improves memory and learning. If the pineal gland is disturbed, insomnia, menstrual cycle failure, an increase in the volume of the pituitary gland and its excessive activity occur.
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