Your child with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
RCH > Medicine > Endocrinology > Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia book
Control of the adrenal glands: the pituitary switch
The adrenal glands are controlled by the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain. It is the 'master gland' which directs many of the other glands, much as the conductor of the orchestra directs the players. When the adrenal glands are not producing enough of their main hormone (cortisol), the pituitary tells them to make more by sending an adrenal-stimulating hormone. If the levels of adrenal-stimulating hormone remain elevated for a prolonged period, the adrenal glands grow larger. When too much cortisol reaches the pituitary, the pituitary switch is turned off and the adrenal glands are allowed to rest until the hormone levels return to normal again. Usually the pituitary and the adrenal glands are perfectly balanced.
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