Definition
The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis describes the relationship between the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland, and adrenal glands in the sequential production of various hormones from each of these three glands, including corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), ACTH, and cortisol, respectively.
Full Text
CRH is made in the hypothalamus and is released via a local capillay plexus into the anterior pituitary. This in turn stimulates the production of ACTH in the anterior pituitary gland, and ACTH is released into the systemic circulation. Psychological and physical stress, including trauma, surgery, hypoglycemia, fever, and exercise, can all increase the production of ACTH. Like other hormones released from the pituitary, ACTH is released in a circadian fashion, with peak levels occurring about 8 am and nadirs occuring about midnight.
ACTH acts on the adrenal glands through specific cell membrane receptors in the adrenal cortex to drive the release of...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Niewoehner CB (1998) Endocrine Physiology. Fence Creek Publishing, Madison
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Springer-Verlag
About this entry
Cite this entry
(2004). Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis. In: Moreland, L.W. (eds) Rheumatology and Immunology Therapy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-29662-X_1312
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-29662-X_1312
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-20625-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29662-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive