Chemical Coordination And Integration

The growth hormone (somatotropic hormone) is secreted by anterior lobe of pituitary. This hormone stimulates growth directly and in conjugation with other hormones. This hormone promotes protein synthesis, absorption of calcium from the bowel and the conversion of glycogen to glucose. Acromegaly is caused by excess of growth hormone. It is characterised by disproportionate increase in size of bones of face, hands and feet. Dwarfism is caused by deficiency of growth hormones from childhood. It is characterised by small but well proportioned body and sexual immaturity. Cretinism is caused by deficiency of thyroid hormone in infants. Such person has slow body growth and mental development of reduced metabolic fate. Myxocdema (Gulls disease) is caused by deficiency of thyroid hormone in adults. This disease is characterised by puffy appearance due to accumulation of fat in the subcutaneous tissue due to low metabolic rate.