What it means
The pituitary gland releases growth hormone (GH), mostly during sleep. In children it makes bones and muscles grow. In adults it helps keep muscle and bone and affects how the body uses fat and sugar. Too little in childhood causes short stature; too much causes gigantism in children and acromegaly in adults (enlarged hands, feet and face). Man-made GH is given by injection to children who lack it.
For the nurse
Teach families to give GH injections at bedtime, rotate sites, and track the child's height on a growth chart.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | GH |
|---|---|
| Spanish | hormona del crecimiento |
| Also written | GH, growth hormones, somatotropin |
Related terms
hypothalamus
A small area at the base of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep and many hormones.
endocrine
Relating to the glands that release hormones straight into the blood, or to those hormones.
puberty
The stage of growth when a child's body matures into an adult body able to reproduce.