In the anatomy of the apparatus of the human brain stands out pineal gland, or corpus pineale. It belongs to the endocrine group of the neurogenic type, similar to pine cone where its name comes from. Until now, science has not exactly established what the pineal gland is responsible for, but doctors are aware of its role in the production of certain hormones. It is useful to get acquainted with its structure, functions, its probable diseases and methods of treatment.

What is the epiphysis

The pineal gland, or epiphysis, shaped like a pine cone, is little education deep in the brain. The organ belongs to the type of internal secretion, perceives light, is activated when illuminated. The pineal gland develops from the posture of the epithalamus, located in the back forebrain. Animals also have this organ, it serves as their “third eye” - it distinguishes the level of illumination, but not visual images.

The work of the pineal gland in humans is associated with the production of melatonin, the establishment of biological rhythms, the determination of the frequency of sleep and changes in body temperature. The pineal gland is complex anatomically and physiologically, it affects the disruption of the daily rhythms of the body during flights, a decrease in the synthesis of melatonin, diabetes, depression, insomnia and oncology.

Where is

The pineal gland is located under the scalp, inside the brain. The pineal shape is due to the growth impulse of the network of capillaries within the gland, growing into the segments as the organ grows. Increasing in size with age, the epiphysis penetrates into the region of the midbrain and is fixed in the groove between the upper mounds of its roof. The mass of the formation is not more than 0.2 g, the length is 15 mm, the width of the gland does not exceed 10 millimeters.

Structure

When studying the functions and work of the gland, it is necessary to know the structure of the epiphysis. Outside, the pineal body is enveloped by a soft connective tissue membrane of the brain, connecting blood vessels. It consists of specialized cells - pinealocytes and gliocytes. With the development of the embryo, the pineal gland appears in the second month in the form of a choroid plexus, as its walls grow thicker, two lobes become visible, between which the vessels grow, gradually merging into one pineal organ.

Hormones

An intensive exchange of proteins, nucleicides, lipids and phosphorus takes place in the organ. Additionally, pineal hormones can be distinguished: peptide and biogenic amines. The epiphysis produces:

1. Serotonin - turns into melatonin inside the gland with a lack of light. Serves as a "hormone of happiness", uplifting, responsible for psychological condition human, governs vascular tone.
2. Melatonin - determines the rhythm of gonadotropic effects, including the menstrual cycles of women. It inhibits the function of the genital organs and inhibits the growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland. When the epiphysis is removed, premature puberty, increased spermatogenesis and enlargement of the uterus. Hormone production is enhanced in the dark.
3. Norepinephrine - the "mediator" of wakefulness, is released in daylight.
4. Histamine - protects the body from the effects of unwanted substances.

Functions

Until now, doctors have not sufficiently studied the functions of the pineal gland, but they attribute the following:

• production of melatonin to synchronize circadian rhythms (sleep-wake);
• effect on immunity;
• stimulation of aldosterone production due to adrenoglomerulotropin;
• inhibition of excessive secretion of growth hormone;
• support for a temporary period of sexual development and behavior;
• inhibition of tumor development;
• fine regulation of metabolism.

Activation

The pineal gland is activated by light. Along with it, when illuminated, the hypothalamus begins to work, which is responsible for thirst, hunger, sexual desire and The biological clock aging. When the pineal gland awakens, a person feels pressure at the base of the brain. According to Indian teachings, the pineal gland is considered a powerful source of ethereal prana energy, which a person needs to get into his inner world or realms of higher consciousness.

Followers of yoga practice its activation in order to open the "third eye". To do this, they raise the frequency of vibrations, which makes the pineal gland work more actively. The third eye, hidden inside, helps to see the world beyond the physical shell, travel out of body and connect the physical world with the soul. There are teachings on clairvoyance.

Pineal gland "Third eye"

If you wake up the third eye (signature cell) correctly, then the person begins to see brighter, lucid dreaming, goes into the astral plane and sees with eyes closed. To get this core of esoteric skill, yogis are advised to observe following rules on the effect on the gland:

• eliminate red meat, carbonated drinks, artificial foods from the diet;
• exclude products containing fluoride;
• eat algae, iodine, zeolite, ginseng, omega 3;
• introduce cilantro, watermelons, raw cocoa, bananas, honey into the diet, Coconut oil, hemp seeds, lemon, garlic, Apple vinegar;
• use aromatic oils of lavender, sandalwood, frankincense, pine, lotus, wormwood;
• look at the sun for 15 minutes just after sunrise and at sunset every day;
• meditate, repeat the sound "om" to stimulate the pineal gland;
• place amethyst, moonstone, sapphire, tourmaline and other suitable minerals between the eyebrows (check according to a special table);
• use magnets for detoxification.

Diseases

Scientists distinguish the following diseases of the pineal gland, which are diagnosed in children and adults:

The formation of accumulations of undissolved calcium and its salts is calcification pineal gland. This process in the tissues of the organ in 40 percent of cases occurs at the age of up to 20 years. Otherwise, it can be called calcification, which manifests itself in the formation inside the pineal gland of compact deposits less than a centimeter in diameter. With an increase in the size of the calcification, doctors study it for the precedence of oncology.

The cause of the appearance of the pathology of the pineal gland are injuries, operations, ischemia, chemotherapy, lack of melanin production. If treatment is not started on time, it will develop multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia, will increase the risk of developing depression, anxiety, nervous exhaustion and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. To prevent calcification of the pineal gland, it is recommended to undergo an examination and eat algae, caviar, apple cider vinegar, carrots and sea ​​kale.

Pineal cyst

Transformation, the consequence of which is a cyst of the pineal gland of the brain, begins in the tissues of the organ due to blockage of the ducts to remove secretions or the development of echinococci and helminths. The process leads to the formation of cavities filled with liquid. The cyst does not affect the functioning of the pineal gland and is almost asymptomatic.

You can guess about the cyst by complaints of headaches. It is diagnosed by MRI. Small cystic cavities are safe as long as they do not start to grow due to effects that are not yet clear to doctors. When enlarged, they can put pressure on parts of the brain, block current cerebrospinal fluid high risk of developing hydrocephalus. Treatment of a cyst in the pineal gland is not performed: if it is large, surgical removal is required.

Pinealoma

A type of tumor of the epiphysis is pinealoma-adenoma, which is considered the cause of the development of pathologies in the body. Outwardly, the pineal formation is a gray-red nodule with liquid inside. Pinealoma can be harmless and malignant, it develops from the parenchymal cells of the gland. Benign pineal pinealoma is called pineocytoma, oncology - pineoblastoma. The first occurs without symptoms, but can develop into cancer.

If the pinealoma is oncological, then the tumor grows rapidly, it puts pressure on the brain, leading to the loss of its functions. The patient feels severe pain, fatigue, rapidly losing weight or gaining weight, losing balance and coordination. Tumors of the pineal gland are diagnosed on MRI, ultrasound, in the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment is surgical removal, if necessary, chemotherapy or radiation exposure is added.

Hypofunction

Pelicia's syndrome, or hypofunction, is precocious puberty. Already by the age of 10, the production of genital organs increases in boys and girls. The cause of hypofunction of the gland is a violation of the production of melanin, leading to the formation of cysts, sarcomas, teratomas, infectious granulomas. The disease develops slowly, has symptoms of drowsiness, lethargy, lag in intellectual development.

The nervous system of the child suffers, he experiences increased intracranial pressure, pain, nausea, impaired coordination. Hypofunction is detected on MRI, tomography, ultrasound, hormonal analysis blood. Treatment of the pineal gland depends on the cause: the infection is eliminated with antibiotics, the neoplasm - with surgery. After therapy, the physiology of children returns to normal.

hyperfunction

Marburg-Milk syndrome, or hyperfunction, occurs due to cell tumors and the influx of large amounts of melatonin into the blood. At the same time, there is a delay in growth and sexual development. On examination, the underdevelopment of the genital organs is visible, the absence of spermatogenesis in boys at 14-15 years of age and menstruation in girls at 17 years of age. Other symptoms of hyperfunction are irritability, drowsiness, apathy, failure of sleep cycles.

Treatment

After diagnosing diseases, doctors prescribe treatment. Popular methods are surgery and chemotherapy. The first is used in the elimination of cysts, benign formations, echinococcosis. Performed under anesthesia, includes craniotomy, pumping out excess fluid excision of the tumor.

Malignant formations require chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The latter is applied when it is impossible surgical intervention- if there is a hard-to-reach tumor, serious condition sick, accompanying illnesses. Radiation therapy consists of radiation exposure for a course of several weeks, five sessions each. The advantage of the treatment method is non-invasiveness, and the disadvantage is the inability to completely destroy the formation.

In addition to chemotherapy (the effect of substances on the blood), a patient with a neoplasm may be prescribed radiosurgery. It's modern innovative method, the essence of which is the action on the tumor of a thin beam of radiation with different parties. The advantage is harmlessness, accuracy of exposure, the possibility of use during pregnancy. With hypo- or hyperfunction of the pineal gland, prescribe hormone therapy in order to correct the background and return it to normal state.

Video: epiphysis

The pineal gland is the pineal gland located between the two hemispheres of the brain. It is called so because the structure and appearance glands resemble a bump. Pineal gland performs endocrine function and is the final division of the visual system. The activity of the gland is noted mainly at night, especially after midnight.

Characteristics of the epiphysis

The epiphysis is a small formation that is located in humans between the upper mounds of the midbrain. By function, the pineal gland is an endocrine gland that inhibits the activity of the pituitary gland until the onset of puberty.

In addition, the pineal process is involved in all metabolic processes in the body. If a child develops epiphyseal insufficiency, then premature development of the skeleton and gonads will occur. This entails the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics.

Interesting! The epiphysis is closely related to visual system person.

During the day, the pineal gland secretes two main hormones: during the day - serotonin, and at night - melatonin. This rhythm depends on the illumination, since in natural light the production of melatonin stops and its effect on the body too, so when the sun shines through the window, a person quickly wakes up.

What hormones does the pineal gland produce?

The pineal gland produces the following active substances:

• melatonin;
• pinealin;
• serotonin;
• adrenoglomerulotropin.

Melatonin is a hormone that regulates circadian rhythms. Through the photoendocrine system (the retina of the eye), and then through the hypothalamus, information enters the pineal cells of the pineal gland, and the release of the hormone is stimulated.

Serotonin in the pineal gland is the precursor to melatonin. In the people, this hormone is called the "hormone of happiness."

Interesting! Serotonin circulating in the blood contributes to an increase in mood, a feeling of euphoria, reduces pain threshold eliminates irritability.

Pinealin - biologically active substance which lowers blood sugar levels. This hormone of the pineal gland is considered the least studied of all substances produced by the pineal gland.

Interesting and informative about the epiphysis (pineal gland)

Adrenoglomerulotropin promotes the production of aldosterone (adrenal hormone). Its function is to regulate water-salt metabolism.

How melatonin affects the body

Melatonin has wide range impacts on the human body. Main function This hormone regulates sleep. The production of melatonin occurs at night, while in natural daylight the activity of the pineal gland decreases. It gives a signal that the time of day has changed. Through a kind of receptor system, this signal is transmitted to the cells of the body, and the person begins to feel drowsiness or a surge of vigor.

Other functions of melatonin include:

• lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels;
• stimulation of the immune system;
• retention of trace elements in cells and tissues (in particular, potassium retention);
• decline blood pressure;
• elimination of signs and causes of depressive syndrome;
• calming the CNS.

If a person takes sleeping pills before going to bed, then it is melatonin that enhances its effect and provides fast falling asleep and deep sleep. If you have a sleep disorder, your doctor may prescribe the hormone melatonin in the form of tablets or injections as a treatment. Drugs that mimic the hormone melatonin do not cause the sleepiness that conventional sleep medications do.

Interesting! The pineal gland is most active in childhood. In addition to regulating sleep, melatonin improves memory and increases the child's ability to learn. Therefore, it is very important for children and young people to sleep at night and get enough sleep.

Symptoms of disorders in the work of the epiphysis

The main feature developing pathology is a violation of circadian rhythms. This is due to the abuse modern gadgets, drugs, frequent and severe stress. Sleep disorders are manifested by drowsiness in daytime, insomnia, frequent awakenings during the night, a superficial form of sleep.

In addition, the following reasons lead to a violation of the functions of the epiphysis:

• cystic transformations;
• violation of blood supply;
• dystrophic and atrophic changes epiphysis;
• tumor of the epiphysis;
• inflammatory processes;
• hypoplasia and agenesis of the epiphysis.

Cystic transformation is characterized by single or multiple cysts, which are formed due to blockage of the duct that removes the secret from the pineal gland. As a result of this violation, the outflow of melatonin stops, it accumulates in the tissues of the gland, and cysts form. Another cause of cysts are hemorrhages in the tissue of the epiphysis.

Pathologies of the blood supply to the epiphysis are the result of high blood pressure, blockage of the vessel, and trauma.

atrophic and dystrophic changes noted in cirrhosis of the liver, severe poisoning (for example, poisons), infectious diseases, leukemia, diabetes.

Pinealoma is considered benign tumor. This disease is quite rare. The tumor causes headaches, drowsiness, water-salt balance disorders.

Inflammatory processes in the epiphysis occur against the background of brain abscesses, with meningitis, sepsis, and tuberculosis.

How to independently improve the work of the epiphysis

A decrease in the activity of the production of the hormone melatonin leads to sleep disorders and causes serious health problems. This happens under the influence of certain unfavorable factors.

In order to normalize the functions of the epiphysis at home, you must follow simple rules:

• it is impossible after midnight to stay awake for a long time in artificial light;
• during a night's sleep, no light sources should be left on;
• Constant bright lighting also negatively affects the functioning of the pineal gland.

Remember! In order not to disturb the activity of the pineal gland and its function, it is enough to regularly maintain correct mode sleep and wakefulness, spend enough time on fresh air and prioritize natural light.

The table below clearly depicts the process of light transmission through vision and the hypothalamic-pituitary response that appears in the brain (its structure provides a clear relationship between all structures).

Advice! It is very important to reduce the amount of time spent at the computer, TV or phone. In order for the pineal gland to function properly, it is necessary to spend more time outdoors in natural light.

In cases where a person travels a lot and crosses several time zones, it is important to quickly set your pineal gland to a certain time. To do this, it is enough to go outside and spend some time there so that the body receives information about the amount of light through the retina of the eye and prepares for the production of serotonin, which will become melatonin at night.

The hormones of the pituitary and pineal glands have a different direction of action on the body. Biologically active substances produced by the adenohypophysis have a greater effect on the functioning of the thyroid and gonads.

Treatment of pathologies of the pineal gland

To restore biological rhythms, it is necessary:

• go to bed and wake up at the same time every day;
• do not use gadgets at night and immediately before preparing for bed;
• do not provoke the activity of the nervous system at night (refuse evening workouts, watching thrillers and action movies before bedtime, active games);
• use sedatives sleeping pills, and in severe cases, drugs that mimic melatonin.

With cysts, inflammations and deformities of the pineal gland, therapy is not directed at the organ itself, but at the causes, causing pathologies and their symptoms. These can be attributed hormonal imbalances, chronic diseases, iron deficiency anemia and others.

Important! Pineal hormones affect everything metabolic processes, therefore, it is important for a person to keep this organ healthy and not disrupt its functioning by watching movies in the evening, spending a long time at the computer.

To eliminate any hormonal disorder you need to consult a doctor, tell about your problems, be examined, and only after that select the optimal treatment regimen.

The pineal gland of the brain - what is it, what is it for and where is it located? We will try to give an answer, starting with the fact that another name for this gland is the pineal gland, and also the pineal gland (in Latin, pinea is pine, and, interestingly, the name of the prototype Pinocchio comes from the same root) by the similarity of the shape with a pine cone.

The pineal gland has not been sufficiently studied, its functions are not entirely clear, since the location of the gland and its small size prevent its thorough study, and in the history of medicine, many mystical functions were attributed to this gland, discovered by Galen, it was considered the focus of the human soul.

Esotericists consider the pineal gland to be the “third” eye, the center of human consciousness, contributing to the manifestation psychic abilities, and try to stimulate the gland with music, light and all sorts of esoteric techniques.

So what features of the pineal gland could cause such views, and is there a place for them in contemporary views to this mysterious organ?

The structure of the pineal gland and its location

The pineal gland is part of the diencephalon, which, in turn, is located between the midbrain and large hemispheres. The dimensions are normally small, about 1 cm wide and 1.5 cm long, with a mass of only 0.15-0.2 g (in women, the pineal gland is usually larger than in men).

The cone-shaped form of the gland is due to the developed capillary network this organ. Apart from blood vessels, the nerve fibers of the sympathetic system pass through the epiphysis.

The pineal gland appears in a human embryo already in the second month of development, with age its size increases, it penetrates into the region of the midbrain and there it is fixed between the upper visual tubercles of the quadrigemina of the midbrain.

The location of the pineal gland in the center of the brain gives it special significance, some scientists even consider it to be the upper appendage of the brain, just as another important endocrine gland, the pituitary gland, is considered the lower cerebral appendage. The pinkish-gray color of the epiphysis is due to its good blood supply.

Outside, the pineal body of the epiphysis is covered with dense connective tissue. The growth of the pineal gland stops when puberty, and with the aging of the body, its reverse development is observed.

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Functions of the pineal gland

Proteins, nucleic acids, lipids are intensively exchanged in the pineal gland and it participates in the metabolism of phosphorus, calcium, potassium and magnesium in the body, sets biological rhythms and regulates body temperature. Since it produces hormones important for the functioning of the body as a whole, it is part of the endocrine and nervous systems.

Pineal hormones are the following peptide and biogenic amines formed from amino acids:

• Serotonin, the "hormone of happiness".
• Melatonin, the "shadow hormone".
• Norepinephrine, the "stress hormone".
• Histamine, the "anxiety hormone".

The effect of pineal hormones on the human body

In the body, everything is interconnected, but nevertheless, it is possible to single out the "zones of responsibility" of each of the hormones of the pineal gland. So what are they responsible for, individually and collectively?

Serotonin

Responsible for the psychogenic state of a person, regulates vascular tone, improves mood. To increase production, a sufficient amount of the essential acid tryptophan must be supplied with food.

Melatonin

The production of melatonin is one of the main functions of the pineal gland. is produced from serotonin with a lack of light, at night, the peak of its production occurs at midnight. One of the hormones responsible for the rhythm and cyclicity of life processes synchronizes the daily (circadian) rhythms of day and night, and for this reason the pineal gland is also called the biological clock.

Melatonin inhibits the excessive secretion of somatotropic hormone (a growth hormone that is produced in the pituitary gland, the leading endocrine gland in humans, and stimulates cell growth and repair).

With age and a decrease in the amount of melatonin produced (the peak of night production also decreases), oxidative stress develops and hormonal DNA is damaged, which leads to aging of the body.

Melatonin has the following effects in the body:

• It is a warning cardiovascular diseases, cataracts and tumor development.
• Regulates sleep and wakefulness.
• Reduces in the bloodstream.
• Supports .
• It also normalizes vascular tone.
• Reduces in the bloodstream.
• Suppresses depression.
• Regulates daily changes in body weight and sexual activity.
• Regulates menstrual cycle among women.
• Improves memory in children and adolescence and enhances learning ability.

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Norepinephrine

Norepinephrine is released in daylight, is a mediator of wakefulness and acceptance quick decisions, causes an increase blood pressure with activation daytime activities enhances carbohydrate metabolism. Produced from essential amino acid phenylalanine and conditionally replaceable tyrosine. In addition to the epiphysis, it is also synthesized in the adrenal glands.

Histamine

Histamine protects the body from unwanted effects, affects the immune system. The main function of this hormone is to raise alarm in the tissues and the body as a whole in the event of a real or imaginary threat health and life, for example, in case of poisoning or contact with an allergen.

Excessive activity of histamine, which is not uncommon in our time, leads to intolerance and impaired immunity, and in 1% of people, mostly middle-aged, to diarrhea, constipation, migraine, acne, increased heart rate, lower blood pressure, irregular menstrual cycles.

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the pineal gland

For diagnosis, a complex Medical equipment, therefore, you should not even try to diagnose yourself, much less treat manifestations that, as you think, are caused by diseases of the pineal gland. All this can be entrusted only to a doctor.

Diagnostics

Used for diagnosis x-ray equipment, computer and magnetic resonance tomographs. Only after complete hardware examination the doctor makes a conclusion about the presence or absence of pathology in a person. Normally, the pineal gland is projected onto the radiograph exclusively along the midline (remember the image of the “third eye”, or the “ajna” chakra just above the point between the eyebrows in esoteric images).

Pathological foci in the brain (abscesses, tumors, hematomas) push the epiphysis in the opposite direction from the focus.

Manifestations of dysfunction

Deviations in the functionality of the epiphysis can be manifested by the following symptoms:

• Headache.
• Visual disturbances (double vision).
• Sleepiness during the daytime.
• Ataxia (disorders of coordination of movements), paralysis.
• Frequent fainting.
• Mental deviations in behavior.

Pathological conditions

The activity of the pineal gland is disturbed for a number of reasons of an external and internal nature. Causes of an external (exogenous) nature:

• mechanical injury.
• Electrical injury.
• poisoning ( chemicals, tobacco and alcohol).
• Infection with pathogens of rabies, poliomyelitis or encephalitis.
• Infection with bacterial toxins of diphtheria or botulism.
• Infection with echinococcus with the formation of a cyst in the epiphysis.

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Causes of internal (endogenous) change:

• circulatory disorders, internal bleeding, spasm of cerebral vessels.
• thrombus formation.
• Atherosclerosis.
• Anemia.
• Tumors (benign and malignant).
• Inflammatory processes (usually a consequence of meningitis, sepsis or brain abscess).
• Cerebral edema.
• Metabolic disorders.
• Age changes.

There are cases of both a decrease in the activity of the epiphysis (quite rare), and an increase. The cause of hypofunction may be a tumor in connective tissues followed by compression of the secretory cells of the gland.

Especially dangerous is hypofunction in children, leading to premature physical and sexual development due to the lack of a restraining effect on the production of growth hormone. To premature development dementia may also join.

Hyperfunction may be caused by:

• Tumor of the cells of the pineal gland (pinealoma).
• Hemorrhage in the body of the gland.
• Echinococcal cyst development.

Hyperfunction of the pineal gland in childhood leads to growth retardation and sexual development.

Video

Therapy

Treatment of diseases is mainly symptomatic. The patient is prescribed medication (usually Melaxen, synthetic analogue melanin), and only with negative result resort to surgical removal tumors or cysts (with the growth of neoplasms and hyperfunction of the gland). Chemotherapy has also been shown radiation therapy, and modern method radiosurgery, valid even during pregnancy.

Sometimes the production of melatonin is restored if simple rules are followed, the same rules are a good prevention of preventing diseases of the pineal gland:

• Strict observance of the daily routine.
• Falling asleep and sleeping strictly in the dark.
• Exclusion of work and entertainment activities at night.
• Exclusion of extreme manifestations of emotions and stress.
• Daily walks.

Melatonin in the form medicinal product is a good therapy for prolongation reproductive age. During menopause, women experience beneficial effect nightly intake of melatonin with reversal of climacteric processes and restoration of reproductive functions.

Decreased hormone production commonly seen in women of this age thyroid gland with subsequent disorders of the autonomic nervous system disappear.

The pineal gland, or pineal gland, is one of the most important organs endocrine system. The hormone melatonin produced by it regulates the daily and seasonal rhythms of a person, the menstrual cycle of women. Disorders in the functioning of the pineal gland lead to serious physical and mental disorders in health, and require medical intervention, medicinal or operational. good remedy prevention of diseases of the pineal gland is the observance of the rules healthy lifestyle life.

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 number ofserotonin, 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) 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 at night - about 250 pg / ml 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 integral part endogenous body clock. 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 ganglion cells of the retina 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. spinal cord and further - to the ganglionic neurons of the upper cervical node 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.

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 with right side brain, is called the pineal, 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 present only in individual groups vertebrates such as lampreys, lizards and frogs.
Function. Where the pineal and parapineal glands function as a light-perceiving organ or "third eye", they can only distinguish varying degrees illumination, 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 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. Thus, the light entering the eye stimulates the retina, the impulses from which optic nerves enter the sympathetic nervous system and epiphysis; 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 .

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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. Bony epiphysis expanded end 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 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