Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenjhee
I've considered it, of course, along with other endocrine-related trauma. I can check with my PCP and see what he thinks. One question, kind of general, how would such a deeply located gland be differentially vulnerable to a frontal injury, vs. the rest of the brain?
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I am not sure, but I think it has to do with the structure of the gland itself.
It is connected to the hypothalamus via a small thin stalk and the gland itself is like an individual structure sticking out of the brain.
I guess it is very vulnerable to the shearing forces acting on the brain during a concussion, damaging the stalk. It also, ironically enough, looks like a punching bag
Picture of pituituary gland:
http://www.cushings-help.com/images/pituitary.gif
I also just read an article that states that the gland can stop functioning many years after the traumatic event, people should be aware of that:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18780593
-GlassHead