growth hormone
Meaning of growth hormone: Growth hormone is a pituitary hormone that stimulates growth during childhood and continues regulating metabolism and tissue repair in adults.
Definition of growth hormone
Growth hormone is a protein hormone produced and released by the pituitary gland, a small gland located at the base of the brain. During childhood and adolescence, growth hormone stimulates growth of bone and other tissues, working partly through its effect on the liver, which produces additional growth factors in response.
Beyond its role in growth, growth hormone influences how the body uses glucose and fat for energy and supports the maintenance and repair of tissue throughout life, functions that continue even after linear growth has stopped in adulthood.
Growth hormone release is regulated by signals from the brain and follows a pattern that varies throughout the day, and conditions involving too little or too much growth hormone, whether from a pituitary problem or another cause, can produce distinct effects on growth, body composition, and metabolism depending on a person's age when the imbalance occurs.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Growth hormone levels were measured as part of the evaluation for suspected pituitary dysfunction.
Good to know
Growth hormone continues to affect metabolism and tissue repair well after normal growth has stopped, so its role in adulthood is not limited to childhood growth alone.