Definition

Noun: - A hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland; promotes growth in humans: A natural chemical substance secreted by the front part of the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. Its primary function is to stimulate growth, cell reproduction, and cell regeneration in humans and other animals.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • A deficiency in growth hormone during childhood can lead to short stature.
  • Doctors sometimes prescribe synthetic growth hormone to treat certain medical conditions.
  • The secretion of growth hormone is highest during sleep and exercise.

Advanced Usage

• "Growth hormone therapy": The medical use of growth hormone to treat disorders.

  • The child began growth hormone therapy to address the hormonal deficiency.

• "Growth hormone deficiency (GHD)": A medical condition characterized by inadequate production of the hormone.

  • He was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency at an early age.

• "Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)": A hormone from the hypothalamus that stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone.

  • The system is regulated by growth hormone-releasing hormone and somatostatin.

Variants and Related Words

• Somatotropin (n): The technical, scientific name for growth hormone.

  • Somatotropin is the peptide hormone that stimulates growth.

• Human Growth Hormone (HGH) (n): Specifically refers to the growth hormone produced by humans, often in medical contexts.

  • The athlete was banned for using synthetic human growth hormone.

• Somatropin (n): A synthetic form of growth hormone used in medicine.

  • The medication contains somatropin, which is identical to natural growth hormone.

Synonyms

• Somatotropic hormone: Another term emphasizing its growth-stimulating property.
• GH: A common abbreviation.

Related Phrases

• Growth hormone stimulation test: A diagnostic test to assess the pituitary gland's ability to produce the hormone.

  • The endocrinologist ordered a growth hormone stimulation test.

• Growth hormone axis: Refers to the interconnected system (hypothalamus-pituitary-liver) that regulates growth hormone production and effects.

  • Disorders can occur anywhere along the growth hormone axis.

Noun

1. a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland; promotes growth in humans