Wondrously Woven

The pituitary gland is separated into two sections – the anterior pituitary and the posterior pituitary. The gland is located at the base of the brain and secretes many different hormones. One – from the posterior gland – is called Vasopressin. It is also called anti-diuretic Hormone (ADH). When specialized cells in the body sense an increase in the blood ratio of particles such as sodium, urea, and glucose to the water content, the posterior pituitary gland secretes ADH to normalize that ratio. Too many particles cause water within the cells all over the body to dehydrate. Too few particles, and cells in the body will swell and burst. Depending on circumstances such as the ambient humidity and temperature, exercise, and diet, when ADH works properly, the kidneys of the healthy adult excrete approximately one to two quarts of water each day through urination. When ADH does not work properly – things go terribly wrong. Diabetes Insipidus (not to

(As always in these posts, my presentation of the facts about our body’s physiology is purposely brief. I do hope, however, that my posts will stir the reader to independent research. In the case of insulin, an internet search for the keyword ‘insulin’ will pull up pages and pages of medical information). -------- Insulin is a hormone produced and released by specialized cells in the pancreas, called ‘beta’ cells. Insulin ‘unlocks’ each of the cells in our body to permit glucose (a form of sugar) to enter and provide the energy cells need to do whatever the cell’s DNA has programmed it to do. Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is a condition in which the person’s pancreas no longer produces ANY insulin. Unless the person receives insulin from an outside source – such as injections – that person will die. So, here is the point: What a lucky break that over the eons it took for him to evolve, he finally did so at the exact same time as his pancreas beta cells. It had to happen that way.