274 



THE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE BODY 



Part III 



Fig. 15.16. Giantism is produced by overactivity of the pituitary gland (pars 

 anterior) beginning during the natural growth period. Photograph of Robert 

 Wadlow of Alton, Illinois, taken with a man of average height, in a tailor's shop 

 in St. Louis in 1939. His school record was excellent and his personality of high 

 character but he was never physically vigorous and very susceptible to infections 

 from which he died, July 15, 1940, at age 22. In that year he was 8 feet 11 inches 

 and weighed 491 pounds. The record of his growth is the best authenticated of any 

 giantism. (By special permission of Harold F. Wadlow from Fadner and Wadlow: 

 Gentleman Giant. Boston, Bruce Humphries, Inc., 1944.) 



body during a time of sparse income is one more way in which the internal 

 environment is kept wet. Extracts of pars nervosa are given to check the 

 flow of urine that occurs in diabetes insipidus (Chap. 14, Excretion). The 

 pitocin principle of the extract of pars nervosa is administered as a stimulant 

 to the contraction of smooth muscle of the uterus during childbirth. Pitocin 

 also stimulates the smooth muscle of the intestine and bladder. It has now 

 been synthesized. 



Nervous Control of Endocrines 



The functions of the pituitary and adrenal glands are at least partially con- 

 trolled by the nervous system. The thyroid has a rich nerve supply, but there 

 is no evidence of nervous control of its secretion, although nervous tension 

 accompanies high thyroid activity. 



Destruction of the pars nervosa of the pituitary results in increase of urine, 

 the consequence of the removal of the antidiuretic effect of pitressin. The 

 same thing occurs after cutting the nerves leading from the hypothalamus of 



