Adrenocorticotrophic hormone

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) is a special chemical that is made in a pea-sized part of your brain called the pituitary gland. Think of the pituitary gland like a tiny factory that makes different hormones to help your body work properly.

ACTH is like a messenger that travels through your body and tells another place called the adrenal gland to make more of a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is very important because it helps your body respond to stress, like when you get scared or sick.

So, let's say you get really nervous about giving a speech at school. The pituitary gland in your brain sends out ACTH to tell the adrenal gland to make more cortisol. The cortisol will help your body deal with the stress and keep you feeling calm and focused.

But sometimes, things can go wrong with this system. For example, if you have a problem with your pituitary gland, it might not make enough ACTH. This can cause your body to not make enough cortisol, which can make you feel tired and weak.

On the other hand, if you have too much ACTH, it can cause your adrenal gland to make too much cortisol. This can lead to other problems, like weight gain, high blood pressure, and mood changes.

So, in summary, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) is a chemical messenger that helps your body make cortisol, a hormone that helps your body deal with stress. It is made in the pituitary gland in your brain and can have important effects on your health if something goes wrong with the system.