GROWTH HORMONE - A hormone which is released from the anterior pituitary gland. Growth hormone stimulates growth in children and muscle synthesis in adults. It also stimulates the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue, inhibits the uptake of glucose by muscle, stimulates the uptake of amino acids by muscle, and shifts the muscles to use fatty acids for energy rather than glucose. The excess production of growth hormone in adulthood results in acromegaly. Insufficient production of growth hormone results in dwarfism.