Pituitary gland

The pituitary gland (or hypophysis) is an important part of the endocrine system. It is at the base of the brain between the eyes. The pituitary is attached to the hypothalamus, which is also a gland. The pituitary controls a whole range of vital functions by secreting hormones.

The pituitary gland consists of two parts: the anterior pituitary and the posterior pituitary. It is functionally linked to the hypothalamus by the pituitary stalk (also called the infundibulum).^[1]

The hypothalamus releases factors down the pituitary stalk to the pituitary gland where they cause the release of pituitary hormones. Although the pituitary gland is known as the 'master' endocrine gland, both of the lobes are under the control of the hypothalamus.^[2] Endocrine cells of the anterior pituitary are controlled by regulatory hormones released by neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus.

1. ↑ "Median eminence - Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology". Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
2. ↑ Dasen, J. S.; Rosenfeld, M. G. (1 December 1999). "Signaling mechanisms in pituitary morphogenesis and cell fate determination". Current Opinion in Cell Biology. 11 (6): 669–677. doi:10.1016/s0955-0674(99)00034-4. PMID 10600709 – via PubMed.