Organ: Pituitary gland

Descriptions of Pituitary gland

Pituitary gland: The main endocrine gland. It produces hormones that control other glands and many body functions, especially growth.
Source: National Institute of Health

Pituitary gland: the master gland of the endocrine system; located at the base of the brain
Source: WordNet 2.1

Pituitary gland : epithelial body located at the base of the brain in the sella turcica, attached by a stalk to the hypothalamus from which it receives important neural and vascular outflow; it consists of the anterior lobe, or adenohypophysis, which secretes most of the hormones, the posterior lobe or neurohypophysis, which stores and releases neurohormones that it receives from the hypothalamus, and an intermediate lobe.
Source: CRISP

Pituitary gland : A small, unpaired gland situated in the sella turcica tissue. It is connected to the hypothalamus by a short stalk.
Source: MESH OBO (Open Biomedical Ontologies)

Article Excerpts about Pituitary gland

The pituitary is a small gland inside the head, behind the bridge of the nose. Though small, it produces many important hormones that regulate basic body functions. The major pituitary hormones and their effects are:

• prolactin--controls formation of breast milk, influences fertility, and influences bone strength;

• growth hormone--regulates body growth, especially during adolescence;

• adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)--stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol;

• thyrotropin (TSH)--stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones;

• luteinizing hormone (LH)--stimulates the ovaries or testes to produce sex hormones that determine many features of "maleness" or "femaleness"; and

• follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)--regulates fertility in men through sperm production and in women through ovulation.

The pituitary gland, sometimes called the master gland, plays a critical role in regulating growth and development, metabolism, and reproduction. It produces prolactin and a variety of other key hormones. These include growth hormone, which regulates growth; ACTH (corticotropin), which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol; thyrotropin, which signals the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone; and luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, which regulate ovulation and estrogen and progesterone production in women, and sperm formation and testosterone production in men.

The pituitary gland sits in the middle of the head in a bony box called the sella turcica. The eye nerves sit directly above the pituitary gland. Enlargement of the gland can cause local symptoms such as headaches or visual disturbances. Pituitary tumors may also impair production of one or more pituitary hormones, causing reduced pituitary function (hypopituitarism). (Source: excerpt from Prolactinoma: NIDDK)

Summary Information: Pituitary gland

Pituitary gland: Master gland under the brain producing various hormones.

Pituitary gland: a small organ--about the size of a dime and located in the center of the brain--which makes hormones that affect growth and the functions of other glands in the body. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Pituitary Tumors Information Page: NINDS)

Condition count: 15 ; see list below.

Organ types: Glands (79), Endocrine system (93), Hormonal system (93)

Produces: human growth hormone, prolactin, oxytocin, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

Related organs: hypothalamus (1), thyroid gland (14), adrenal glands (12), gonads

Main condition: Pituitary conditions

Organs: list of all organs

Diseases List for Pituitary gland:

The following list of medical conditions have 'Pituitary gland' or similar listed as an affected body part in our database:

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