Pituitary gland : Pituitary

The Pituitary gland is an endocrine gland in the small, bony cavity at the base of the brain. It is connected to a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. It secretes hormones regulating a wide variety of bodily activities, including trophic hormones that stimulate other endocrine glands. For a while, this led scientists to call it the master gland, but now we know that it is in fact regulated by releasing hormones[?] from the hypothalamus.

The pituitary gland is divided into two sections: the anterior and posterior pituitary lobes. The posterior pituitary is, in effect, a projection of the hypothalamus. It doesn't produce its own hormones, but only stores and releases the hormones oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

The anterior pituitary secretes growth hormone, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone[?], luteinizing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone[?], adrenocorticotropic hormone, melanocyte-stimulating hormone[?], endorphins, and other hormones.

External links:

• http://www.umm.edu/endocrin/pitgland.htm