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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)
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)
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:
Pituitary gland: The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland located in the brain above the brain stem. It hangs from and functions in conjunction with the hypothalamus. It is attached to the hypothalamus by the pituitary infundibulum. The pituitary is often called the "master" gland because, through the autonomic nervous system, it controls many body functions directly and also generates a wide variety of hormones that stimulate other endocrine glands to produce other hormones. The pituitary gland releases its hormones into the body through blood vessels that run though the gland. Functions controlled by the pituitary gland include growth, sexual function, metabolism, blood pressure, water regulation, temperature, and some aspects of reproduction.
The structure of the pituitary gland includes nerve axons, the anterior lobe, posterior lobe, and intermediate lobes. Conditions that can afflict the pituitary gland include brain surgery, meningitis, pituitary apoplexy, adenoma, empty sella syndrome, hypopituitarism, and head trauma.
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)
The following organs are closely related to the organ: Pituitary gland:
The following conditions are related to the organ: Pituitary gland:
The following list contains sub-parts of the organ: Pituitary gland:
These symptoms are related to afflictions of the organ: Pituitary gland:
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
The following list of medical conditions have 'Pituitary gland' or similar listed as an affected body part in our database:
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