Pituitary Gland Health Article

Definition

The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and is part of the endocrine system. It is sometimes called the hypophysis, from two Greek words that mean "to grow beneath." The pituitary is responsible for the hormonal regulation of several body processes, including water retention, breast milk synthesis and release, human growth, and thyroid gland secretions.

Description

The pituitary is one of the most extensively researched glands in the endocrine system. In humans, it is located at the base of the brain just beneath the hypothalamus. There are three separate lobes (or sections) of the pituitary: the anterior lobe, the posterior lobe and the intermediate lobe. Therefore, it is sometimes considered as three different glands. In addition, there is a small stem called the pituitary stalk that connects the pituitary to the hypothalamus.

The pituitary gland is formed during early fetal development. An understanding of its formation explains its position in the endocrine system as well as its neurological importance. Early in the development of the fetus, a small sac of cells forms at the top of the oral cavity and moves upward. These cells are known as Rathke's pouch. At the same time, a small fold of neural tissue extends downward from the hypothalamus. During fetal development, the two structures continue to move toward each other; they meet and fuse to form the anterior (originally Rathke's pouch) and posterior (from the hypothalamus) lobes of the pituitary.

The hypothalamus, which is located just above the pituitary gland, is a region in the forebrain that is responsible for regulating all lobes of the pituitary. The pituitary releases, but does not necessarily synthesize, nine different hormones. Neurohormones are synthesized by the hypothalamus and transported to the posterior pituitary. The release of hormones from each lobe of the pituitary is regulated differently.