The pituitary gland is a small gland about the size and shape of a pea. It is located between the eyes, behind the bridge of the nose, just below the brain. The pituitary lies within a bony depression in the skull called the sella, which sits below the optic chiasm, the area where the nerves of the eyes (optic nerves) cross and enter the brain. It is often referred to as the “master” gland of the body, because it produces hormones that control many other glands throughout the body, including the thyroid gland, adrenal glands and sex organs (ovaries and testes).
Hormones produced by the pituitary gland
in the posterior lobe, there are two different hormones:
1. ADH acts on the kidneys to release water through the urine.
2. Oxytocin acts primarily in the uterus to stimulate contractions. It may also act on the breasts to stimulate milk secretion.
In the anterior lobe, several different types of hormones are produced:
* Growth hormones stimulate growth in children and play an important role in regulating metabolism and processing of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the body.
* Prolactin acts primarily in the breast to stimulate milk production. It also plays a role in the development of eggs in the ovaries of a woman and can help regulate the immune system.
* Adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulates the growth of the adrenal glands, which are located just above the kidneys.
* Stimulating hormone thyroid secretion acts on the thyroid gland to stimulate the production of thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is the main regulator of overall metabolism in the body.
* Luteinizing hormone acting on the gonads (testes in men and ovaries in women). In men, LH causes the testicles to produce testosterone, the primary male hormone, while FSH regulates the production of sperm. In women, LH causes the ovaries to produce estrogen, the primary female hormone, and also plays an important role in stimulating the release of eggs from the ovary.