| pituitary gland n. A small oval endocrine gland attached to the base of the vertebrate brain and consisting of an anterior and a posterior lobe, the secretions of which control the other endocrine glands and influence growth, metabolism, and maturation. Also called hypophysis, pituitary body. |
pituitary gland, body
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) the master endocrine gland, attached by a stalk to the base of the brain. Its two lobes (see adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis) secrete hormones affecting skeletal growth, development of the sex glands, and the functioning of the other endocrine glands Also called hypophysis hypophysis cerebri
pituitary gland (p -t  -t r  ) A gland at the base of the brain in vertebrate animals that is divided into two regions, anterior and posterior, each of which secretes important hormones. The anterior portion, whose secretions are directly controlled by the hypothalamus, produces hormones that regulate the function of most of the body's hormone-producing glands and organs, including the thyroid and adrenal glands. Growth hormone is also produced by the anterior pituitary. The posterior pituitary releases antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  pituitary gland - the master gland of the endocrine system; located at the base of the brainductless gland, endocrine gland, endocrine - any of the glands of the endocrine system that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream hypophyseal stalk - the funnel-shaped stalk connecting the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus adenohypophysis, anterior pituitary, anterior pituitary gland - the anterior lobe of the pituitary body; primarily glandular in nature neurohypophysis, pars nervosa, posterior pituitary, posterior pituitary gland - the posterior lobe of the pituitary body; primarily glandular in nature betweenbrain, diencephalon, interbrain, thalmencephalon - the posterior division of the forebrain; connects the cerebral hemispheres with the mesencephalon |
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