PITUITARY GLAND

•The pituitary gland is small and oval-shaped. It’s located behind your
nose, near the underside of your brain. It’s attached to
the hypothalamus by a stalk like structure.
• Size of a pea and weighing 0.5 g

•The hypothalamus is a small area of your brain. It’s very important in

controlling the balance of your bodily functions. It controls the release of

hormones from the pituitary gland.
•The pituitary gland can be divided into two different parts: the anterior

and posterior lobes.

• AnteriorLobe
• Posterior Lobe
 Anterior pituitary is composed of 3 regions:

 Pars distalis – it comprises majority of anterior pituitary

 greater amount of pituitary hormone production occurs here
 Pars tuberalis – it forms casing around pituitary stalk
 Pars intermedia – It sits between pars distalis and posterior pituitary

 Anterior Lobe Hormones:

 Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands

to produce hormones.
 Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): FSH works with LH to ensure normal

functioning of the ovaries and testes.

  Growth hormone (GH): GH is essential in early years to maintaining a healthy body
composition and for growth in children. In adults, it aids healthy bone and muscle mass
and affects fat distribution.
 Luteinizing hormone (LH): LH works with FSH to ensure normal functioning of the ovaries and
testes.
 Prolactin: Prolactin stimulates breast milk production.
 Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce hormones.
 Posterior Gland:
 The posterior pituitary (or neurohypophysis) is the posterior lobe of the pituitary
gland which is part of the endocrine system. The posterior pituitary is not glandular as is
the anterior pituitary. Instead, it is largely a collection of axonal projections from
the hypothalamus that terminate behind the anterior pituitary, and serve as a site for the
secretion of neurohypophysial hormones (oxytocin and vasopressin) directly into the
blood.
Diagram:
 Relations
 Anteriorly: sphenoid sinus
 Posteriorly: dorsum sellae, basilar artery, pons
 Superiorly: diaphragma sellae
 Inferiorly: body of sphenoid
 Main Function Of Pituitary Gland:
 Its main function is to secrete hormones into your
bloodstream.
 These hormones can affect other organs and glands.