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pituitary gland
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Labeled diagram of a mammalian pituitary gland showing key structures, including the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, neurosecretory cells, blood vessels, and pathways for hormone release and blood flow. Labeled anatomical diagram of the human brain in sagittal section, medial view, showing internal structures such as the corpus callosum, cerebellum, ventricles, brainstem, and other key regions. The Human Body Gonadotroph cell Diagram showing the relationships among vertebrate endocrine glands, including the pituitary-hypothalamus system, pituitary hormones and their endocrine targets, and feedback loops. Arrows connect the hypothalamus and pituitary to glands such as the thyroid, ovary, testis, adrenal cortex, adrenal medulla, parathyroid, ultimobranchial gland, gastrointestinal organs, and pancreas, with major hormones labeled for each gland. Diagram showing three human silhouettes of different heights representing the effects of too much, the right amount, and too little growth hormone (GH) produced by the pituitary gland, with insets illustrating the gland's location in the brain and its role in controlling height. neurosecretory cell Diagram showing the female reproductive system with labeled ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina, alongside hormone pathways and the process from ovulation to fertilization and early embryo development. Major glands of the human endocrine system. The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland and influences food intake, weight regulation, fluid intake and balance, thirst, body heat, and the sleep cycle. Pituitary hormones stimulate growth, egg and sperm development, milk secretion, and release of hormones by other glands. The pineal gland may play a significant role in sexual maturation and the circadian rhythm. Thyroid hormones regulate the metabolic rate of tissues, stimulate the contraction of heart muscle, and are necessary for normal growth and brain development before birth and during infancy. Parathyroid hormone regulates calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels. The adrenal glands regulate salt and water retention, some reactions of the immune system, and blood pressure. The islets of Langerhans regulate blood sugar levels. The ovaries and testes produce hormones that regulate the reproductive system and that produce male and female secondary sex characteristics. The principal glands of the female and male human endocrine systems.
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pituitary gland: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • Charles H. Emerson
    Professor Emeritus of Medicine, University of Massachusetts School of Medicine.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Anatomy, Head and Neck, Pituitary Gland. Oct 17, 2026
Add new Web site: Frontiers - Frontiers in Endocrinology - Organoid models of the pituitary gland in health and disease. Apr 04, 2026
Add new Web site: The Ohio State University Pressbooks - Veterinary Histology - Pituitary gland. Jan 10, 2026
Add new Web site: Medicine LibreTexts - The Pituitary Gland. Nov 19, 2025
Add new Web site: PNAS - The pituitary gland secretes in bursts: appraising the nature of glandular secretory impulses by simultaneous multiple-parameter deconvolution of plasma hormone concentrations. Aug 30, 2025
Add new Web site: CiteSeerx - Pituitary gland pathology (PDF). Apr 24, 2025
Add new Web site: Openstax - Anatomy and Physiology 2e - The Pituitary Gland and Hypothalamus. Jan 10, 2025
Add new Web site: Healthdirect - Pituitary gland and hormones. Dec 19, 2024
Add new Web site: Thompson Rivers University - Human Biology - Pituitary Gland. Aug 22, 2024
Add new Web site: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - Pituitary Gland. May 31, 2024
Add new Web site: Pressbooks - Boundless Anatomy and Physiology - The Pituitary Gland. Mar 06, 2024
Add new Web site: Medicine LibreTexts - Pituitary Gland and Hypothalamus. Jan 23, 2024
Media added. Dec 01, 2023
Add new Web site: TeachMeAnatomy - The Pituitary Gland. Oct 11, 2023
Add new Web site: Queen Mary University of London - What is the pituitary gland? Aug 15, 2023
Add new Web site: Healthline - Pituitary Gland Overview. Feb 15, 2023
Add new Web site: Cleveland Clinic - Pituitary Gland. Jan 06, 2023
Add new Web site: Verywell Health - The Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland. Nov 17, 2022
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Anatomy, Head and Neck, Pituitary Gland. Sep 09, 2022
Corrected information on serum osmolarity and vasopressin release from the pituitary gland. Nov 20, 2019
Add new Web site: Pacific Medical Training - PMT Scribe Academy - The Endocrine System. Nov 12, 2018
Add new Web site: Pacific Medical Training - PMT Scribe Academy - The Endocrine System. Nov 12, 2018
Corrected display issue. Mar 31, 2017
Information on the regulation of anterior and posterior pituitary hormones thoroughly revised. New information on diseases of the pituitary gland added. Dec 16, 2015
Add new Web site: Buzzle.com - Pituitary Gland. Jan 21, 2014
Added information on the anatomy and diseases of the pituitary gland and on the structure, function, and regulation of pituitary hormones. Dec 21, 2009
Added new Web site: The Pituitary Society - Pituitary gland. May 02, 2008
Added new Web site: Merck Manual - Consumer Version - Overview of the Pituitary Gland. May 02, 2008
Added new Web site: Hypertexts For Biomedical Sciences - The Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland. May 02, 2008
Article expanded and revised. Jul 27, 2007
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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