PRESENTATION OUTLINE
OFTEN CALLED THE MASTER GLAND BRCAUSE IT COMNTROLS SEVERAL OF THE OTHER HORMONE GLANDS.
It is usually about the size of a pea and consists of two parts (often called lobes) - a front part, called the anterior pituitary and a back part, called the posterior pituitary.
The pituitary gland sits in a bony hollow called the pituitary fossa. This is behind the bridge of the nose and below the base of the brain, close to the optic nerves.
It is often considered the most important part of the endocrine system because it produces hormones
The anterior pituitary makes several important hormones - growth hormone, puberty hormones (or gonadotrophins), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH, which stimulates the thyroid gland to make Thyroxine), prolactin and Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal stress hormone, cortisol). The posterior pituitary makes the fluid balance hormone called anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).
