Difference between revisions of "Pituitary gland"
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| − | In [ | + | In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebrate vertebrate] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomy anatomy] the '''pituitary gland''', or hypophysis, is an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_gland endocrine gland] about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 g (0.02 oz.). It is a protrusion off the bottom of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamus hypothalamus] at the base of the [[brain]], and rests in a small, bony cavity ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sella_turcica sella turcica]) covered by a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dura_mater dural] fold ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphragma_sellae diaphragma sellae]). The pituitary fossa, in which the pituitary gland sits, is situated in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphenoid sphenoid] bone in the middle [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_cranial_fossa cranial fossa] at the base of the [[brain]]. It is [[considered]] a master gland. The pituitary gland secretes [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone hormones] regulating [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeostasis homeostasis], including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropic_hormone tropic hormones] that stimulate other [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_glands endocrine glands]. It is [[functionally]] [[connected]] to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamus hypothalamus] by the median eminence. |
| − | There is an [[analogous]] [[structure]] in the [ | + | There is an [[analogous]] [[structure]] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus octopus] brain. |
| − | The pituitary is [[composed]] of [[two]] lobes: the ''anterior pituitary'' (adenohypophysis) and the ''posterior pituitary'' (neurohypophysis). The pituitary is [[functionally]] linked to the hypothalamus by the [ | + | The pituitary is [[composed]] of [[two]] lobes: the ''anterior pituitary'' (adenohypophysis) and the ''posterior pituitary'' (neurohypophysis). The pituitary is [[functionally]] linked to the hypothalamus by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pituitary_stalk pituitary stalk], whereby hypothalamic releasing factors are released and, in turn, stimulate the release of pituitary hormones. Although the pituitary gland is known as the master endocrine gland, both of its lobes are under the [[control]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamus hypothalamus]. If there are [[problems]] with the pituitary gland, it can cause an irregular condition know as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantism gigantism].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pituitary_gland] |
[[Category: Health]] | [[Category: Health]] | ||
[[Category: Biology]] | [[Category: Biology]] | ||
Latest revision as of 02:36, 13 December 2020
In vertebrate anatomy the pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 g (0.02 oz.). It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and rests in a small, bony cavity (sella turcica) covered by a dural fold (diaphragma sellae). The pituitary fossa, in which the pituitary gland sits, is situated in the sphenoid bone in the middle cranial fossa at the base of the brain. It is considered a master gland. The pituitary gland secretes hormones regulating homeostasis, including tropic hormones that stimulate other endocrine glands. It is functionally connected to the hypothalamus by the median eminence.
There is an analogous structure in the octopus brain.
The pituitary is composed of two lobes: the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) and the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis). The pituitary is functionally linked to the hypothalamus by the pituitary stalk, whereby hypothalamic releasing factors are released and, in turn, stimulate the release of pituitary hormones. Although the pituitary gland is known as the master endocrine gland, both of its lobes are under the control of the hypothalamus. If there are problems with the pituitary gland, it can cause an irregular condition know as gigantism.[1]
