The pituitary gland is a small, pea-sized organ located at the base of your brain, just below the hypothalamus. Despite its tiny size, it’s often called the ‘master gland’ because it controls several other endocrine glands and influences numerous body functions.
Two Main Parts:
The anterior (front) pituitary produces growth hormone, TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), FSH and LH (reproductive hormones), and prolactin. The posterior (back) pituitary stores and releases oxytocin and ADH (antidiuretic hormone) produced by the hypothalamus.
How It Works:
The hypothalamus in the brain controls the pituitary through releasing and inhibiting hormones. The pituitary then releases its own hormones that travel through the bloodstream to stimulate other glands (thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, testes) or directly affect tissues. This creates a command chain: hypothalamus → pituitary → target gland → body tissues.
Pituitary Disorders:
Tumors (usually benign) can cause the pituitary to over- or under-produce hormones. Hypopituitarism (underproduction) causes fatigue, infertility, and growth problems. Hyperpituitarism (overproduction) can cause conditions like acromegaly (excess growth hormone) or hyperprolactinemia (excess prolactin).
