Pituitary Gland

The pituitary gland is located in the center of the skull at the base of the brain in an area called the sella turcica. The anterior lobe, or adenohypophysis, secretes hormones that stimulate the thyroid gland, adrenal cortex, and the gonads. Growth hormone and prolactin are produced by the anterior pituitary gland. The posterior pituitary produces vasopressin or antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin. The neurohypophysis, the posterior portion of the pituitary gland, stores hormones produced by the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus shares a circulatory system with the anterior pituitary gland. This system of nerve fibers connects the hypothalamus to the posterior pituitary and controls how the central nervous system and endocrine system regulate homeostasis of the body. Other functions of the pituitary gland include development of the gonads, regulation of heart rate and rhythm, and assisting other glands in the endocrine system to secrete their hormones.

The diagnosis of pituitary disorders is done by evaluating various hormone levels. Computer tomography (CT) scans, x-rays, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also identify tumors. Alterations in pituitary function are often reflected as a decrease in pituitary hormone or an increase in pituitary hormone. The sections that follow discuss these problems in greater detail.