What Is The Pituitary Gland?


What Is The Pituitary Gland? 

What Is a The Pituitary Gland?

Pituitary Gland

The Pituitary Gland is about the size of a large pea and it is found behind the bridge of the nose, close to the optic nerves and below the base of the brain. 

The Pituitary Gland plays such a sufficient role in the body’s function that it is also known as or referred to as the “Master Gland”.

The Master Gland is an esssential part of the endocrine system because the hormones the pituitary gland signal to release help to regulate the functions of other endocrine glands.

The Pituitary Gland aka Master Gland is responsible for sending out some of the following Hormones: 

  • Growth hormone (GH)
  • Puberty hormones (or gonadotrophins)
  • Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH, stimulates the thyroid gland to make Thyroxine)
  • Prolactin
  • Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH, controls cortisol release)
  • anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)

The above Pituitary Gland Hormone each play a sufficient function. 

Breakdown of The Pituitary Gland Hormones: 

Hormones Released By Pituitary Gland

Growth hormone (GH):

Growth Hormone is essential in early years for growth in children and to maintain a healthy body composition.  In adults, Growth Horomone helps to promote  healthy bone, muscle mass and affects distribution of fat. 

Puberty hormones (LH, FSH): 

Luteinizing hormone (LH): LH works with FSH to ensure normal functioning of the ovaries and testes.
Prolactin: Prolactin stimulates breast milk production.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH):

TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce hormones.


Prolactin stimulates breast milk production

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH):

ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce hormones. The most important hormone the ACTH stimulates is Cortisol. 

Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH):

The ADH hormone signals the kidneys to increase water absorption in the blood.


There are numerous Pituitary Diseases.

Click on Pituitary Gland Diseases to read about different Diseases of the Pituitary Gland. 

I have the Pituitary Disease, Sheehan”s Syndrome. 

The following link is HypoGal, My Story. 


You can find additional shortcuts to living with a chronic illness on the HypoGal Blog.