The pituitary gland is a major player in the endocrine system, the system that controls hormones in the body. The pituitary gland is often referred to as the master gland because it controls the other glands in the body. It used to be widely thought only that the pituitary gland controlled the brain, but interestingly, the brain controls the pituitary gland. The brain secretes neurotransmitters which control hormones. The pituitary has two different regions: the posterior pituitary (neurohyphosis) and the anterior pituitary (adenohyphosis). The hypothalamus (a region of the forebrain) produces the neurotransmitter oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (also called vasopressin) inside of its neurons, and passes them along to the posterior pituitary, which secretes them into the body. Antidiuretic hormone targets the kidneys, especially its tubules, and regulates water levels. Oxytocin targets the mammary glands, facilitating lactation, as well as the uterus, controlling contractions. The hormones are made in the hypothalamus, the posterior pituitary only secretes them. In contrast, the anterior pituitary gland synthesizes its own hormones, but they cannot be released unless regulatory hormones released from the hypothalamus signal them to do so. The anterior pituitary gland secretes prolactin which targets the breasts for milk production, ACTH which stimulates cortisol release, growth hormone which acts on bones, gonadotrophic hormone which acts on sex organs, and thyroid stimulating hormone.
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