The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland that’s often called the “master gland” because it not only secretes many important hormones, but also regulates the activity of a multitude of other hormone-secreting glands and target organs throughout the body. In this video, I discuss the anatomy of the pituitary gland, the hormones it produces and releases, and the relationship between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Learn more on my website: https://neuroscientificallychallenged.com/posts/know-your-brain-pituitary-gland WATCH MORE https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNZqyJnsvdMr5DGiq0XhTnspQqaFh8vEu&si=hiUezDdRaWsx2k7v If you're looking for accessible and entertaining ways to learn more about the brain, check out my books: 📚Your Brain, Explained: What Neuroscience Reveals About Your Brain and its Quirks: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Brain-Explained-Neuroscience-Reveals/dp/1473696569/ 📚Bizarre: The Most Peculiar Cases of Human Behavior and What They Tell Us About How the Brain Works: https://www.amazon.com/Bizarre-Peculiar-Cases-Human-Behavior/dp/139980121X/ TRANSCRIPT The pituitary gland, also known as the hypophysis, is an endocrine gland that’s often called the “master gland” because it not only secretes many important hormones, but also regulates the activity of a multitude of other hormone-secreting glands and target organs throughout the body. The pituitary gland is connected to and situated just below the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus controls hormone release from the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is divided into anterior and posterior components. The posterior pituitary is also called the neurohypophysis; it is composed of the posterior lobe of the pituitary and a structure called the infundibular or pituitary stalk, which connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland. The anterior pituitary, also known as the adenohypophysis, consists of three parts: the anterior lobe, a smaller intermediate lobe that’s typically only distinct in the fetal and newborn pituitary, and a section of tissue called the pars tuberalis, which wraps around the infundibular stalk. The anterior pituitary contains cells that produce several important hormones: adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, growth hormone, and prolactin. These hormones are produced in the anterior pituitary, but their secretion into the bloodstream is controlled by signaling hormones made and secreted by the hypothalamus. Two hormones, oxytocin and vasopressin, are secreted into the bloodstream from the posterior pituitary. These hormones are not made in the pituitary gland, but instead are synthesized in neurons in the hypothalamus. The axons of these neurons extend from the hypothalamus to the posterior pituitary, and oxytocin and vasopressin are transported from their site of synthesis in the cell body to axon terminals in the posterior pituitary. They are secreted into the bloodstream as a result of action potentials in the neurons they’re found in. REFERENCES Barkhoudarian G, Kelly D. "The Pituitary Gland: Anatomy, Physiology, and its Function as the Master Gland." In Cushing's Disease: An Often Misdiagnosed and Not So Rare Disorder, ed. by Edward R. Laws Jr. New York: Elsevier Science & Technology, 2017. Kontogeorgos G, Stefaneanu L, Kovacs K, Horvath E. "Hypophysis." In The Human Nervous System, ed. by Jürgen K. Mai and George Paxinos. Third ed. New York: Elsevier, 2012. Vanderah TW, Gould DJ. Nolte's The Human Brain. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016. 📝 Pass your next test with my 2-minute neuro videos! My name is Marc, and I want to immerse you in the fascinating world of neuroscience. When I'm not making videos, I'm a university professor at Penn State. I made this channel to help simplify complex topics into easy-to-understand snippets, perfect for students & enthusiasts alike. 📚 I aim to make learning about the brain fun and easy. Whether you're a student seeking to supplement your studies or a curious mind eager to understand the basics of neuroscience, this channel will provide valuable insights and knowledge into the human brain. Subscribe and join our journey into the mind! 🧠