Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
pituitary gland

pituitary gland

5 4.3
A small pea-shaped gland under the brain that controls other glands and body functions
  • noun
  • /pɪˈtjuːɪˌtɛri ɡlænd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : glándula pituitaria
  • In its turn, the thyroid gland is controlled by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted by the pituitary gland.

I say, remember the name in high school, Pituitary gland, master gland.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The other major elements in the limbic system with the reticular formation are: (1) the pituitary gland, and (2) the hypothalamus.

    Academic text (1995)

  • What most people don't know is concussions damage the pituitary gland, which is the master hormone gland.

  • - Tumor on the pituitary gland.

    The Poseidon Adventure (2005)

  • I had a pituitary gland procedure at UCLA Medical Centre... and I just fell in love with the people here.

    Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999)

  • But he had scar tissue removed from his pituitary gland, and his hormone levels have remained normal.

    Blog text (2)

  • A tumor on her pituitary gland that, if it can't be controlled by meds, will eventually require brain surgery.

    Blog text (2)

  • Aromatase converts testosterone to estradiol, which has an inhibitory effect on the production of LH in the pituitary gland.

    Academic text (2018)

  • Goserelin and leuprorelin are gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) that act on the pituitary gland.

    Academic text (2012)

  • The pituitary gland produces and stores luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

    Academic text (2012)

  • The pituitary gland releases hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including growth and metabolism.

Synonyms

pituitary
vspituitary gland
  • Specialized
5 6.8

A small gland at the base of the brain that controls growth and other glands

is the broader formal term emphasizing control of many bodily functions
pituitary body
vspituitary gland
  • Specialized
5.8

A small oval gland at the base of the brain that controls other glands

is the common term for the same principal endocrine organ controlling body functions
hypophysis
vspituitary gland
  • Specialized
9.9

A small gland at the base of the brain that controls many body hormones

is the nontechnical everyday name used for the same organ

Surface Forms

pituitary gland singular
pituitary glands plural

Morphology

pituitary + gland

The compound is fully compositional: 'pituitary' denotes a small endocrine gland involved in hormone regulation and 'gland' denotes a hormone-secreting organ, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it is a small hormone-producing gland. This noun–noun technical term follows standard formation patterns (and has clear equivalents in other languages), making the overall meaning predictable from its parts.

Etymology

Pituitary gland gets its name from an old Latin word for 'mucus' because people long ago thought a small lump under the brain made mucus. The part pituitary refers to that old idea and gland means a body part that makes fluid. That's why the name stayed, even though today we know the pituitary gland makes 'hormones' that control other glands and many body functions.