Guide To Understanding The Pituitary Gland

Function Of The Pituitary Gland

Without the pituitary gland, the body would be unable to grow properly, reproduce, and perform numerous other critical functions. The pituitary gland has two primary functions associated with the two different components it comprises. The anterior lobe or frontal lobe of the pituitary gland is responsible for producing several types of hormones, including growth hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, luteinizing hormone, endorphins, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, enkephalins, and bet-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. The frontal lobe of the pituitary takes up around eighty percent of its total weight. The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland is responsible for holding onto vasopressin and oxytocin produced by the hypothalamus until they are needed. The pituitary gland mainly influences the actions of the adrenal gland, ovaries, testicles, and thyroid gland. Although the actions of the pituitary gland control these other glands, the hypothalamus is what sends hormones to the pituitary gland that tells it what to do and when to do it.

Get more details regarding the hormones the pituitary gland produces next.