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Pituitary gland
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<p>The pituitary gland or hypophysis is an <a href="/facts/Endocrine_gland/J6w67lns">endocrine gland</a> in <a href="/facts/Vertebrate/tT54FSTT">vertebrates</a>. In <a href="/facts/Human/rlcTENsr">humans</a>, the pituitary gland is located at the base of the <a href="/facts/Human_brain/qfSwSB8K">brain</a>, protruding off the bottom of the <a href="/facts/Hypothalamus/lCkNt1bM">hypothalamus</a>. It is seated in part of the <a href="/facts/Sella_turcica/9aSGaHDf">sella turcica</a> a <a href="/facts/Fossa_(anatomy)/FFASAd2Y">depression</a> in the <a href="/facts/Sphenoid_bone/7GGt2f8s">sphenoid bone</a>, known as the <a href="/facts/Hypophyseal_fossa/9aSGaHDf">hypophyseal fossa</a>. The human pituitary gland is <a href="/facts/Ovoid/sHC4YNkQ">oval shaped</a>, about 1 cm in diameter, 0.5–1 gram (0.018–0.035 oz) in weight on average, and about the size of a <a href="/facts/Kidney_bean/H8gTv5k1">kidney bean</a>. </p><p>There are two main lobes of the pituitary, an <a href="/facts/Anterior_pituitary/uUj4jzRq">anterior lobe</a>, and a <a href="/facts/Posterior_pituitary/CEXxb9Bp">posterior lobe</a> joined and separated by a small <a href="/facts/Intermediate_lobe/J40XP6Em">intermediate lobe</a>. The anterior lobe (adenohypophysis) is the glandular part that produces and secretes several <a href="/facts/Hormone/WFnBnINJ">hormones</a>. The posterior lobe (neurohypophysis) secretes <a href="/facts/Neurohypophysial_hormone/AmvzuK1a">neurohypophysial hormones</a> produced in the <a href="/facts/Hypothalamus/lCkNt1bM">hypothalamus</a>. Both lobes have different origins and they are both controlled by the hypothalamus. </p><p><a href="/facts/Hormone/WFnBnINJ">Hormones</a> secreted from the pituitary gland help to control <a href="/facts/Development_of_the_human_body/S97k10C2">growth</a>, <a href="/facts/Blood_pressure/VtqqSM2J">blood pressure</a>, energy management, all functions of the <a href="/facts/Sex_organ/c2ypY14E">sex organs</a>, <a href="/facts/Thyroid_gland/bjovTJVu">thyroid gland</a>, <a href="/facts/Metabolism/WxDrm8k5">metabolism</a>, as well as some aspects of <a href="/facts/Pregnancy/vEKYGpep">pregnancy</a>, <a href="/facts/Childbirth/KaWFJ4kG">childbirth</a>, <a href="/facts/Breastfeeding/cdWXyYDX">breastfeeding</a>, <a href="/facts/Osmoregulation/zXEhVwD4">water/salt concentration</a> at the <a href="/facts/Kidney/HBspPrv9">kidneys</a>, temperature regulation, and pain relief. </p>