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The pituitary gland

  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Cancer types
  4. Pituitary gland
  5. What pituitary gland tumours
  6. The pituitary gland
Print
Last medical review:

The pituitary gland is part of the endocrine system. It’s a small organ that makes and releases hormones. These hormones control many body functions, such as growth, metabolism and sexual reproduction. The hormones made by the pituitary gland also control other glands in the body that make hormones, including the adrenal gland, thyroid, ovaries and testicles.

The pituitary gland is in your head. It sits in the sella turcica, which is a small space surrounded by the sphenoid bone. It’s behind the nasal cavity and just above the sphenoid sinus (a hollow space deep in the skull).

The pituitary gland is connected to a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland, telling it when to make and release hormones.

Diagram of location of the pituitary gland
Diagram of location of the pituitary gland

The pituitary gland is divided into 2 parts (called lobes). The anterior lobe is the front of the pituitary gland, closer to the face. The posterior lobe is the back of the pituitary gland, closer to the back of the head.

Diagram of pituitary gland with surrounding structures
Diagram of pituitary gland with surrounding structures

Pituitary gland hormones

The pituitary gland makes 9 different hormones. Both the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland make hormones.

Anterior pituitary gland hormones

The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland makes the following hormones.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) tells the adrenal glands to make cortisol and other steroid hormones. Cortisol controls blood sugar levels and helps the body respond to stress. ACTH is also called corticotropin.

Growth hormone promotes the growth of all tissues in the body, including bones and muscles. It allows bones and muscles to grow during childhood. In adults, it helps maintain body tissues. Growth hormone is also called somatotropin.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) encourages the thyroid to make and release hormones that control growth, body temperature and heart rate. They are also involved in metabolism, which is the chemical processes in the body that create and use energy. TSH is also called thyrotropin.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are called gonadotropins. They control the ovaries or the testicles.

  • FSH and LH tell the ovaries to make estrogen and progesterone and to release eggs (ovulation).
  • FSH and LH tell the testicles to make testosterone and sperm.

Prolactin stimulates the breasts to develop and make milk after childbirth. Prolactin is also called lactotropin.

Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) causes a type of skin cell (called a melanocyte) to make melanin. Melanin is the substance that gives skin its colour and helps protect the body from some of the harmful effects of the sun.

Posterior pituitary gland hormones

The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland stores the following hormones.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) balances water and sodium levels in the body. ADH tells your kidneys to hold more water, which lowers the amount of urine your body makes. ADH is also called vasopressin.

Oxytocin causes the uterus to contract during labour and childbirth, and it tells the breasts to release milk after childbirth. Oxytocin also causes the prostate to contract during ejaculation.

Expert review and references

  • Shereen Ezzat, MD, FRCPC, FACP
  • Martini FH, Tallitsch RB, Nath JL. Human Anatomy. 9th ed. New York, NY: Pearson; 2018.
  • PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board. Pituitary Tumors Treatment (PDQ®) – Health Professional Version . Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/.
  • Asa SL, Mete O, Perry A, Osamura RY. Overview of the 2022 WHO Classification of Pituitary Tumors. Endocrine Pathology. 2022: 33(1):6–26.
  • Carmichael JD. Overview of the Pituitary Gland. Merck Manual Consumer Version . Kenilworth, NJ: Merck & Co, Inc; 2023. https://www.merckmanuals.com/home.

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