Located at the base of the brain, the pituitary gland is protected by a bony structure called the sella turcica(also known as turkish saddle)of the sphenoid bone.
Median sagittal through the hypophysis of an adult monkey. Semidiagrammatic.
>The anterior pituitary synthesizes and secretes important endocrine hormones, such as ACTH, TSH, PRL, GH, endorphins, FSH, and LH. These hormones are released from the anterior pituitary under the influence of hypothalamus. Hypothalamic hormones are secreted to the anterior lobe by way of a special capillary system, called the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system.it is developed from dorsalwall of pharynx(stomodial part) i.e called as 'ruthke's pouch'. they all transport by special nerve cells present in the hypothalamus.such nerve cells are located in various parts of hypothalamus & send their nerve fibre into median eminence & tubar cinerium(b/w ant. &post. lobe).
Oxytocin is one of the few hormones to create a positive feedback loop. For example, uterine contractions stimulate the release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary, which in turn increases uterine contractions. This positive feedback loop continues until the baby is born.
Intermediate lobe
There is also an intermediate lobe in many animals. For instance in fish it is believed to control physiological colour change. In adult humans it is just a thin layer of cells between the anterior and posterior pituitary. The intermediate lobe produces melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), although this function is often (imprecisely) attributed to the anterior pituitary.
Functions
The pituitary hormones help control some of the following body processes:
