Anterior pituitary gland

Anterior pituitary gland
Median sagittal through the hypophysis of an adult monkey. Semidiagrammatic.
Details
Precursor	oral mucosa (Rathke's pouch)
Artery	superior hypophyseal
Vein	hypophyseal
Identifiers
Latin	lobus anterior hypophysis
MeSH	A06.407.747.608
Dorlands /Elsevier	a_14/12111161
TA	A11.1.00.002
FMA	74627
Anatomical terminology []

A major organ of the endocrine system, the anterior pituitary (also called the adenohypophysis or pars anterior), is the glandular, anterior lobe that together with the posterior lobe (posterior pituitary, or the neurohypophysis) makes up the pituitary gland (hypophysis). The anterior pituitary regulates several physiological processes including stress, growth, reproduction and lactation. Proper functioning of the anterior pituitary and of the organs it regulates can often be ascertained via blood tests that measure hormone levels.

The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland that sits in a protective bony enclosure called the sella turcica (Turkish chair/saddle). It is composed of three lobes: the anterior, intermediate, and posterior lobes. In many animals, these lobes are distinct. However, in humans, the intermediate lobe is but a few cell layers thick and indistinct; as a result, it is often considered as part of the anterior pituitary. In all animals, the fleshy, glandular anterior pituitary is distinct from the neural composition of the posterior pituitary.

The anterior pituitary is composed of three regions:

The anterior pituitary is derived from the ectoderm, more specifically from that of Rathke’s pouch, part of the developing hard palate in the embryo.