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Anterior pituitary gland
Gray1181.png
Median sagittal through the hypophysis of an adult monkey. Semidiagrammatic.
Details
Precursororal mucosa (Rathke's pouch)
Arterysuperior hypophyseal
Veinhypophyseal
Identifiers
Latinlobus anterior hypophysis
MeSHD010903
NeuroNames407
NeuroLex IDbirnlex_1581
TAA11.1.00.002
FMA74627

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.

Structure