US Medical Term · anatomy
Pituitary Gland
Glándula pituitaria
Also: Hipófisis (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Pituitary Gland |
| Spanish (Español) | Glándula pituitaria |
| Chinese (中文) | 腦垂體 |
| Korean (한국어) | 뇌하수체 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Tuyến yên |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Glandula pituitarya |
| Portuguese (Português) | Glândula hipófise |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ต่อมใต้สมอง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 下垂体 |
What it means
The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain, just behind the bridge of your nose. Despite its small size, it is often called the master gland because it controls most other hormone-producing glands in your body. It releases hormones that regulate growth, blood pressure, thyroid function, reproduction, metabolism, and the body's response to stress. The pituitary works closely with the hypothalamus, which sits just above it. Tumors on the pituitary gland, called pituitary adenomas, are usually benign but can cause hormone imbalances or press on nearby structures like the optic nerves, affecting vision.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My endocrinologist found a small tumor on my pituitary gland.
Mi endocrinólogo encontró un pequeño tumor en la glándula pituitaria.
Is my pituitary gland causing my hormone problems?
¿Mi glándula pituitaria está causando mis problemas hormonales?
The doctor said the pituitary gland tumor might be pressing on my optic nerve.
El doctor dijo que el tumor de la glándula pituitaria podría estar presionando mi nervio óptico.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026