Anterior pituitary

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	D010903
NeuroNames	407
NeuroLex ID	birnlex_1581
TA98	A11.1.00.002
TA2	3855
FMA	74627
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

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) which, in humans, is located at the base of the brain, protruding off the bottom of the hypothalamus.

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.