Pituitary

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Pituitary \Pi*tu"i*ta*ry\, a. [L. pituita phlegm, pituite: cf.
     F. pituitarie.] (Anat.)
     (a) Secreting mucus or phlegm; as, the pituitary membrane, or
         the mucous membrane which lines the nasal cavities.
     (b) Of or pertaining to the pituitary body; as, the pituitary
         fossa.


         [1913 Webster]
  
     {Pituitary body} or {Pituitary gland} (Anat.), a a small,
        somewhat cherry-shaped endocrine gland, situated in the
        pituitary fossa, and suspended from the base of the
        hypothalamus; the hypophysis; -- called also {glandula
        pituitaria}, and {basilaris}. It secretes th pituitary
        hormones: oxytocin; vasopresin; antidiuretic hormone;
        luteinizing hormone; somatotropins; prolactin; thyroid
        stimulating hormone; gonadotropins; adrenal corticotropin
        and other peptide hormones. It affects all hormonal
        functions, and is thus called the "master gland".
  
     {Pituitary fossa} (Anat.), the ephippium.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  pituitary
       adj 1: of or relating to the pituitary gland; "pituitary hormone"
       2: having abnormal size with overgrown extremities resulting
          from abnormal pituitary secretion; "a protruding
          acromegalic jaw"; "a pituitary dwarf" [syn: {acromegalic}]
       n : the master gland of the endocrine system; located at the
           base of the brain [syn: {pituitary gland}, {pituitary
           body}, {hypophysis}]