The pituitary gland, also called the hypophysis, is associated with the endocrine system. It it located on the ventral side of the brain attached to the hypothalamus. Under the direction of the brain, the pituitary gland controls the secretion of hormones that regulate growth, blood pressure, sexual development, and metabolism. It is known as the “master gland” because it sends messages to other endocrine glands, like the testes, adrenal glands and the thyroid.
During dissection, the pituitary gland is usually removed when the dura mater is peeled away, leaving behind the infundibulum (pituitary stalk). The image below shows the intact pituitary with most of the connecting dura intact.
