Question

Why is the pituitary gland known as the master gland?

Answer 1

The pituitary gland is very all about the size of a pea and it is situated in a bony hollow that lies just behind the bridge of the nose. It is mainly attached to the base of the brain by a thin stalk. It signals several other hormone glands in our body, that includes the thyroid gland, adrenals, the ovaries, and testicles.

Complete answer:
The pituitary gland is the main endocrine gland present in our body. It is commonly regarded as a master gland because it produces hormones that help to control functions of other glands and many body functions including growth.
The pituitary consists of :-
1. Anterior pituitary gland
2. Posterior pituitary gland
It secretes hormones from both the anterior and posterior parts of the gland. Hormones are regarded as chemicals that carry messages from one cell to another through our bloodstream. If the pituitary gland is not able to produce sufficient amounts of hormones this is known as hypopituitarism. But on the other hand, if the pituitary is overproducing some hormones that are due to the overproduction of certain hormones. Hence, the pituitary gland is known as the master gland. So, that's why the pituitary gland is known as the master gland.

Note: The most common problem with the pituitary gland occurs when a benign tumour also called an adenoma, develops. Pituitary tumours are not 'brain tumours'. The term benign is to describe a swelling that is not cancerous in nature. Some pituitary tumours can exist for several years without causing any symptoms and some will never produce symptoms.