pituitary glands
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pluralof pituitary gland.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
pituitary glandnouna small, somewhat cherry-shaped double structure attached by a stalk to the base of the brain and constituting the master endocrine gland affecting all hormonal functions in the body, consisting of an anterior region anterior pituitary, oradenohypophysis that develops embryonically from the roof of the mouth and that secretes growth hormone, LH, FSH, ACTH, TSH, and MSH, a posterior region posterior pituitary, orneurohypophysis that develops from the back of the forebrain and that secretes the hormones vasopressin and oxytocin, and an intermediate part pars intermedia, derived from the anterior region but joined to the posterior region, that secretes the hormone MSH in lower vertebrates.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Surgery with instruments previously used in a patient with vCJD that were not adequately sterilized and contaminated pituitary growth hormones taken from human pituitary glands from infected cadavers.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
Focusing on corneas, pituitary glands and skin, Pfeffer unravels the tangled ethics of this mortuary-fuelled industry, which has evolved over a century of medical experimentation and advances in extracting and preserving “cadaver stuff”.
From Nature ● Aug. 8, 2017
With similar melatonin-detecting regions present in the pituitary glands of humans, Loudon believes it is important to probe whether the newly discovered mechanism could also play a role in human biology.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 6, 2017
An unleashed immune system can attack healthy, vital organs, notably the bowel, the liver and the lungs, but also the kidneys, the adrenal and pituitary glands, the pancreas and, in rare cases, the heart.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 3, 2016
Besides, there must be a minimum activity of the thyroid, adrenal and pituitary glands.
From The Glands Regulating Personality by Louis Berman M.D.