Psychology2016

64 CHAPTER 2

The Pituitary: Master of the Hormonal Universe

2.6 Explain why the pituitary gland is known as the “master gland.”

The pituitary gland is located under the brain, just below the hypothalamus. The hypothala-

mus controls the glandular system by influencing the pituitary. That is because the pituitary

gland is the master gland, the one that controls or influences all of the other endocrine glands.

Part of the pituitary secretes several hormones that influence the activity of the other

glands. One of these hormones is a growth hormone that controls and regulates the increase in

size as children grow from infancy to adulthood. There are also hormones that stimulate the

gonads (ovaries and testes) to release female or male sex hormones, which in turn influence

the development and functioning of the reproductive organs, development of secondary

sex characteristics in puberty, and reproductive behavior in general. to Learn-

ing Objective 10.1. Male and female sex hormones have also been implicated in cognitive

changes as we grow older. One study has found a correlation between lower levels of the

male sex hormone androgen and cognitive decline in older men (Hsu et al., 2015), and for

females, hormonal therapy during a limited postmenopausal time window may lower the

risk of mild cognitive impairment later in their lives (Scott et al., 2012). Another part of the

pituitary controls things associated with pregnancy and levels of water in the body.

THINKING CRITICALLY

Some people think that taking human growth hormone (HGH) supplements will help reverse the

effects of aging. If this were true, what would you expect to see in the news media or medical

journals? How would you expect HGH supplements to be marketed as a result?

The response entered here will be saved to your notes and may be

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Figure 2.9 The Endocrine Glands

The endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream, which carries them to organs in the

body, such as the heart, pancreas, and sex organs.

Pituitary

gland

Pineal

gland

Pancreas

Ovaries

Thyroid

gland

Pineal

gland

Parathyroid

glands

Testes

Adrenal

glands

Hypothalamus

pituitary gland
gland located in the brain that
secretes human growth hormone
and influences all other hormone-
secreting glands (also known
as the master gland).