Together with the hypothalamus – which belongs to a part of the brain known as the diencephalon – the pituitary gland controls the involuntary (vegetative) nervous system. This part of the nervous system manages the balance of energy, heat and water in the body, which includes things like body temperature, heartbeat, urination, sleep, hunger and thirst. The pituitary gland also makes a number of hormones that either regulate most of the other hormone-producing glands in the body or have a direct effect on specific organs.
The pituitary gland is made up of four parts, each with their own functions:
- Anterior lobe
- Posterior lobe
- The area between the two lobes (the intermediate part, or "pars intermedia")
- Pituitary stalk: connects the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus