| Anterior pituitary gland | |
|---|---|
 Diagram of anterior lobe of the pituitary, and its sections shown with the posterior lobe | |
| Details | |
| Precursor | Oral mucosa (Rathke's pouch) |
| Artery | Superior hypophyseal |
| Vein | Hypophyseal |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | lobus anterior hypophysis |
| MeSH | D010903 |
| NeuroNames | 407 |
| NeuroLex ID | birnlex_1581 |
| TA98 | A11.1.00.002 |
| TA2 | 3855 |
| FMA | 74627 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The anterior pituitary (also called the adenohypophysis or pars anterior) is a major organ of the endocrine system. The anterior pituitary is the glandular, anterior lobe that together with the (posterior pituitary, or the neurohypophysis) makes up the pituitary gland (hypophysis) which, in humans, is located at the base of the brain, protruding off the bottom of the hypothalamus.
The anterior pituitary regulates several physiological processes, including stress, growth, reproduction, and lactation. Proper functioning of the anterior pituitary and of the organs it regulates can often be ascertained via blood tests that measure hormone levels.