What gland controls growth and other endocrine functions?

The gland that controls growth and many other endocrine functions is the pituitary gland. It sits at the base of the brain, beneath the hypothalamus, in a small bony cavity called the sella turcica.

The anterior pituitary releases hormones including growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin. Together, these help regulate body growth, metabolism, stress responses, reproduction, thyroid activity, and milk production. The posterior pituitary stores and releases hormones made by the hypothalamus, including oxytocin and vasopressin.

The pituitary is often called the “master gland,” but that nickname is an oversimplification: the hypothalamus directs much of its activity, linking the nervous and endocrine systems. A common mix-up is confusing the pituitary with the thyroid. The thyroid influences metabolism, while the pituitary helps control the thyroid through thyroid-stimulating hormone.