Which gland at the base of the brain is often called the body's 'master gland'?

The pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, is often called the body’s “master gland.” It releases hormones that help regulate growth, reproduction, metabolism, stress responses, and the activity of several other endocrine glands.

The pituitary sits beneath the hypothalamus in a small bony depression of the sphenoid bone called the sella turcica. The hypothalamus controls it through a connecting stalk and through chemical signals, so the pituitary is not an independent command center. The brain and endocrine systems work together through this hypothalamus–pituitary partnership.

The gland has two major parts. The anterior pituitary produces hormones such as growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and adrenocorticotropic hormone. The posterior pituitary stores and releases oxytocin and vasopressin, which are made in the hypothalamus. This division explains why the pituitary has both glandular and neural features.

The title “master gland” is useful but simplified. The pituitary influences many hormonal pathways, yet it is itself directed by the hypothalamus and regulated by feedback from target organs such as the thyroid, adrenal glands, and gonads. It is roughly kidney-bean-sized and averages about 0.5–1 gram in adults.