Why is pituitary glands called master glands?

Answer 1

The Pituitary gland IS called the Master gland because it is the only gland of the endocrine system or the gland system that has an effect on other glands. It is situated at the base of the brain and is divided into three sections. The anterior pituitary, the intermediate pituitary and the posterior pituitary. The pituitary gland has an effect on the other glands in the body and controls their secretion of hormones. For instance, the anterior pituitary gland produces ACTH or adrenocorticotrophic hormone which affects the amount of corticosteroid hormone the adrenal gland secretes. The pituitary gland also produces adh or anti diuretic hormone which controls our fluid balance. This is affected by alcohol and when we have a drink it is responsible for our frequent visits to the toilet and our subsequent dehydration the next morning. The pituitary secretes growth hormone and an over-secretion of this leads to gigantism. Remember the Jaws character in the Bond movies with the steel teeth, he has gigantism. An under secretion of growth hormone leads to the opposite of Jaws and the result is dwarfism. Remember the Ompa-lumpas in Willie Wonkas Chocolate Factory?. Sorry to go on. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Because it secrets what are known as "tropic hormones" or in other words it secretes hormones that tell other glands to make other hormones, causing a domino effect. So the pituitary not only secrets hormones such as Oxytocin and ADH itself, but it causes almost all of the other endocrine responses. (Such as the release of noradrenalin, insulin, and other hormoes)

Answer 3

The pituitary controls the function of most other endocrine glands and is therefore sometimes called the master gland. In turn, the pituitary is controlled in large part by the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that lies just above the pituitary. By detecting the levels of hormones produced by glands under the pituitary's control (target glands), the hypothalamus or the pituitary can determine how much stimulation the target glands need.

Answer 4

It is the master gland. It controls much of the hormone system in our body.