Word
pituitary
Phoneticspi·tu·itary
US/pəˈtuəˌtɛɹi/
UK/pɪtjˈuːɪtəɹi/
Definitions
01the gland
n. a small gland at the base of the brain that controls growth and other body functions.
n. the pituitary gland; a pea-sized endocrine organ situated in the sella turcica at the base of the hypothalamus.
“The doctor explained that the pituitary controls many of the body's hormones.”
“A tumor on the pituitary can disrupt the entire endocrine system, leading to significant hormonal imbalances and growth issues.”
Technical
Usage
Often used as a shorthand for 'pituitary gland' in medical contexts.
Synonyms
02relating to the gland
adj. describing something that belongs to or is connected to the pituitary gland.
adj. of or relating to the pituitary gland or its functions.
“The patient was referred to a specialist for a pituitary disorder.”
“The researcher focused on pituitary function and its role in regulating the body's response to chronic stress.”
Technical
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies.
Real-World Examples
“A brain scan revealed he had an 11mm (0.433in) non-cancerous tumour growing on the pituitary gland - a marble-sized organ at the base of the skull.” “The pituitary gland, blood vessels and nerves controlling vision are tightly packed together, and “going a millimetre wrong can make a critical difference”, health officials said, potentially leading to blindness, stroke or death.” Etymology
1610s, from Latin pītuītārius (“mucous”), from pītuīta (“clammy moisture, phlegm, mucus, slime”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *peyH- (“to be fat, swell”). Taken as the name for the gland because it was believed that it channeled mucus to the nose. As a noun by 1899.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/pituitary