Posterior Pituitary
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This is an extension of the brain.
The posterior pituitary is one of two lobes that make up the pituitary gland, a small, pea-sized endocrine gland located at the base of the brain. The posterior pituitary's main functions are to store and release the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone). These hormones play a role in water balance, childbirth, and sexual activity.
The posterior pituitary is also known as neurohypophysis. It is not glandular as is the anterior pituitary. Instead, it is largely a collection of axonal projections from the hypothalamus that terminate behind the anterior pituitary.
Signs and symptoms of ectopic posterior pituitary include:
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Prolonged jaundice at birth
- Poor appetite
- Weight loss or weight gain
You can live without your pituitary gland as long as you take medication to replace the pituitary hormones that you're missing. An untreated lack of all the pituitary hormones is life-threatening.
