Pituitary


[pi-too-i-ter-ee, -tyoo-] /pɪˈtu ɪˌtɛr i, -ˈtyu-/

noun, plural pituitaries.
1.
.
2.
Pharmacology. the extract obtained from the lobes of the of hogs, sheep, and other domestic animals: the posterior lobe constituent increases blood pressure, contracts stomach muscles, etc., and the anterior lobe constituent regulates growth of the skeleton.
adjective
3.
of, relating to, or involving the .
4.
noting a physical type of abnormal size with overgrown extremities resulting from excessive pituitary secretion.
/pɪˈtjuːɪtərɪ; -trɪ/
noun (pl) -taries
1.
See pituitary gland, pituitary extract
adjective
2.
of or relating to the pituitary gland
3.
(archaic) of or relating to phlegm or mucus
adj.

1610s, from Latin pituitarius “mucous,” from pituita “clammy moisture, phlegm, mucus, slime,” possibly from PIE root *peie- “to be fat, swell” (see pine (n.)). Taken as the name for the gland because it was believed that it channeled mucus to the nose. As a noun by 1899.

pituitary pi·tu·i·tar·y (pĭ-tōō’ĭ-těr’ē, -tyōō’-)
n.

adj.

Read Also:

  • Pituitary basophil adenoma

    pituitary basophil adenoma n. A tumor of the basophilic cells of the anterior pituitary gland, associated with Cushing’s syndrome.

  • Pituitary basophilism

    pituitary basophilism n. See Cushing’s syndrome.

  • Pituitary-body

    noun 1. (formerly) the pituitary gland.

  • Pituitary cachexia

    pituitary cachexia n. See Simmonds disease.

  • Pituitary dwarfism

    pituitary dwarfism n. A rare form of dwarfism caused by the absence of a functional anterior pituitary gland. Also called Lorain-Lévi syndrome.


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