The pituitary gland is a small gland, approximately the size and shape of a pea. It is located between the eyes, behind the bridge of the nose, just below the brain. The pituitary lies within a bony depression in the skull called the sella turcica, which sits below the optic chiasm, the area where nerves from the eyes (the optic nerves) cross and enter the brain. It is often referred to as the "master" gland of the body, because it produces hormones (proteins that are released into the body that influence the function of other organs) that control several other glands throughout the body, including the thyroid gland, the adrenal glands, and the sex organs (ovaries and testicles). The pituitary gland is divided into two main portions: the larger anterior pituitary (at the front) and the smaller posterior pituitary (at the back). Each of these portions has different functions, ... read more on Pituitary Cancer: The Basics