Often referred to as the “master gland”, the pituitary gland is considered the most important part of the endocrine system because it controls several of the body’s other hormone glands. Consisting of two lobes, the front, or anterior, and the back, or posterior, this tiny, pea-sized gland is situated in a bony hollow called the pituitary fossa located close to the optic nerves, behind the bridge of the nose and below the base of the brain. Responsible for the production of growth hormone, puberty hormones, thyroid stimulating hormones, prolactin and the fight or flight hormone, cortisol, the posterior lobe of the pituitary also produces the fluid balance hormone, ADH.