Editing Pituitary gland (section)

== Development ==
{{Section citations needed|date=November 2024}}
The development of the pituitary gland, is a complex process that occurs early in the [[organogenesis]] stage of [[embryonic development]]. It begins as a thickening of cells 
in the embryonic [[ectoderm]] that form a [[neurogenic placode|neurogenic cranial placode]], the '''hypophyseal placode''' or '''adenohypophyseal placode''', that in the fourth week of [[gestational age]], gives rise to [[Rathke's pouch]].<ref name="Ilahi">{{cite web |last1=Ilahi |first1=Sadia |last2=Ilahi |first2=Tahir B. |title=Anatomy, Adenohypophysis (Pars Anterior, Anterior Pituitary) |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519039/ |website=StatPearls |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |access-date=4 April 2025 |date=2025}}</ref> Rathke's pouch is the ectodermal outpocketing from the roof of the developing mouth, and gives rise to the anterior pituitary.<ref name="Scott">{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Ian S. |last2=Chattopadhyay |first2=Arpita |last3=Ansorge |first3=Olaf |title=Development and Microscopic Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425703/ |website=Endotext |publisher=MDText.com, Inc. |access-date=2 April 2025 |date=2000}}</ref>
A downward extension from the [[neuroectoderm]] as the infundibulum, forms the posterior pituitary.

[[Cellular differentiation|Differentiation]] and [[cell migration|migration]] takes place in weeks 5 and 6. Rathke's pouch grows towards the developing brain. The upper part of the pouch eventually constricts and detaches from the oral cavity, and cells in Rathke's pouch differentiate to form three parts of the adenohypophysis: the pars distalis, pars intermedia, and pars tuberalis.

In weeks 4 to 8 the posterior pituitary is formed. The infundibulum from the diencephalon elongates downward, forming a stalk that connects with Rathke’s pouch. This stalk will develop into the posterior pituitary where specialized cells from the hypothalamus, known as [[pituicyte]]s, migrate to help store and release hormones such as [[oxytocin]] and [[vasopressin]].

From week 12 to week 16, the anterior pituitary starts to produce hormones, notably [[growth hormone]] and around the 12th to 16th week of gestation, the anterior pituitary begins producing hormones like growth hormone (GH), and [[adrenocorticotropic hormone]] (ACTH), essential for fetal development.

By the end of the [[first trimester]] the pituitary gland is completely formed remaining connected to the hypothalamus by the pituitary stalk (infundibulum), allowing the integration of signals from the brain and regulation of various endocrine functions.
This dual-origin structure and function are what make the pituitary gland a unique and critical component of the endocrine system, acting as a bridge between the nervous and endocrine systems. 

Pituitary [[stem cell]]s can differentiate into different types of hormone-producing cells, with a great number specialising as [[gonadotrope]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Andoniadou |first=Cynthia Lilian |last2=Matsushima |first2=Danielle |last3=Mousavy Gharavy |first3=Seyedeh Neda |last4=Signore |first4=Massimo |last5=Mackintosh |first5=Albert Ian |last6=Schaeffer |first6=Marie |last7=Gaston-Massuet |first7=Carles |last8=Mollard |first8=Patrice |last9=Jacques |first9=Thomas Stanley |last10=Le Tissier |first10=Paul |last11=Dattani |first11=Mehul Tulsidas |last12=Pevny |first12=Larysa Halyna |last13=Martinez-Barbera |first13=Juan Pedro |date=October 2013 |title=Sox2+ Stem/Progenitor Cells in the Adult Mouse Pituitary Support Organ Homeostasis and Have Tumor-Inducing Potential |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1934590913003123 |journal=Cell Stem Cell |language=en |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=433–445 |doi=10.1016/j.stem.2013.07.004}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pérez Millán |first=María Inés |last2=Cheung |first2=Leonard Y. M. |last3=Mercogliano |first3=Florencia |last4=Camilletti |first4=Maria Andrea |last5=Chirino Felker |first5=Gonzalo T. |last6=Moro |first6=Lucia N. |last7=Miriuka |first7=Santiago |last8=Brinkmeier |first8=Michelle L. |last9=Camper |first9=Sally A. |date=February 2024 |title=Pituitary stem cells: past, present and future perspectives |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-023-00922-4 |journal=Nature Reviews Endocrinology |language=en |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=77–92 |doi=10.1038/s41574-023-00922-4 |issn=1759-5029 |pmc=10964491 |pmid=38102391}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rizzoti |first=Karine |last2=Akiyama |first2=Haruhiko |last3=Lovell-Badge |first3=Robin |date=October 2013 |title=Mobilized Adult Pituitary Stem Cells Contribute to Endocrine Regeneration in Response to Physiological Demand |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1934590913003147 |journal=Cell Stem Cell |language=en |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=419–432 |doi=10.1016/j.stem.2013.07.006 |pmc=3793864 |pmid=24094323}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Sheridan |first=Daniel |title=Gonadotrophs have a dual origin, with most derived from pituitary stem cells during minipuberty |date=2024-09-09 |url=http://biorxiv.org/lookup/doi/10.1101/2024.09.09.610834 |access-date=2024-12-06 |language=en |doi=10.1101/2024.09.09.610834 |last2=Chakravarty |first2=Probir |last3=Golan |first3=Gil |last4=Shiakola |first4=Yolanda |last5=Olsen |first5=Jessica |last6=Burnett |first6=Elise |last7=Galichet |first7=Christophe |last8=Mollard |first8=Patrice |last9=Melamed |first9=Philippa}}</ref>