pituitary: Meaning and Definition of

pi•tu•i•tar•y

Pronunciation: (pi-t'i-ter"ē, -ty'-), [key]
— n., pl. adj. -tar•ies,
—n.
  1. See
  2. the extract obtained from the lobes of the pituitary glands 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.
—adj.
  1. of, pertaining to, or involving the pituitary gland.
  2. noting a physical type of abnormal size with overgrown extremities resulting from excessive pituitary secretion.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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