Which endocrine gland is located at the base of the brain?

• A. Pituitary gland
• B. Thyroid gland
• C. Adrenal gland
• D. Pineal gland

Answer: (A)

This question tests knowledge of where endocrine glands sit and how they influence the body. The gland located at the base of the brain is the pituitary gland. It sits in a small bony pocket called the sella turcica at the base of the skull, just below the hypothalamus, and is connected to the hypothalamus by the infundibulum. This position lets the hypothalamus control pituitary hormone release, and in turn the pituitary regulates other glands such as the thyroid, adrenals, and gonads, plus growth and other processes. The thyroid is in the neck, the adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys, and the pineal gland is deeper inside the brain rather than at the base, so they aren’t located at the brain’s base.