Answer:
A: pituitary
Explanation:
The pituitary is an endocrine gland that sits just beneath the base of the brain, behind the bridge of the nose. It is very small only about the size of a pea. It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain. The hypophysis rests upon the hypophysial fossa of the sphenoid bone in the center of the middle cranial fossa and is surrounded by a small bony cavity covered by a dural fold. The anterior pituitary is a lobe of the gland that regulates several physiological processes including stress, growth, reproduction, and lactation. The intermediate lobe synthesizes and secretes melanocyte-stimulating hormone. The posterior pituitary is a lobe of the gland that is functionally connected to the hypothalamus by the median eminence via a small tube called the pituitary stalk. Puberty is the body's natural process of sexual maturation. Puberty's trigger lies in a small part of the brain called the hypothalamus, a gland that secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH stimulates the pituitary gland, a pea-sized organ connected to the bottom of the hypothalamus, to emit two hormones: luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. These two hormones signal the female and male sex organs to begin releasing the appropriate sex hormones, including estrogens and testosterone, which launch the other signs of puberty in the body. Of course there is precocious puberty, such as central precocious puberty and peripheral precocious puberty, and delayed puberty, but generally normal puberty is executed within the endocrine pituitary gland. This question from the original user was established by Edg3nuity in 2021 and so follows a screenshot from the application. Please comment below if you have any questions.
