Pituitary gland and limbic system. Illustration of a section through the pituitary gland (purple,lower centre) and the limbic system (pink,centre) in the human brain. The pituitary (master) gland is an endocrine gland,one which releases hormones into the bloodstream. It controls the release of other endocrine hormones from their associated glands,regulating the metabolism,sexual development and growth. The limbic system is a complex network of nerve pathways involved in instinct,mood and emotions. The limbic system includes the hypothalamus,which controls body temperature and panic responses,for example,and the thalamus,which filters sensory information |