Generating a range of hormones that regulate the activity of endocrine glands. Indeed, the hypothalamus can be thought of as the key crossover point between the nervous system and the endocrine system. The pituitary gland The pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure, typically weighing around 500mg; it is located at the base of the brain, just behind the nasal cavity, where it is protected by the sphenoid bone of the skull (Ganapathy and Tadi, 2020). It has two major regions: The posterior (back portion) –essentially, an extension of the hypothalamus, the posterior of the pituitary gland stores and concentrates two neuropeptide hormones called anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin, which are produced by the neurons (nerve cells) of the hypothalamus. ADH helps regulate fluid balance and blood pressure, while oxytocin – among other things – initiates parturition (childbirth).