The pituitary is a tiny organ at the base of your brain. It makes hormones, which are chemical messages that help control how your body grows and develops, and how many other systems stay in balance. Doctors call it a gland; you will also hear pituitary gland, which is the same thing.

The pituitary腦下垂體 is a tiny organ是一個很小的器官 at the base of your brain位於腦部底端。It makes hormones它會分泌荷爾蒙, which are chemical messages荷爾蒙是一種化學訊息 that help control how your body grows and develops幫助控制你的身體怎麼生長發育, and how many other systems stay in balance還有讓身體裡許多其他系統維持平衡。Doctors call it a gland醫生會叫它「腺體」; you will also hear pituitary gland你也會聽到「腦下垂體腺」這個說法, which is the same thing指的是同一個東西。

Though actually, the name is a historical wrong turn: people once believed this organ sent mucus — the wet stuff in your nose — down to the nose, so they named it from a Latin word for phlegm. That idea was wrong, but the name stuck.

Though actually不過其實, the name is a historical wrong turn這個名字是歷史上一個走錯的方向: people once believed this organ sent mucus人們曾經相信這個器官會分泌黏液 — the wet stuff in your nose也就是鼻子裡濕濕的那種東西 — down to the nose往下送到鼻子, so they named it from a Latin word for phlegm所以就用拉丁文裡「痰」的字幫它取了名字。That idea was wrong這個想法是錯的, but the name stuck但名字就這樣留下來了。

You will meet the word in biology class and at the doctor’s. Everyday English can just say “a small gland in your brain” if the long word is new.

You will meet the word你會遇到這個字 in biology class and at the doctor's在生物課，還有看醫生的時候。Everyday English can just say "a small gland in your brain"日常英文可以直接說「a small gland in your brain」（腦裡的一個小腺體） if the long word is new如果這個長字對你來說還很陌生。