Hypophysis

Origin

From Greek ὑπό (hypo, "under") + φύσις (physis, "nature"), from φύω (phyō, "to bring forth").

Full definition of hypophysis

Noun

1. (anatomy) The pituitary gland.
• 1915 - Wilhelm Falta, (trans. Milton Kayton Meyers) The Ductless Glandular Diseases, P. Blakiston's Son & Co. OCLC 4634141, page 231CHAPTER VI
  THE DISEASES OF THE HYPOPHYSIS GLAND
2. (botany) The top cell of the suspensor in a dicot embryo, which will differentiate to form part of the root cap.
• 1995 - Trevor A. Thorpe, In Vitro Embryogenesis in Plants, Springer, ISBN 0792331494, page 85All the cells of the suspensor, except one, are eventually crushed and obliterated by the growing embryo; this fortunate cell known as the hypophysis is the one in immediate contact with the embryo and plays an important role in the formation of the root apex.

Derived terms

• hypophysial
• hypophyseal
• adenohypophysis
• neurohypophysis