The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland at the base of the brain, connected to the hypothalamus. Its anterior pituitary contains hormone-secreting glandular cells; its posterior pituitary contains the terminals of hypothalamic neurons. The two regions consequently communicate with the hypothalamus in different ways.[ref]
Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts and others. §17.3, Hypothalamus–Pituitary Complex and anterior/posterior organization
For example, the anterior pituitary secretes prolactin, which promotes milk production, while the posterior pituitary releases oxytocin, which promotes milk ejection. One organ thus participates in distinct, coordinated stages of a physiological response.[ref]
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