Final answer:
The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland is referred to as the adenohypophysis. It is the glandular part of the pituitary that produces various hormones under the regulation of the hypothalamus, connected by the hypophyseal portal system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland is also known as the adenohypophysis. The pituitary gland, often referred to as the hypophysis or "master gland," is divided into two main sections: the anterior pituitary or adenohypophysis and the posterior pituitary or neurohypophysis. The adenohypophysis is specifically the glandular portion that originates from the primitive digestive tract and is responsible for producing and secreting a variety of hormones in response to signals from the hypothalamus.
The hypophyseal portal system connects the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary, allowing for the direct transport of releasing and inhibiting hormones, which subsequently regulate the hormones produced by the adenohypophysis. It is essential to note that the posterior lobe, or neurohypophysis, is neural tissue that stores and releases hormones produced by the hypothalamus while the adenohypophysis is more involved in hormone production.