Destruction of hypophysis by the application of extreme cold.

The hypophysis is a pituitary gland which is a small oval shaped endocrine gland situated at the base of the brain in the fossa (depression) of the sphenoid bone.

The overall role of the hypophysis (pituitary gland) is to regulate growth and metabolism. The gland is divided into the posterior and anterior pituitary, each responsible for the production of its own unique hormones.