Pituitary gland

Anatomy of the pituitary gland

 Pituitary gland
• Site:
– In the hypophyseal
fossa.
– 1 cm in diameter, lies
in sella turcica.
– Connected with the
hypothalamus (by
infundibulum of
pituitary stalk through
the diahragma sellae).
 Pituitary gland
• Weight:
0.5 gm
• Dimensions:
– 12 × 8 × 6 mm
 Pituitary gland
• Relations :
 Anteriorly: tuberculum
sellae.
 Posteriorly: dorsum sellae.
 Superiorly: diaphragma
sellae & optic chiasma.
 Inferiorly: body of
sphenoid &
intercavernous sinuses
 On either side: cavernous
sinus
 Pituitary gland
• Clinical Anatomy:
Tumors of the pituitary
gland produces the
following pressure
symptoms.
1. Pressure on optic
chiasma
2. Downward pressure
(ballooning of sella
turcica)
3. Lateral pressure on the
cavernous sinus & its
contents