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The pituitary gland or hypophysis is an endocrine gland in vertebrates. In humans , the pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain , protruding off the bottom of the hypothalamus . The human pituitary gland is oval shaped , about 1 cm in diameter, 0.5–1 gram (0.018–0.035 oz) in weight on average, and about the size of a kidney bean .
The pituitary gland (or hypophysis) is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 grams (0.018 oz) in humans. It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and rests in a small, bony cavity (sella turcica) covered by a dural fold (diaphragma sellae).
Gross anatomy (also called topographical anatomy, regional anatomy, or anthropotomy) is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye. [1] Microscopic anatomy is the study of minute anatomical structures assisted with microscopes , which includes histology (the study of the organization of tissues), [ 1 ] and cytology ...
The middle cranial fossa is formed by the sphenoid bones, and the temporal bones.It lodges the temporal lobes, and the pituitary gland. [1] [2] It is deeper than the anterior cranial fossa, is narrow medially and widens laterally to the sides of the skull.
The anterior pituitary (also called the adenohypophysis or pars anterior) is a major organ of the endocrine system.The anterior pituitary is the glandular, anterior lobe that together with the (posterior pituitary, or the neurohypophysis) makes up the pituitary gland (hypophysis) which, in humans, is located at the base of the brain, protruding off the bottom of the hypothalamus.
Rathke's pouch is a sac-like structure that gives rise to the pars distalis, pars intermedia, and pars tuberalis of the pituitary gland. The cells of Rathke's pouch proliferate and differentiate into various hormone-producing cells, including Somatotrophs, Lactotrophs, Corticotrophs, Thyrotrophs, and Gonadotrophs.
They may be mistaken for the much more common pituitary adenoma, as well as craniopharyngioma and meningioma. Symptoms from the mass effect of the tumor usually include vision disorders, and less often headaches, hypopituitarism (decreased function of the pituitary gland), fatigue, and decreased libido.
The pituitary gland is divided into three lobes: the anterior pituitary, the intermediate pituitary lobe, and the posterior pituitary. The hypothalamus controls the anterior pituitary's hormone secretion by sending releasing factors, called tropic hormones , down the hypothalamo-hypophysial portal system. [ 3 ]