What Is The Purpose Of The Sella Turcica?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Function. The sella turcica forms a bony seat for the pituitary gland .

What does the sella turcica protect?

The pituitary gland sits in the sella turcica, a bony cup at the base of the brain, which protects it.

Why is the sella turcica important?

The sella turcica serves as an important anatomical reference in orthodontics partly because the s-point, placed centrally in the sella region, is a central fix point in cephalometric analysis and partly because the contour of the anterior wall is used in evaluation of craniofacial growth.

What is meant by sella turcica?

Listen to pronunciation. (SEL-uh TER-sih-kuh) A depression of the bone at the base of the skull where the pituitary gland is located .

What does a partially empty sella turcica mean?

Partial empty sella syndrome means your sella is less than half full of CSF, and your pituitary gland is 3 to 7 millimeters (mm) thick. Total empty sella syndrome means more than half of your sella is filled with CSF, and your pituitary gland is 2 mm thick or less.

What part of the body is the sella?

The sella turcica is located in the sphenoid bone behind the chiasmatic groove and the tuberculum sellae . It belongs to the middle cranial fossa. The sella turcica’s most inferior portion is known as the hypophyseal fossa (the “seat of the saddle”), and contains the pituitary gland (hypophysis).

Can empty sella cause dizziness?

Background. Primary empty sella is a herniation of the sellar diaphragm into the pituitary space. It is an incidental finding and patients may manifest neurological, ophthalmological and/or endocrine disorders. Episodes of vertigo, dizziness, and hearing loss, have been reported.

How rare is empty sella?

Empty Sella Syndrome (ESS) is a disorder that involves the sella turcica, a bony structure at the base of the brain that surrounds and protects the pituitary gland. ESS is often discovered during radiological imaging tests for pituitary disorders. ESS occurs in up to 25 percent of the population.

Can you live without a pituitary gland?

The pituitary gland is called the master gland of the endocrine system. This is because it controls many other hormone glands in the body. According to The Pituitary Foundation, without it, the body wouldn’t reproduce , wouldn’t grow properly and many other bodily functions just wouldn’t function.

Does empty sella cause weight gain?

These symptoms vary depending on which hormones have been affected but may include fatigue, thirst, excess urination, low blood pressure, loss of appetite, constipation, muscle weakness, headaches, nausea, weight gain or loss, hoarseness, visual disturbances, a low tolerance for stress, abdominal discomfort, loss of ...

What does sella mean in English?

noun. saddle [noun] a seat for a rider.

What does the word sella mean?

[sel ́ah] (L.) a saddle-shaped depression .

What’s another name for sella turcica?

human skull

portion of this seat, or sella turcica (“ Turk’s saddle” ), is actually wall-like and is called the dorsum sellae. The pituitary gland is thus situated in almost the centre of the cranial cavity.

Is it normal to have a partially empty sella?

This is called as empty sella syndrome. Partial empty sella is suggestive that some of the pituitary gland is visible on the MRI scan . It is of two types, primary and secondary. Primary empty sella occurs when a hole in diaphragmatic sella covering the pituitary allows fluid in, which presses on the pituitary.

What is the sella in the brain?

Within your skull, there’s a small, bony nook at the base of your brain that holds and protects your pituitary gland (which controls how hormones work in your body). This tiny structure is called the sella turcica .

What is an enlarged sella?

Empty sella syndrome (ESS) may occur if you have an enlarged sella turcica. This is a bony structure where the pituitary gland sits at the base of the brain. During an imaging test of the area, the pituitary gland may first look like it is missing. There are 2 types of ESS: primary and secondary.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.