The pituitary is a small gland
attached to the base of the brain (behind the nose)
in an area called the pituitary fossa or sella turcica. The pituitary is often called the “master gland” because it controls the secretion of most of the hormones in the body.
What is the fossa pituitary gland?
The pituitary (hypophyseal) fossa or sella turcica is
a midline, dural lined structure in the sphenoid bone
, which houses the pituitary gland.
How big is the pituitary fossa?
It is gratifying to note that there is general agree- ment in the definition of the lateral area of the pituitary fossa. The range and mean value in this series concur with those of Haas (1954) who measured a total of 661 adult fossae. He obtained a mean of
86-1 sq. mm for males and 87-2 sq.mm for females.
What passes through the pituitary fossa?
Structures crossing the cavernous sinuses lateral to the pituitary gland include the
carotid artery
, cranial nerve III (oculomotor), cranial nerve IV (trochlear), cranial nerve VI (abducens) nerve, two branches of cranial nerve V (trigeminal nerve branch 1 and 2), the ophthalmic branch V
1
, and the maxillary branch V
2
.
Where is the Sella located?
The sella turcica is a saddle-shaped depression located
in the bone at the base of skull (sphenoid bone)
, in which resides the pituitary gland.
What does a pituitary tumor headache feel like?
Headache pain in these situations is typically characterized by
steady, bifrontal or unilateral frontal aching
(ipsilateral to tumor). In some instances, pain is localized in the midface (either because of involvement of the second division of the trigeminal or secondary to sinusitis).
What are the symptoms of a malfunctioning pituitary gland?
- Anxiety or depression.
- Diabetes.
- Hair loss.
- High blood pressure.
- Irregular menstrual periods.
- Unexpected breast milk production.
- Low energy or low sex drive.
- Stunted growth or unusual growth spurts.
Can you live a normal life with a pituitary tumor?
In general, when a pituitary tumor is not cured,
people live out their lives
but may have to deal with problems caused by the tumor or its treatment, such as vision problems or hormone levels that are too high or too low.
What is the most common type of pituitary tumor?
- Nonfunctional adenomas (null cell adenomas) These tumors are the most common type. …
- Prolactin-producing tumors (prolactinomas) These benign tumors are also common. …
- ACTH-producing tumors. …
- Growth hormone-producing tumors.
What type of surgeon removes pituitary tumors?
When the pituitary area is entered,
the neurosurgeon
removes the pituitary tumor in small pieces. When all parts of the tumor that can be reached have been removed, the endoscope is removed. Some packing may be placed in the nose to complete the operation.
How do you remove pituitary gland?
- To remove the pituitary gland through the nose, surgeons make an incision beneath the upper lip. …
- Opening the skull works best if tumors have extended above the cavity in which the gland is located.
How many pituitary gland do we have in our body?
The pituitary gland has
two main parts
, the anterior pituitary gland and the posterior pituitary gland. The gland is attached to a part of the brain (the hypothalamus) that controls its activity. The anterior pituitary gland is connected to the brain by short blood vessels.
What does the pituitary gland sit on?
Your pituitary (hypophysis) is a pea-sized endocrine gland at the base of your brain, behind the bridge of your nose and directly below your hypothalamus. It sits in
an indent in the sphenoid bone called the sella turcica
. The pituitary gland is one of eight interrelated major endocrine glands: Pineal gland.
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.
What part of the skull holds the pituitary gland?
The pituitary gland is
within the sella turcica or the hypophyseal fossa
. This structure is present near the center at the base of the cranium and is fibro-osseous. The anatomical boundaries of the gland have clinical and surgical significance. Sella turcica is a concave indentation in the sphenoid bone.
Can a pituitary gland disappear?
Empty
sella
syndrome is a condition where the pituitary gland appears flattened or shrunken within the sella turcica on a MRI scan. The pituitary gland usually continues to function normally, but in a minority of cases can become underactive (hypopituitarism).
