ANATOMY OF THE ANTERIOR

PITUITARY
(OVERVIEW, EMBRYOLOGY, HISTOLOGY, GROSS STRUCTURE)
 Group 5

S/N NAME MATRIC NO. DEPARTMENT CONTRIBUTION

1. Goodness Chidimma Ani (Miss) BMS1802240 Anatomy Overview

2. Taibah Akhayagboke Anidu (Miss) BMS1802241 Anatomy Overview

3. Rukevwe Mabel Easter (Miss) BMS1902023 Anatomy Embryology

4. Clinton Iria Ebhodaghe BMS1802245 Anatomy Embryology

5. Sarah Epue Aleonogwe (Miss) BMS1810624 Physiology Histology

6. Daniel Aigbokhaide Aliu BMS180262 Physiology Histology

7. Chukwuchetam Bonachristus Aloysius BMS1902369 Physiology Gross structure

8. Osakpolor Amadasun BMS1802583 Physiology Gross structure

INTRODUCTION
• The anterior pituitary is the glandular anterior lobe of the pituitary gland

• It is also called the “adenohypophysis”

• It is located in the sella turcica

• It is linked to the hypothalamus by the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system

• The system consist of a network of primary capillaries in the median eminence

and a group of small veins called the portal vein

• The hypothalamus controls the anterior pituitary by secreting hormones called

hypophysiotropic hormones
• The anterior pituitary secrets six main hormones

• They include;
1. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
2. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
3. Luteinizing hormone (LH)
4. Growth hormone (GH)
5. Prolactin releasing hormone (PRH)
6. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
EMBRYOLOGY
• It is derived from the ectoderm (Rathke’s Pouch)

• WNT5, FGF8, FGF10, FGF18, BMP4, 8hh are the molecules involved in
anterior pituitary development

• The molecules activates the transcription factors that induce anterior

pituitary development from the rathke’s pouch

• The pouch is included to detach from the pharynx

• This give rise to the anterior pituitary

• The anterior wall proliferate to the pars distalis and pars tuberalis

• The posterior wall forms the pars intermedia

• The formation of the anterior pituitary from the soft tissues of the upper
plate contrasts with the posterior pituitary that originate from the neuro
ectoderm
HISTOLOGY
• The bulk of the adenohypophysis is the pars distalis, it is composed of
winding cords of epithelia tissue

• The cell types are distinguished base on their ability to stain from
immunohistological dye

• They include; Chromophils and Chromophobes

• Chromophills further give rise to Acidophils and Basophils

• Acidophils, basophils and chromophobes are in the pars distalis

• Acidophils contain polypeptide hormones and basophils contain glycoprotein

hormone

• The pars tuberalis is filled with hypophyseal portal vessels it also contains
basophils plus other secretory cells

• Pars intermedia is contained of colloid filled cells and the melanocyte

secretory hormone is secreted here
GROSS ANTOMY
• It is a glandular anterior lobe

• It is composed of 3 regions; pars distalis, pars tuberalis and pars intermedia

• The pars distalis is the distal part of the gland

• It contains bulk of the hormone secretory cells

• The pars tuberalis is the tubular part of the gland

• It joints the infundibulum to the pars distalis carrying portal blood vessels
at the median eminence

• The pars intermedia is between the pars distalis and the posterior
pituitary .

• Follicles are present in a colloidal matrix, it produces melanocyte

secretory hormone.
Thank you
Any Question?