AN A T O

PITU IT A R Y
M Y O F
G L A ND
 THE PITUITARY
GLAND
◦ Small and oval shaped attached to the
undersurface of brain by the infundibulum.

◦ Its main function is to secrete hormones.

◦ The gland is sometimes called as the “master

gland” because it is involved in many processes and
is vital for life.
 LOCATIO
N
◦ It is situated in the hypophysial fossa,

a depression in the sella turcica of body of

sphenoid.

Hypophysial fossa
The pituitary gland is divided into:

◦ Anterior lobe OR adenohypophysis

◦ Posterior lobe OR neurohypophysis.

THE ANTERIOR LOBE (ADENOHYPOPHYSIS)
IS FURTHER SUBDIVIDED INTO:
◦ Pars distalis (largest part responsible for hormone
secretion)
◦ Pars intermedia (between anterior and posterior
lobes)
◦ Pars tuberalis (an upwards extension of pars anterior that
surrounds the anterolateral aspect of
infundibulum)

THE POSTERIOR LOBE (NEUROHYPOPHYSIS)

IS DIVIDED INTO:
◦ Median eminence
◦ Infundibulum

◦ Pars nervosa (responsible for hormone secretion)

 ANATOMIC
RELATIONS
◦ ANTERIORLY: the sphenoid sinus.

◦ POSTERIORLY: the dorsum sellae, the basilar artery and

the pons.

◦ SUPERIORLY: the diaphragma sellae, which has a central

aperture that allows the passage of the infundibulum.

◦ INFERIORLY: The body of the sphenoid, with its sphenoid

air sinuses.

◦ LATERALLY: the cavernous sinus and its contents.

HORMONES OF THE PITUITARY
GLAND
ANTERIOR LOBE HORMONES
◦ Anteriorcorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
◦ Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
◦ Growth hormone (GH)
◦ Lutenizing hormone (LH)
◦ Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
◦ Prolactin

POSTERIOR LOBE HORMONES

◦ Antidiuretic/vasopressin hormone
◦ Oxytocin
 BLOOD
SUPPLY
◦ ARTERIAL SUPPLY: from the superior and inferior
hypophyseal artery (branches of the internal carotid)

◦ VENOUS DRAINAGE: into the cavernous sinus.

PITUITARY GLAND
CONDITIONS
◦ Several conditions can affect your pituitary gland.
◦ Disorders occur most often in the anterior pituitary.
◦ Most are caused by the tumor in or around the pituitary gland.

◦ EXAMPLES OF PITUITARY GLAND DISORDERS

INCLUDE:
1) Hypopituitarism
2) Hyperpituitarism
3) Hyperprolactinemia
4) Cushing’s disease
 HYPOPITUITARIS
M
◦ The pituitary insufficiency, is a condition in which the
pituitary gland does not make enough of certain
hormones.

EXAMPLE: decreased growth hormone, DWARFISM

◦ Dwarfism is the result of insufficient GH.

The most common complications related with

dwarfism are:
◦ Bowed legs
◦ Arthritis
◦ Hunching of back
◦ Sleeping disorders
◦ Weight gain that can place more strain on spine and
joints.
 HYPERPITUITARIS
M
◦ Results in the excess production or secretion of one or
more hormones.
◦ Prolactin and Growth hormones are most commonly
over produced.

EXAMPLES:

◦ Gigantism is the result of hypersecretion of GH in

children.
◦ Abnormally tall but body proportions are normal.

◦ Acromegaly is the over secretion of GH in adulthood.

◦ Continued growth of bony, connective tissue leads to

disproportionate enlargement of tissue.
 GIGANTIS
ACROMEGAL M
Y

DWARFIS
M
 PROLACTI
N
◦ The hormone that tells the body to make breast milk when a female is
pregnant or breast-feeding.

◦ Production of prolactin takes place in the pituitary gland.

◦ For males and those who are not pregnant or breast-feeding, there are only low
levels of prolactin in the body.
 HYPERPROLACTINEM
IA
◦ Overproduction of prolactin from a pituitary tumor
(prolactinoma) can cause a decrease in other hormones
like estrogen in women and testosterone in men.

◦ Excessive prolactin in the blood affects men and

women differently.

◦ In women, prolactinoma might cause: Irregular

menstrual periods
CUSHING’S
DISEASE
It is caused by hypersecretion of ACTH which causes the
production of too much cortisol, (Hypercortisolism)

SYMPTOMS:
◦ Moon face
◦ Weight gain
◦ Thin skin
◦ Hirsuitism
◦ Buffalo hump
◦ Loss of memory
◦ Abdominal striae