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Gross Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland

Author: Aaron Mullally

Overview

The hypophysis (pituitary gland) is located within the cranial vault. It lies just inferior to a part of the diencephalon called the hypothalamus and inferioroposteriorally to the optic chiasma (chiasm). Remember the optic chiasm is point where the optic nerves fuse and decussitate (cross each other). The term chiasma/chiasm means forming and X shape crossing. (refer to images below) The gland itself is found resting within the sella turcica (Turkis saddle) of the spenoid bone. The sella turcica is also called the hypophyseal fossa.

The pituitary gland has two parts/lobes, and anterior and a posterior lobe. The name of the anterior lobe is the adenohypophysis while the posterior lobe is called the neurohypophysis. I will discuss why they are called this and how this came to be in the next packet, which is about the embryologic development of the pituitary gland.

Source: Mind of Aaron

Anatomic Location of the Pituitary Gland

This video goes over the anatomic location of the pituitary gland

Source: Self made

Pituitary Images

Here are some images showing you the anatomic location of the pituitary gland

Source: Self made