1. RADIOLOGY ANATOMY OF THE PITUITARY GLAND
Dr. fahad albadr

2. ANATOMY OF THE PITUITARY GLAND

3. OBJECTIVES Describe the position of the pituitary gland.
At the end of the lecture, students should be able to:
Describe the position of the pituitary gland.
List the structures related to the pituitary gland.
Differentiate between the lobes of the gland.

4. PITUITARY GLAND (HYPOPHYSIS CEREBRI)
It is referred to as the master of endocrine glands.
It is a small oval structure 1 cm in diameter.

5. PITUITARY GLAND X-RAY SKULL: LATERAL VIEW
SAGITTAL SECTION OF HEAD & NECK
Pituitary
gland
Hypophyseal fossa
Sphenoidal air sinus

6. It lies in the middle cranial fossa
POSITION
It is well protected in sella turcica (hypophyseal fossa) of body of sphenoid
It lies in the middle cranial fossa
Sella turcica

7. Optic chiasma
Mamillary body
Body of sphenoid
it lies between optic chiasma (anteriorly) & mamillary bodies (posteriorly).

9. A fold of dura mater (Diaphragma sellae) covers the pituitary gland & has an opening for passage of infundibulum (pituitary stalk) connecting the gland to hypothalamus.

10. SUPERIOR: Diaphragma sellae INFERIOR: Sphenoidal air sinuses
IMPORTANT RELATIONS
SUPERIOR: Diaphragma sellae
INFERIOR: Sphenoidal air sinuses
LATERAL: Cavernous sinuses

11. SUBDIVISIONS OF PITUITARY GLAND
Hypothalamo-hypophyseal
tract
The gland is subdivided into:
1) Anterior lobe (Adenohypophysis): it is the True gland, Secretes hormones
2) Posterior lobe (Neurohypophysis): connected to hypothalamus through hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract, Stores hormones secreted by hypothalamic nuclei

12. BLOOD SUPPLY OF PITUITARY GLAND
ARTERIES: Superior & inferior hypophyseal arteries (branches of internal carotid artery)
VEINS: Hypophyseal veins drain into Cavernous Sinuses.

13. DISTRIBUTION OF ARTERIES
a hypothalamo-
hypophseal
portal vessel
Superior hypophyseal: supplies infundibulum & forms a capillary network from which vessels pass downward & form sinusoids into the anterior lobe of pituitary gland (hypophyseal portal system).
Inferior hypophyseal: supplies posterior lobe of pituitary gland.

14. ANTERIOR LOBE
Hormone-releasing & inhibiting factors produced by hypothalamus use Hypophyseal Portal System of vessels to reach the Anterior lobe of pituitary gland

15. POSTERIOR LOBE
The neurohypophysis receives a nerve supply from some of the hypothalamic nuclei (supraoptic & paraventricular)
The axons of these nuclei convey their neurosecretion to the Posterior lobe of pituitary gland through Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal tract from where it passes into the blood stream.

16. NORMAL PITUITARY GLAND
The gland is composed of two parts:
Anterior lobe (adeno hypophysis)
Posterior lobe (neuro hypophysis)
Normal size:
Weight: 0.5g
Height: 4-12 mm
Anterior posterior: 5-16 mm

17. INDICATIONS FOR IMAGING THE PITUITARY GLAND
Hormonal dysfunction
Cushing syndrome
Growth abnormalities e.g. Growth hormone deficiency, acromegaly
Visual abnormalities
headache

19. What is best modality to image the pituitary gland ?
X ray
CT scan
MRI US
Nuclear medicine

20. What is best modality to image the pituitary gland ?
X ray
CT scan
MRI US
Nuclear medicine

21. CT scan
MRI

22. CT scan
MRI

23. X RAY

25. 1 2 3 4 5 6

26. 2- Anterior clinoid process 3-Floor of sella turcia (Pituitary fossa) 1 2
1-Optic sulcus
2- Anterior clinoid process
3-Floor of sella turcia (Pituitary fossa)
4- Posterior clinoid process
5- Dorsum sella
6- Sphenoid sinus 3 4 5 6

28. MRI

29. 4 3 5 2 6 1

30. 1- pituitary gland 2- sphenoid sinus 3- optic chiasm 4- hypothalamus
5- pituitary stalk
6- claivus 5 2 6 1

31. NORMAL
PITUITARY ADENOMA

33. 2 3 1 4 5 6

34. 2 3 1 4 5 6

35. Optic chiasm
Pituitary stalk
Pituitary gland
Carotid artery
Cavernous sinus
Sphenoid sinus

40. THE END