The pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure located in the sella tursica bone that is connected to the hypothalamus by the pituitary stalk. It is made up of the anterior and posterior lobes. The anterior lobe secretes hormones that control other endocrine glands while the posterior lobe stores and releases hormones involved in water balance and milk release. During development, the pituitary forms from an invagination in the roof of the mouth called Rathke's pouch. Disorders of the pituitary can result in too much or too little hormone secretion and impact growth, metabolism and other functions.

1. Gross anatomy, histology and
developmental anatomy of
pituitary gland
Dr. Laxman Khanal
Asst. Professor, Department of Anatomy
BPKIHS, Dharan
17-11-2016

2. Q. ‘Pituitary’ is named so because it was though that
a. Its size is like that of pea
b. It secret mucus like secretion which released from nose
c. It is located in sella tursica
d. It is master endocrine gland
Q. What structure lies lateral to the pituitary?
a. Optic chiasma b. Diaphragm sellae
c. Cavernous sinus d. sphenoid bone
Q. Hormone ‘Vasopressin’ is synthesized in.
a. Posterior pituitary b. Anterior pituitary
b. Hypothalamus d. Thalamus

3. Introduction
• The pituitary gland is a pea-shaped structure measuring about 0.5
inch in diameter that lies in the hypophysial fossa of the sphenoid
bone and attaches to the hypothalamus by a stalk, the infundibulum.
• For long time pituitary gland was regarded as master endocrine gland
due to its control over other gland, but we now know that pituitary
itself has master that is hypothalamus.
• Pituitary gland is also called as ‘hypophysis cerebri’.
(Hypo=under, physis= growth, cerebri=cerebrum)

4. • Lies in hypophyseal fossa of sphenoid bone
• Covered by dural fold (diaphragm sellae)
• Above connected with hypothalamus by infundibulum.
3rd ventricle
Hypothalamus
Pituitary stalk
Pituitary glandCS

7. 3rd ventricle
Post lobe
Ant lobe
InfundibulumNeurohypophysis
1. Pars posterior
2. Infundibulum
3. Median eminence
Cleft of pituitary
Intermediate
lobe

8. 3rd ventricle
Neurohypophysis
1. Pars posterior
2. Infundibulum
3. Median eminence
Adenophypophysis
1. Pars tuberalis
2. Pars intermedia
3. Pars anterior

9. 3rd ventricle
OC

10. Prosencephalon (Forebrain)
1. Diencephalon
2. Telencephalon
Primitive oral cavity
(stomodeum)
Floor of diencephalon
Roof of stomodeum
Rathke’s pouch
Neuroectodermal
diverticulum
Infundibulum
Neurohypophysis
Adenohypophysis
Ant pituitary
Intermediate pituitary

11. Development of pituitary gland

12. Craniopharyngioma
Remnants of Rathke’s pocuh

13. Primary capillary plexus
Secondary capillary plexus
Hypophysial Portal vein
Hypophysial vein
Superior and inferior
hypophysial artery
Capillary plexus of
posterior lobe
Hypophysial vein
Trabecular artery

15. 1. GH
2. TSH
3. FSH & LH
4. ACTH
5. Prolactin
1. ADH
2. Oxytocin
Hypothalamic nuclei secreting
releasing and inhibiting
hormone to ant lobe of
pituitary.
Primary capillary plexus
receiving releasing &
inhibiting hormone.
Ant pituitary cells
respond to releasing or
inhibiting factors and
release its hormones.

16. 1. GH
2. TSH
3. FSH & LH
4. ACTH
5. Prolactin
1. ADH
2. Oxytocin
Hypothalamo-hypophysial tract (HHT)
PV
SO
Herring bodies

18. 1. Basophilic cells-10%
2. Acidophilic cells-40%
3. Chromphobes cells-50%
1. Somatotropes - GH
2. Lactotropes - Prolactin
3. Corticotropes - ACTH
4. Gonadotropes - FSH & LH
5. Thyrotropes - TSH
Acidophilic
Basophilic

19. 1. Basophilic cells-10%
2. Acidophilic cells-40%
3. Chromphobes cells-50%
Pars anterior

20. • Pituicytes
• Nerve fibers
• Herring Bodies
• Capillaries
Pars nervosa

21. ADH stored in posterior pituitaryV2 R
V2 R
More water retain in body.
Volume of urine decreases.
HHT system
Diabetes
insipidus
Central DI
Nephrogenic DI
No ADH
ADH synthesized in hypothalamus

22. Cushing disease
Pituitary adenoma of ant lobe
High ACTH secretion
High cortisol from adrenal
cortex
• High BP
• High blood glucose level
• Moon face
• Fatigueness

23. Robert Wadlow (8 ft 11 inch)
Peter Dinklage (4 ft 5 inch)
Big show (200 kg)
• Gigantism
• Acromegaly
• Dwarfism
Pituitary disorders