CHAPTER 18 – Hypophysis

The hypophysis or pituitary, the master gland and conductor of the endocrine orchestra, is located in the sella turcica in close approximation to several vital structures such as the brain, vessels, nerves, bone, and connective tissue. The pituitary gland is composed of several cell types and produces several hormones, which regulate the endocrine activities of the thyroid, adrenal cortices, and gonads. Beside affecting hormone secretion of these peripheral endocrine organs, the pituitary influences practically every function in the body, including growth, water and electrolyte balance, and protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism. It influences sleep, sexual activity, muscle strength, and immune functions. Therefore, it is important to study anatomy of the hypophysis, imaging, histology, and ultrastructure of the hypophysis. Moreover, application of modern cellular and molecular methods increased the understanding on the pathogenesis of various pituitary lesions, shed light on their progression and prognosis, and obtained a deeper insight into structure-function correlations and treatment.