Anatomic Relationships of the Pituitary Gland

The optic chiasm rests superiorly to the diaphragma sellae. Nerve fibers originating in the nasal portion of each retina cross at the chiasm to the contralateral side and join ipsilateral nerve fibers originating in the temporal portion of each retina, which do not cross at the chiasm, to form each optic tract. The anatomic relationship between the pituitary gland and the optic chiasm is clinically important, because mass lesions within the pituitary may compress either the chiasm or other portions of the optic apparatus, giving rise to a variety of visual field defects. Specific places where the arachnoid separates from the pia mater form cisterns filled with cerebrospinal fluid, including the chiasmatic cistern and the interpeduncular cistern. These spaces can be distorted by space-occupying sellar lesions growing superiorly from the pituitary.

The hypothalamus is located superiorly to the pituitary gland and is bounded between the optic chiasm anteriorly, the caudal border of the mammillary bodies posteriorly, and the hypothalamic sulcus superiorly. Distinct hypothalamic nuclei regulate anterior pituitary function through the synthesis of several stimulating hormones (growth hormone–releasing hormone, corticotropin-releasing hormone, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone) and inhibiting hormones (somatostatin and dopamine), released at neuronal axon terminals present in the median eminence and the infundibulum. These hormones are carried via the hypophyseal portal system to the adenohypophysis, where they regulate hormone secretion in a specific manner. The inter-relationships between the hypothalamus and the posterior pituitary are detailed in Plate 5-26. Large lesions arising above the sella may impinge on the hypothalamus, interfering with its functions.

The cavernous sinuses are located laterally to the pituitary gland, and receive blood from the pituitary via the hypophyseal veins. Each cavernous sinus contains several important structures, including the cavernous portion of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery, the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves, as well as the first two divisions (ophthalmic and maxillary) of the trigeminal nerve. Each of these nerves may be impinged upon by space-occupying lesions arising in the sella that extend into the cavernous sinus. Examples of such lesions include meningiomas, chondrosarcomas and sellar metastases. Characteristically, pituitary adenomas only rarely cause dysfunction of cranial nerves within the cavernous sinuses, with the notable exception of adenomas undergoing hemorrhagic necrosis (pituitary apoplexy).

The circular sinus lies between the pituitary gland and the underlying sphenoid bone in the sella, forming interconnections between the two cavernous sinuses. The thin sellar floor separates the pituitary gland from the underlying sphenoid sinus. The sellar floor can be expanded by slowly growing sellar masses, leading to remodeling of the sella, or eroded by sellar masses growing inferiorly. The close relationship between the sella, the sphenoid sinus, and the nasopharynx provides an important access route to pituitary surgeons. Using a trans-sphenoidal approach, many sellar masses can be resected with low morbidity.

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