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The Pituitary Gland

The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary is a small endocrine organ in the sphenoid bone under the hypothalamus. Primarily, the pituitary in adults has two distinct anatomical and functional regions— the anterior and posterior lobes. During human fetal development, a third pituitary gland region called the pars intermedia atrophies and disappears. However, some of its cells migrate and exist adjacent to the anterior pituitary in adults.

Hormones of the Pituitary Gland

Hormones of the Pituitary Gland

The small, pea-sized pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain. It is crucial in regulating various bodily functions, from growth to reproduction. The gland is divided into the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe. The secretory cell clusters in the pars distalis of the anterior pituitary lobe are controlled by hypothalamic regulators and synthesize six primary hormones.
The most abundantly secreted hormone from the anterior lobe is the growth hormone, which controls overall growth by...

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and...

Lysosomal Hydrolases

Lysosomal Hydrolases

Lysosomes are the site for the degradation of macromolecules and biological polymers released during membrane trafficking events such as secretory, endocytic, autophagic, and phagocytic pathways. The membrane-enclosed area of the lysosome, called the lumen, contains hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment. These acid hydrolases are functional at a pH between 4.5 and 5 and are involved in cellular processes such as cell signaling, energy metabolism, restoration of the plasma membrane,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 28, 2025

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

Published on: January 17, 2018

Nonfunctioning Pituitary Lesions.

Benjamin P Brownlee¹, Daljit Mann¹, Chad Glenn²

¹Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 800 Stanton L. Young Boulevard, Suite 1400, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.

Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America

|April 2, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Nonfunctioning pituitary lesions, often diagnosed late due to silent growth, present unique diagnostic and management challenges. This review details their subtypes, clinical features, and diagnostic work-up for effective patient care.

Keywords:

Nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma Null-cell adenoma Silent corticotroph adenoma Silent gonadotroph adenoma Silent lactotroph adenoma Silent pituitary adenoma Silent somatotroph adenoma Silent thyrotroph adenoma

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Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Neuro-oncology
Pathology

Background:

Nonfunctioning pituitary lesions are adenomas lacking hormone hypersecretion, leading to delayed diagnosis.
Their indolent nature often results in presentation with compressive symptoms due to tumor size.
Despite being clinically silent, subtypes are biochemically distinct based on cell lineage.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the biochemical, clinical, and histopathologic features of nonfunctioning pituitary lesion subtypes.
To provide a diagnostic work-up rubric for these lesions.
To outline management options for clinicians treating these tumors.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on pituitary adenoma subtypes.
Analysis of biochemical, clinical, and histopathologic data.
Development of a diagnostic and management guideline.

Main Results:

Detailed characterization of various nonfunctioning pituitary lesion subtypes.
Identification of distinct biochemical profiles for each subtype.
Established diagnostic criteria and treatment strategies.

Conclusions:

Understanding subtype-specific features is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
A structured approach to diagnosis and management improves patient outcomes.
Further research into the molecular basis of these lesions is warranted.