Sella turcica

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Sella turcica
Human skull seen from side (parietal bones and temporal bones have been removed). Sella turcica shown in red.
Sella turcica and pituitary gland.
Details
Identifiers
Latinsella turcica
MeSHD012658
TA98A02.1.05.006
TA2589
FMA54709
Anatomical terms of bone

The sella turcica (

hominids including chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. It serves as a cephalometric landmark. The pituitary gland or hypophysis is located within the most inferior aspect of the sella turcica, the hypophyseal fossa
.

Structure

The sella turcica is located in the sphenoid bone behind the chiasmatic groove and the tuberculum sellae. It belongs to the middle cranial fossa.[1]

The sella turcica's most inferior portion is known as the hypophyseal fossa (the "seat of the saddle"), and contains the pituitary gland (hypophysis). In front of the hypophyseal fossa is the tuberculum sellae.

Completing the formation of the saddle posteriorly is the dorsum sellae, which is continuous with the clivus, inferoposteriorly. The dorsum sellae is terminated laterally by the posterior clinoid processes.

Development

It is widely believed that the development of the diaphragma sellae is a factor which determines the morphology of the sella turcica and its contents.[2]

Function

The sella turcica forms a bony seat for the pituitary gland.

Clinical significance

Empty sella syndrome is the condition of a shrunken or flattened pituitary gland.

Since the sella turcica forms a bony

pituitary tumor usually extends upward in the rostral direction into the suprasellar region. This can result in compression of the optic chiasm, which lies on top of the pituitary, enveloping the pituitary stalk. Compression of the optic chiasm can lead to bitemporal hemianopsia, and, when there is no relevant trauma, this clinical finding is pathognomonic
for a pituitary tumor.

Some pituitary adenomas can extend inferiorly, growing downward and invading the sphenoid bone and cavernous sinus.[3] Large adenomas can cause remodeling of the underlying sphenoid bone altering the shape of the sella turcica.[citation needed]

Sella turcica is also usually used as a reference point with

orthodontic treatment.[4]

Etymology

Sella turcica is from the Latin words sella, meaning seat, and turcica, meaning Turkish.

See also

Additional images

  • Human skull seen from side (parietal bones and temporal bones have been removed). Sella turcica shown in red.
    Human skull seen from side (parietal bones and temporal bones have been removed). Sella turcica shown in red.
  • Hypophysial fossa shown in red.
    Hypophysial fossa shown in red.
  • Sphenoid bone seen from above. Sella turcica shown in red.
    Sphenoid bone seen from above. Sella turcica shown in red.
  • Base of skull - Sella turcica, tuberculum sellae and hypophyseal fossa
    Base of skull - Sella turcica, tuberculum sellae and hypophyseal fossa

References

External links