Pituitary

(pit-u'-it-a-re). Mucus; secreting or containing mucus. P. Body, a small, reddish-gray vascular body, weighing about ten grains, contained within the sella turcica. The pituitary body consists of two portions, the large anterior, oral and the small posterior, cerebral division. The anterior lobe is derived as a diverticulum from the primitive oral cavity, and, as such, is lined with oral ectoderm, while the posterior lobe descends as an outgrowth from the floor of the primary interbrain. The stalk of this outgrowth remains as the infundibulum. The pituitary body has attracted much attention on account of pathologic changes in its structure in certain obscure diseases, such as a crome gal i a, myxedema, and others. In some cases of the affection first named, it has been much enlarged. It is called also hypophysis cerebri and pituitary gland. P. Diverticulum, a flask-like outgrowth of the middle of the upper posterior portion of the buccal cavity of the embryo. It takes part in the formation of the pituitary body. P. Fo a. See Fo a . P. Gland. See P. Body and Gland. P. Membrane, the Schneiderian membrane. P. Space, in the embryo, the open space at the base of the skull that subsequently becomes the seat of the pituitary body. It corresponds to the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone.