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The [[Pituitary Gland]] is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 grams in humans. It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and rests in a small, bony cavity.The pituitary gland sits in the hypophysial fossa, situated in the | The [[Pituitary Gland]] is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 grams in humans. It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and rests in a small, bony cavity.The pituitary gland sits in the hypophysial fossa, situated in the [[Sphenoid Bone]] at the base of the brain. The pituitary gland secretes nine hormones that regulate homeostasis.Hormones secreted from the [[Pituitary Gland]] help control many of the body processes.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pituitary_gland Wikipedia]</ref> | ||
The [[Pituitary Gland]] is located inside a round bony cavity that is separated from the sphenoid sinus by a thin bone that forms the roof of the sphenoid sinus. The sphenoid sinus is the most posterior sinus. The drainage from the sphenoid is almost directly down the throat from an ostium (hole) that opens into the posterosuperior part of the nasal cavity. The sphenoid sinus is adjacent to the main nerve that is responsible for vision, the optic nerve. The main artery that goes to the brain, the carotid artery, travels along the wall of this sinus. | The [[Pituitary Gland]] is located inside a round bony cavity that is separated from the sphenoid sinus by a thin bone that forms the roof of the sphenoid sinus. The sphenoid sinus is the most posterior sinus. The drainage from the sphenoid is almost directly down the throat from an ostium (hole) that opens into the posterosuperior part of the nasal cavity. The sphenoid sinus is adjacent to the main nerve that is responsible for vision, the optic nerve. The main artery that goes to the brain, the carotid artery, travels along the wall of this sinus. |