Membranous layers of the pituitary gland: histological anatomic study and related clinical issues.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the membranous layers of the human pituitary gland and their relationships with invasive adenomas.


METHODS
Histological and microdissection techniques were used to study 8 fetal and 10 adult human cadavers, respectively. The distribution of the membranous layers was observed, and their thickness was measured. The results were analyzed histologically and anatomically.


RESULTS
In all specimens, the pituitary glands were found to be coated by 2 membranous layers, the inner layer being referred to here as the lamina propria and the outer as the pituitary capsule. In all specimens, the 2 membranes were intact with no histological defects. An interstice or cavity between the 2 layers was found on the surface of the adenohypophysis. However, as these 2 layers got closer and closer to each other, they began to adhere on the surface of the neurohypophysis. The thickness of the pituitary capsule was not constant like that of the lamina propria: the inferolateral part of the capsule was thicker than the other parts. The medial wall of the cavernous sinus (CS) was also a bilayered membrane just like the other CS walls: the 2 layers of the medial CS wall were composed of the lateral part of the pituitary capsule and the fibrous layer. Many fibrous trabeculae arising from this fibrous layer divided the CS into several small venous spaces and connected the internal carotid arteries with the medial wall.


CONCLUSIONS
The terminology for the 2 membranous layers, the lamina propria and the pituitary capsule, seemed to be more appropriate and representative of the histological features of the pituitary layers. The lateral part of the capsule and the fibrous layer constituted the medial wall of the CS, which has a superior part that is weaker than the thicker inferior part. It is still difficult to postulate the criteria needed to predict CS invasion. However, the distance between the 2 sides of the internal carotid artery might be another predictive criterion to preoperatively diagnose CS invasion by adenomas. Enhanced knowledge of these membranes may be of assistance in finding a useful criterion.
Songtao
Qi
Q
Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, China. sjwk_songtao@hotmail.com
Yuntao
Lu
L
Jun
Pan
P
Chuanping
Huang
H
Xiaofeng
Shi
S
D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004210:Dissection; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008566:Membranes / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D009626:Terminology as Topic
D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin