The pituitary stalk (also known as the infundibular stalk, the "Fenderson funnel", or simply the infundibulum) is the relationship between the hypothalamus and the posterior pituitary. The third ventricle floor extends downward as a funnel-shaped recess - infundibular recess - to the infundibulum, where the pituitary peak is attached. It passes through the dura mater of the cell diaphragm because it carries the axons of the magnocellular neurosecretory cells from the hypothalamus to the posterior pituitary where they release their neurohypophysial hormones, oxytocin and vasopressin, into the blood.
This relationship is called the hypothalamus-pituitary or hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal channel.
Video Pituitary stalk
Clinical interests
It has been suggested that the pituitary stalk may become compressed because of a suprasellar tumor in the parsal tuberal region, and that the resulting compression may lead to hyperprolactinemia. This phenomenon has been described as a stalk or pituitary compression stroke syndrome.
However, at least one article suggests that increased prolactin in these cases may be due to the secretion of a preprotachyinin A-derived tumor of tachykinin, substance P, and/or neurokinin A.
Damage to the pituitary stalk blocks the release of antidiuretic hormones, resulting in polydypsia (intake of disturbing water) and polyuria (excessive urination).
Maps Pituitary stalk
See also
- Pituitary stalker syndrome
Additional images
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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