Sella Turcica - Wikipedia

Saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone of the skull For the 2010 film, see Sella Turcica (film).

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
Latin	sella turcica
MeSH	D012658
TA98	A02.1.05.006
TA2	589
FMA	54709
Anatomical terms of bone[edit on Wikidata]

The sella turcica (Latin for 'Turkish saddle') is a saddle-shaped depression in the body of the sphenoid bone of the human skull and of the skulls of other 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

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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

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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

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

Clinical significance

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

Since the sella turcica forms a bony caudal border for the pituitary gland, a 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 nasion to establish the base of the skull in cephalometric analysis. This is commonly done prior to orthodontic treatment.[4]

Etymology

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

See also

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• Sphenoidal sinuses
• Empty sella syndrome
• Sellar region

Additional images

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

References

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1. ^ Mancall, Elliott L.; Brock, David G., eds. (2011). "Cranial Fossae". Gray's Clinical Anatomy. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 154. ISBN 9781437735802.
2. ^ Ferreri, A J M; Garrido, S A; Markarian, M G; Yañez, A (September 1992). "Relationship between the development of diaphragma sellae and the morphology of the sella turcica and its content". Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy. 14 (3): 233–239. doi:10.1007/BF01794946. PMID 1440188. S2CID 32329369.
3. ^ Knosp, Engelbert; Steiner, Erich; Kitz, Klaus; Matula, Christian (October 1993). "Pituitary Adenomas with Invasion of the Cavernous Sinus Space: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Classification Compared with Surgical Findings". Neurosurgery. 33 (4): 610–618. doi:10.1227/00006123-199310000-00008. PMID 8232800.
4. ^ Proffit, William R. Contemporary Orthodontics, 4th Edition. C.V. Mosby, 122006. 6.5.2.1). vbk:978-0-323-04046-4#outline(6.5.2.1)

• Marieb, Elaine Nicpon (2004). Human Anatomy & Physiology (6th ed.). Pearson Education. p. 209. ISBN 0-8053-5462-X.

External links

[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sella turcica.

• Image at Indiana.edu

v t e Neurocranium of the skull
Occipital	Squamous part external Inion/External occipital protuberance Occipital bun External occipital crest Nuchal lines Suprainiac fossa planes Occipital Nuchal internal Cruciform eminence Internal occipital protuberance Internal occipital crest Groove for transverse sinus Lateral parts Condyle Condyloid fossa Condylar canal Hypoglossal canal jugular Jugular process Jugular tubercle Basilar part Pharyngeal tubercle Clivus Other Foramen magnum Basion Opisthion
Parietal	Parietal eminence Temporal line Parietal foramen Sagittal sulcus Sagittal keel Sagittal crest
Frontal	Squamous part Frontal suture Frontal eminence external Superciliary arches Glabella foramina Supraorbital foramen Brow ridge Foramen cecum Zygomatic process internal Sagittal sulcus Frontal crest Orbital part Ethmoidal notch Fossa for lacrimal gland Trochlear fovea Frontal sinus Frontonasal duct
Temporal	Squamous part Articular tubercle Suprameatal triangle Mandibular fossa Petrotympanic fissure Zygomatic process Mastoid part Mastoid foramen Mastoid process (Mastoid cells) Mastoid notch Occipital groove Sigmoid sulcus Mastoid antrum (Aditus) Petrous part Carotid canal Facial canal Hiatus Internal auditory meatus Cochlear aqueduct Stylomastoid foramen fossae Subarcuate fossa Jugular fossa canaliculi Inferior tympanic Mastoid Styloid process Petrosquamous suture (note: ossicles in petrous part, but not part of temporal bone) Tympanic part Suprameatal spine
Sphenoid	Surfaces Superior surface: Sella turcica Dorsum sellae Tuberculum sellae Hypophysial fossa Posterior clinoid processes Ethmoidal spine Chiasmatic groove Middle clinoid process Petrosal process Clivus Lateral surface: Carotid groove Sphenoidal lingula Anterior surface: Sphenoidal sinuses Great wings foramina Rotundum Ovale Vesalii Spinosum Spine Infratemporal crest Sulcus of auditory tube Small wings Superior orbital fissure Anterior clinoid process Optic canal Pterygoidprocesses fossae Pterygoid Scaphoid pterygoid plates Lateral Medial Pterygoid canal Hamulus Other Body Sphenoidal conchae
Ethmoid	Plates Cribriform plate Crista galli Olfactory foramina Perpendicular plate Surfaces Lateral surface Orbital lamina Uncinate process Medial surface Supreme nasal concha Superior nasal concha Superior meatus Middle nasal concha Middle meatus Labyrinth Ethmoid sinus ethmoidal foramina Posterior Anterior

Authority control databases	Terminologia Anatomica