An endocrinal gland with parenchyma consisting of epithelium and neural tissue is under morphological examination. Epithelial trabecules have two types of cells: chromophilic and chromophobic. Identify this organ:

Answer options

1. Thyroid gland
2. Hypothalamus
3. Hypophysis
4. Adrenal glands
5. Parathyroid gland

Explanation

The pituitary gland (hypophysis) is a pea-sized gland that sits in a protective bony enclosure called the Sella Turcica*. It is composed of three lobes: anterior, intermediate, and posterior. The anterior lobe of the pituitary can be divided into the pars tuberalis (pars glandularis) and pars distalis (pars glandularis) that constitute ~80% of the gland and the pars intermedia. The pars distalis, (distal part), comprises the majority of the anterior pituitary and is where the bulk of pituitary hormone production occurs. It contains two types of cells including chromophobe cells and chromophil cells. The chromophils can be further divided into acidophils (alpha cells) and basophils (beta cells). These cells all together produce hormones of the anterior pituitary and release them into the bloodstream.*The Sella Turcica (Latin for Turkish seat) 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.