FOSSA HYPOPHYSEOS Meaning and
Definition
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Fossa hypophyseos, also known as the hypophyseal fossa or sella turcica, is a depression or concavity located in the sphenoid bone of the human skull. It is specifically found within the middle cranial fossa, in the region of the skull base, just behind the nasal cavity and above the nasal pharynx.
The size and shape of the fossa hypophyseos can vary among individuals, but it often has a saddle-like structure resembling the shape of a Turkish saddle, hence its alternative name "sella turcica." This anatomical feature accommodates and safeguards one of the most critical endocrine glands in the body, called the pituitary gland.
The pituitary gland rests within the fossa hypophyseos and consists of two main components: the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) and the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis). These portions of the pituitary gland play essential roles in controlling numerous bodily functions, including metabolism, growth, reproduction, and the production of various hormones.
In medical terms, abnormalities related to the fossa hypophyseos can occur, such as a pituitary adenoma (a benign tumor of the pituitary gland) or an empty sella syndrome (a condition where the sella turcica is partially or completely filled with cerebrospinal fluid and the pituitary gland is compressed). Such conditions may require medical intervention, including hormone replacement treatments or surgical procedures to alleviate symptoms and restore normal pituitary gland functions.
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Hypophyseal fossa, pituitary fossa of the sphenoid bone.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for FOSSA HYPOPHYSEOS
- dossa hypophyseos
- cossa hypophyseos
- vossa hypophyseos
- gossa hypophyseos
- tossa hypophyseos
- rossa hypophyseos
- fissa hypophyseos
- fkssa hypophyseos
- flssa hypophyseos
- fpssa hypophyseos
- f0ssa hypophyseos
- f9ssa hypophyseos
- foasa hypophyseos
- fozsa hypophyseos
- foxsa hypophyseos
- fodsa hypophyseos
- foesa hypophyseos
- fowsa hypophyseos
- fosaa hypophyseos
- fosza hypophyseos
Etymology of FOSSA HYPOPHYSEOS
The term "fossa hypophyseos" has its etymology rooted in Latin and Greek.
1. Fossa: The Latin word "fossa" means "ditch" or "trench". In anatomy, the term refers to a depression or hollow space.
2. Hypophyseos: The word "hypophyseos" comes from the Greek word "hypophysis", which means "growing or producing under". In anatomy, it specifically refers to the pituitary gland, a small gland located at the base of the brain.
By combining both terms, "fossa hypophyseos" in anatomical terms refers to the "ditch-like depression" or "hollow space of the pituitary gland".
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