Pituitary

This sagittal slice shows the neural stalk as it turns posteriorly to form the pars nervosa. The neural stalk is made up of axons from the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. One can clearly recognize the difference between the pars distalis and the neural tissue. Also, an hypophyseal cyst is seen. Such cysts are normally found between the pars distalis and the pars nervosa. The pars tuberalis, which contains portal vessels, is shown at higher magnification in slide 166-10-1. The area indicated by the asterisk is shown at higher magnification in image 166-10-2. UCLA Histology Collection.