Page:Tumors of the pituitary gland.djvu/16

The Normal Pituitary Figure 1.4 GROSS APPEARANCE OF THE NORMAL PITUITARY GLAND Sagittal section showing the ante- rior lobe (lower right), posterior lobe (lower left), and pituitary stalk (top).

Figure 1.5 GROSS APPEARANCE OF THE NORMAL PITUITARY GLAND Horizontal cross section showing the anterior (lower) and posterior lobes (upper).

involution occurs but the gland does not return to its pregestational size and the pituitaries of multiparous women are heavier than those of nulliparous women (2). There is a slight to mod- erate size and weight reduction with advancing age in both sexes (8,13).

The neurohypophysis is composed of nerve fibers from hypothalamic nuclei that project downward to give rise to the median eminence or infundibulum, the neural stalk or infundibu- lar stem, and the posterior lobe of the gland or infundibular process.