The adenohypophysis and the cranial base in early human development.

The purpose of the present study is to chart the normal human development of the adenohypophyseal part of the pituitary gland and of the cranial base, with special attention given to the possible presence of pharyngeal remnants of adenohypophyseal tissue. From 31 human embryos and fetuses (7-21 weeks of gestation) midsagittal, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of the cranial base, including the pituitary gland and the pharyngeal wall, were investigated histologically. The identification of adenohypophyseal tissue included immunohistochemical methods. In early stages, the adenohypophysis of the pituitary gland. From this stage in development adenohypophyseal tissue is not demonstrated pharyngeally. The cartilaginous cranial base is visible in its full antero-posterior extent before ossification starts. Cranio-pharyngeal canals are not registered in the cranial base. This study intends to define a standard for subsequent autopsy descriptions of the pituitary gland region in craniofacial malformations.