Sella turcica

Bone: Sella turcica

Sphenoid bone. Upper surface. (There is no label for "Sella turcica", but "Tuberculum sellae" and "Fossa hypophyseos" are visible near center.)

Medial wall of left orbit. (Sella turcica labeled in upper right.)
Gray's	subject #35 147
Dorlands / Elsevier	s_07/12728179

The Sella turcica (literally Turkish saddle) is a saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone at the base of the human skull.

The seat of the saddle is known as the hypophyseal fossa which holds the pituitary gland. Located anteriorly to the hypophyseal fossa is the tuberculum sellae.

Completing the formation of the saddle posteriorly is the dorsum sellae. The dorsum sellae is terminated laterally by the posterior clinoid processes.

[edit] See also

Lateral wall of nasal cavity, showing ethmoid bone in position.

Marieb, Elaine Nicpon; (2004). Human Anatomy & Physiology / Elaine M. Marieb. 6th Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.. ISBN 0-8053-5462-X. -- Page 209

v • d • e

Squama	external (Inion/External occipital protuberance, Nuchal lines) - planes (Occipital, Nuchal) - internal (Cruciform eminence, Internal occipital protuberance, Sagittal sulcus, Internal occipital crest)

Lateral parts	Condyle (Condyloid fossa, Condylar canal) - Hypoglossal canal - jugular (Jugular process, Jugular tubercle)

Basilar part	Pharyngeal tubercle

Other	Foramen magnum

Squama	Frontal suture - Frontal eminence - external (Superciliary arches, Glabella) - foramina (Supraorbital, Cecum) - Zygomatic process - internal (Sagittal sulcus, Frontal crest)

Orbital part	Ethmoidal notch - Lacrimal fossa - Trochlear fovea - Frontal sinus - Frontonasal duct

Squama	Articular tubercle - Suprameatal triangle - Mandibular fossa - Petrotympanic fissure - Zygomatic process

Mastoid part	Mastoid foramen - Mastoid process (Mastoid cells) - Mastoid notch - Occipital groove - Sigmoid sulcus - Mastoid antrum (Entrance)

Petrous part	Carotid canal - Facial canal (Hiatus) - Internal auditory meatus - Aqueduct of cochlea - Stylomastoid foramen fossae (Subarcuate fossa, Jugular fossa) - canaliculi (Inferior tympanic, Mastoid) - Styloid process - Petrosquamous suture (note: ossicles in petrous part, but not part of temporal bone)

Tympanic part	Suprameatal spine

Surfaces	Superior surface: Sella turcica (Dorsum sellae, Tuberculum sellae, Hypophysial fossa, Posterior clinoid processes) - Ethmoidal spine - Chiasmatic groove - Middle clinoid process - Petrosal process - Clivus Lateral surface: Carotid groove - Sphenoidal lingula Anterior surface: Sphenoidal sinuses

Great wings	foramina (Rotundum, Ovale, Vesalii, Spinosum) - Spine - Infratemporal crest - Sulcus for auditory tube

Small wings	Superior orbital fissure - Anterior clinoid process - Optic canal

Pterygoid processes	fossae (Pterygoid, Scaphoid) - pterygoid plates (Lateral, Medial) - Pterygoid canal - Hamulus

Other	Body - Sphenoidal conchae

Plates	Cribriform plate (Crista galli, Olfactory foramina) - Perpendicular plate

Surfaces	Lateral surface Orbital lamina - Uncinate process Medial surface Superior nasal concha - Superior meatus - Middle nasal concha - Middle meatus

Labyrinth	Ethmoid sinus - ethmoidal foramina (Posterior, Anterior)