The gland that secretes hormones regulating other glands and body processes is located in which skull saddle-shaped structure?

• A. Foramen ovale
• B. Cribriform plate
• C. Optic canal
• D. Sella turcica

Answer: (D)

The gland that secretes hormones regulating other glands and many body processes sits in a saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone called the sella turcica. This bony nest, also known as the hypophyseal fossa, houses the pituitary gland and keeps it just beneath the hypothalamus, connected by the infundibulum. The saddle shape and location explain why pituitary issues can affect nearby structures, like the optic chiasm above it.

The other skull openings listed are not where the pituitary resides: foramen ovale transmits the mandibular nerve, the cribriform plate carries olfactory nerves, and the optic canal transmits the optic nerve.