Posterior pituitary: Difference between revisions

The posterior pituitary consists mainly of [[neuron]]al projections ([[axon]]s) of [[magnocellular neurosecretory cell]]s extending from the [[supraoptic nucleus|supraoptic]] and [[paraventricular nucleus|paraventricular nuclei]] of the [[hypothalamus]]. These axons store and release neurohypophysial hormones [[oxytocin]] and [[vasopressin]] into the neurohypohyseal capillaries, from there they get into the [[systemic circulation]] (and partly back tointo the [[hypophyseal portal system]]). In addition to axons, the posterior pituitary also contains [[pituicyte]]s, specialized [[glial cell]]s resembling [[astrocyte]]s assisting in the storage and release of the hormones.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Hatton|first=GI|title=Pituicytes, glia and control of terminal secretion.|journal=The Journal of experimental biology|date=September 1988|volume=139|pages=67–79|pmid=3062122|url=http://jeb.biologists.org/content/139/1/67.full.pdf}}</ref>