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Pituitary gland
Spotter answer: Section of pituitary gland
Workable field
Transition between adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis at low power. Adjust the focus1.0×
- 1Adenohypophysis — Darker, more cellular region.
- 2Neurohypophysis — Paler, less cellular region.
Before you name anything
Take a deep breath and let's start with the basics. At low power, look at the overall architecture. Do you see two distinct regions? One is more cellular and darker, the other paler and less cellular. This contrast is key to identifying the pituitary gland. The mistake many students make is jumping straight to high power, getting lost in the details, and missing the bigger picture. Focus first on the overall layout. The cellular, darker region is the adenohypophysis, and the paler, less cellular region is the neurohypophysis. If you see a boundary with colloid-filled clefts, that's the pars intermedia. Recognising these zones will guide you through the rest of the identification process.
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