Sella Turcicas is a Latin term used to describe a saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone of the human skull, which houses the pituitary gland. The spelling of this word can be broken down phonetically using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as follows: /ˈsɛlə tuːrˈsaɪkəz/. The stress is on the second syllable. The "s" in "sella" is pronounced as an unvoiced "s" sound, whereas the "c" in "Turcicas" has a "ch" sound like in "church".
The sella turcica, also known as the Turkish saddle, is a bony structure located in the middle cranial fossa of the skull. It is a depression located in the sphenoid bone which is shaped like a saddle, thus giving it its name.
The sella turcica is responsible for housing and protecting the pituitary gland, a small gland located at the base of the brain. This gland is responsible for secreting various hormones that regulate several important bodily functions, such as growth, metabolism, and reproduction.
The sella turcica has a distinct shape, with an anterior and posterior clinoid process on both sides that help stabilize the pituitary gland. It is divided into two parts: the smaller upper portion is called the hypophyseal fossa, which directly contacts the pituitary gland, and the larger lower portion is called the tuberculum sellae. The saddle shape of the sella turcica also creates bony ridges known as dorsum sellae and anterior and posterior clinoid processes.
A well-defined and symmetrical sella turcica is crucial in diagnosing certain medical conditions, such as pituitary tumors or abnormalities. Imaging techniques like X-rays, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are commonly used to examine the size and shape of the sella turcica to detect these conditions.
The word "Sella Turcica" has its origins in Latin. "Sella" means "saddle", and "Turcica" means "Turkish". It refers to a bony depression in the sphenoid bone located at the base of the skull, also known as the Turkish saddle. This name was given to this anatomical structure due to its resemblance to a saddle typically used by Turkish horsemen.