Arterial Supply To The Hypothalamus And Pituitary Gland
The greater part of the arterial blood supply to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland arrives via the internal carotid artery or its branches (Fig. 5.4). The posterior lobe is supplied by the inferior hypophysial artery and the artery of the trabecula (a branch of the superior hypophysial artery). There is no direct arterial supply to the anterior pituitary and all of its blood arises from the long and short hypophysial portal vessels that drain the median eminence. Branches from the circle of Willis supply the hypothalamus, which is extremely well perfused. The paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei receive blood from branches of the suprahypophysial, anterior communicating, anterior cerebral, posterior communicating, and posterior cerebral arteries. Venous blood draining from the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary enters the dural, cavernous, and inferior petrosal sinuses.
