concept

Pineal gland

The pineal gland is a photo-neuro-endocrine organ situated inside the brain, that secretes serotonin, melatonin and N,N-dymethyltriptamine. -------- The pineal gland is an endocrine gland located in the posterior aspect of the cranial fossa in the brain. Its importance is in the circadian cycle of sleep and wakefulness. The pineal gland is also known as the epiphysis cerebri. The gland is pine cone-shaped and about 0.8 cm long. In an adult, it weighs about 0.1 g. It is an unpaired gland that resides between the thalamic bodies behind the habenular commissure. It is located near the corpora quadrigemina, which is behind the third ventricle. Cerebrospinal fluid bathes the gland through the pineal recess. The following are the relations of the pineal gland in the brain on the coronal section: Superiorly: Corpus callosum (splenium aspect) Inferiorly: Inferior and superior colliculi Superolateral: Third ventricle choroid plexus In a sagittal section, the following is seen: Anterosuperior: Thalamus and the habenular commissure Anteroinferior: Cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius, posterior commissure, and the cerebral peduncle. Posterosuperior: Cerebral vein of Galen Inferiorly: Quadrigemineal plate The epiphysis cerebri is supplied by the adrenergic nerves. The neurons are sensitive to epinephrine. The sympathetic innervation is from the superior cervical ganglion, while the parasympathetic innervation is from the optic and pterygopalatine ganglia. The pineal stalk of the gland also has nerve fibers along with innervation from neurons from the trigeminal ganglion. The neurons from the trigeminal ganglion have nerve fibers that contain the PACAP, which is a neuropeptide. The blood supply of the pineal gland is derived from the posterior cerebral artery from its choroidal branches. The internal cerebral vein drains the blood from the epiphysis cerebri. Histologically the gland consists of cells called pinealocytes and supporting cells.

Ref:
Ilahi S, Beriwal N, Ilahi TB. Physiology, Pineal Gland. 2022 Apr 28. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan–. PMID: 30247830. ----- Gheban BA, Rosca IA, Crisan M. The morphological and functional characteristics of the pineal gland. Med Pharm Rep. 2019 Jul;92(3):226-234. doi: 10.15386/mpr-1235. Epub 2019 Jul 31. PMID: 31460502; PMCID: PMC6709953.

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Added on Feb 6, 2022 by Barbara Van De Keer
Edited on Feb 28, 2023 by Barbara Van De Keer

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