Pars intermedia

Pars intermedia is the boundary between the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary. It contains three types of cells - basophils, chromophobes, and colloid-filled cysts. The cysts are the remainder of Rathke’s pouch.

Pars intermedia
Median sagittal through the hypophysis of an adult monkey. (Pars intermedia labeled at bottom center.)
Details
Identifiers
Latinpars intermedia adenohypophyseos
TAA11.1.00.004
THH3.08.02.2.00007
FMA74632
Anatomical terminology
Pars intermedia is seen between pars distalis and pars nervosa.

In human fetal life, this area produces melanocyte stimulating hormone or MSH which causes the release of melanin pigment in skin melanocytes (pigment cells). However, the pars intermedia is normally either very small or entirely absent in adulthood.

In lower vertebrates (fish, amphibians) MSH from the pars intermedia is responsible for darkening of the skin, often in response to changes in background color. This color change is due to MSH stimulating the dispersion of melanin pigment in dermal (skin) melanophore cells.

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