Rathke pouch
Last revised by Tariq Walizai
on 1 Sep 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Walizai T, Fahrenhorst-Jones T, et al. Rathke pouch. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 05 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-4746
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rID:
4746
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
Last revised:
1 Sep 2024,
Tariq Walizai
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Tariq Walizai's current disclosures
Revisions:
13 times, by
10 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Rathke's pouch
- Hypophyseal diverticulum
Rathke pouch, also known as hypophyseal diverticulum, is an ectodermal outpouching of stomodeum (primitive oral cavity lined by ectoderm) which forms at approximately 3-4 weeks gestation and goes on to form the adenohypophysis of the pituitary gland.
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Gross anatomy
The anterior wall of the pouch gives rise to the anterior lobe of the pituitary (pars distalis). The posterior wall of the pouch does not proliferate and remains as the intermediate lobe of the pituitary (pars intermedia). The lumen of the pouch narrows to form a cleft (Rathke cleft) that normally regresses. Persistence of this cleft with expansion is believed to be the origin of a Rathke cleft cyst (also known as pars intermedia cyst).
History and etymology
It is named after Martin Heinrich Rathke (1793-1860), German professor of Zoology and Anatomy.
Related pathology
References
- 1. Gray H, Standring S. Gray's anatomy, the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Churchill Livingstone. (2005) ISBN:0443071683. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Byun WM, Kim OL, Kim D. MR imaging findings of Rathke's cleft cysts: significance of intracystic nodules. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2000;21 (3): 485-8. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol (full text) - Pubmed citation
- 3. Crenshaw WB, Chew FS. Rathke's cleft cyst. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1992;158 (6): 1312. AJR Am J Roentgenol (citation) - Pubmed citation
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