Craniopharyngeal canal

The craniopharyngeal canal is a more or less rudimentary median canal between the presphenoid bone and the basisphenoid bone. It extends, to varying degrees, from the floor of the sella turcica to the anterosuperior portion of the nasal part of the pharynx. It occurs in felines, sometimes in carnivores, goats and equines, and rarely in sheep and cattle.

This duct is generally associated with developmental anomalies: it may be invaded by ectopic pituitary tissue and be the site of anomalies such as encephaloceles or tumours.