[1] The sella turcica's most inferior portion is known as the hypophyseal fossa (the "seat of the saddle"), and contains the pituitary gland (hypophysis).

Compression of the optic chiasm can lead to bitemporal hemianopsia, and, when there is no relevant trauma, this clinical finding is pathognomonic for a pituitary tumor.

Some pituitary adenomas can extend inferiorly, growing downward and invading the sphenoid bone and cavernous sinus.

[3] Large adenomas can cause remodeling of the underlying sphenoid bone altering the shape of the sella turcica.

[citation needed] Sella turcica is also usually used as a reference point with nasion to establish the base of the skull in cephalometric analysis.