Pineal gland: structural variants and their role in neurological and psychiatric disorders

Abstract

The pineal gland is a small and poorly studied neuroendocrine gland located in the epithalamus. There is growing interest in the pineal gland due to its role in regulating human biological rhythms, which is associated with melatonin production, and its close neuroendocrine link between the brain's hormonal and neurally mediated activity. The paper examines the anatomical and physiological features of the pineal gland, its structural variations, and the role of the melatonin it produces in the pathogenesis of several mental and neurological disorders.

Keywords

• pineal gland
• epiphysis cerebri
• magnetic resonance imaging
• cyst
• desynchronization
• melatonin