001 introduction to endocrine systems and reproduction and the hypothalamo-pituitary axes Flashcards
what is a primary endocrine disorder?
where the production of the hormone is not functioning properly
- e.g. Cushing’s disease
what is a secondary endocrine disorder?
where there is a lack of a particular hormone or the hormone
what is the anatomical location of the pituitary gland?
- base of brain, protected by sphenoid bone
- connected to the hypothalamus via the pituitary stalk
- just inferior to the optic chiasm ( clinically important for pituitary tumours)
what is the embryological development/origin of the anterior pituitary gland?
- upgrowth from roof of the mouth called Rathke’s pouch
- ’ adenohypophysis’
- not neural origin
what is the embryological development/origin of the posterior pituitary gland?
- grows down from neural tissues from basal floor of the diencephalon
- ’ neurohypophysis’
- of neural origin
what is the anatomy of the posterior pituitary gland?
- smaller of the 2 lobes
- neurons in the hypothalamus (including periventricular and supraoptic nucleus) send projections down through the pituitary stalk and terminate in the posterior pituitary gland
- these nerve endings release chemicals that directly enter the blood via the plexus supplied by inferior hypophyseal artery
what are the 2 nuclei that feed into the posterior pituitary gland?
- paraventricular nucleus = sits at base of 3rd ventricle
- supraoptic nucleus = just next to optic chiasm
what is the artery that supplies the posterior pituitary gland?
- inferior hypophyseal artery which forms a plexus which hormones enter the bloodstream through
what is a?
optic chiasm
what is b?
infundibulum (connecting stalk)
what is c?
hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract
what is d?
axon terminals
what is e?
inferior hypophyseal artery
what is f?
supraoptic nucleus
what is g?
paraventricular nucleus
what are the 2 posterior pituitary hormones?
- oxytocin
- anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) / vasopressin (AVP), 2 names as it has 2 receptors
- called neurohypophyseal hormones
what is the process of releasing hormones from the posterior pituitary gland?
- hormones oxytocin/ADH are synthesized in the magnocellular neurones of the periventricular and supraoptic nuclei in the hypothalamus
- the hormones are transported down the axons in the infundibulum in the hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract into the posterior pituitary gland and stored in the axon terminals
- they are stored here until action potentials from the hypothalamus fire to release the hormones into the blood