1-endocrine System Flashcards
What is the relationship between pituitary and hypothalamus?
The pituitary gland or hypophysis is found in sella turcica of sphenoid bone
Attached to the hypothalamus
Functionally, the hypothalamus regulates secretion from the hypophysis
Describe The embryological divisions of the pituitary gland (Hypophysiss)
- Anterior lobe or Adenohypophysis
2. Posterior lobe or Neurohypophysis
What is the embryological origin of the posterior lobe/neurohypophysis of the pituitary?
-Neuroectoderm of the floor of the diencephalon
A. Pars nervosa
B. Infundibulum
Whaat is the embryological origin of the anterior lobe of adrenohypophysis of the pituitary?
-Ectoderm of the oropharynx (Rathke’s pouch)
A. Pars distalis
B. Pars intermedia
C. Pars tuberalis
What is the general appearance of the adenohypophysis?
Granular appearance due to clusters of endocrine tissue
What is the general appearance of the neurohypophysis?
Fibrous appearance—> mostly nerve fibers
What is the composition of chromophils and chromophobes in the anterior lobe?
50% for each
Chromophils
Acidophils
Basophils
What are the acidophils?
- Somatotrophs
- Mammotropes/Lactotropes
What are the basophils?
Gonadotropes
Corticotropes
Thyrotropes
What do basophils do?
Secreted hormones that act on other endocrine organs—> tropic hormones
What do somatotropes do?
Stimulated by GHRH —> growth hormone (also called somatotropin)
Inhibited by somatostatin
What do Mammotropes/lactotropes do?
- Secretes prolactin (PRL)
- stimulated by prolactin-releasing hormone (PRH) (under certain conditions such as pregnancy)
- Inhibited by dopamine produced by hypothalamus (dopamine is the main regulator of prolactin)
What do gonadotropes do?
FSH- follicle-stimulating hormone
LH- lutenizing hormone
Stimulated by gonadotropin releasing hormone
What does corticotropes do?
-Secrete ACTH-adrenocorticotropin
Stimulated by Corticotropin releasing hormone
What do thyrotropes do?
-TSH- thyroid stimulating hormone
Stimulated by thyrotropin releasing hormone
How do we identify chromophobes?
Cytoplasmic granules do not stain with routine stains
Cytoplasm appears pale
What is the function of chromophobes?
Stem cells
Supportive cells
Degranulated cells
Pars intermedia and tuberalis are remnants of …
Rathke’s pouch
What are the follicular structures of pars intermedia and tuberalis?
Cystic cavities, lined by basophilic cuboidal cells —> assumed to be corticotropes
Associated with Beta-lipotrophic hormones
Animal studies:
MSH (a-melanocyte stimulating hormone)
Endorphins —> morphine related
What does the pars tuberalis do?
Pars tuberalis forms a sheath around the infundibulum
Nests of squamous cells and small follicles
What 8s the function of pars nervosa for the posterior pituitary?
Stores hormones produced by hypothalamic nuclei
-Supraoptic nuclei—> Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)/vasopressin
- Paraventricular nucleus —> oxytocin
- Uterine smooth muscle
- Myoepithelial cells of mammary gland
Carried along axons which form hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract
Describe the histology of the posterior pituitary/neurophysis
-unmyelinated axons
- Herring bodies:
- dilation of axons which contain hormones
Most nuclei are of the pituicytes (glial-like cell)
- +Glial fibrillary acidic protein —> intermediate filaments
- Branched shape with oval nuclei
- supportive
- Nutritive
Some fibroblasts and mast cells
Fenestrated capillaries
Describe the blood supply and regulation hypophyseal function for the adenohypophysis
adenohypophysis:
―Releasing and inhibiting factors from hypothalamic nuclei released into primary capillary network
―Hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal veins carries factors to a secondary network at pars distalis
―Regulate secretion of pars distalis ―Pars distalis secrete into secondary
network—>systemic circulation
Describe the blood supply regulation of hypophyseal function for the neuro hypotphysis
For the neurohypophysis
Hormone transported by H-H tract from Nuclei and released into capillary plexus at pars nervosa
What are pituitary adenomas?
Benign tumors
10-15% of all brain tumors
What are the general symptoms of pituitary adenomas?
General symptoms due to tumor ― Headaches
― Vision problems (double vision, vision loss)
― Nausea or vomiting
― Changes in behavior, including hostility, depression and anxiety
― Nasal drainage
What are the symptoms of the prolactinoma
Nipple secretion, amenorrhea, sexual dysfunction
What are the symptoms of somatotropic adenoma-Growth hormone?
Acromegaly in adult, gigantism in adolescence
What are the symptoms of the Corticotropin adenoma?
Cushings disease
What are the symptoms of thyrotropic adenoma?
Hyperthyroidism
What are the adrenal glands?
The adrenals are paired glands located at the superior pole of the kidneys
― Capsule
― Parenchyma arranged : cortex and medulla
What are the embryological origins of the adrenal glands?
Embryonic Development :
― Cortex develops from mesoderm
― Medulla from neural crest cellssympathetic ganglion
Describe the capsule of the adrenal gland
Dense connective tissue supplied with many small arteries, which pierce it and empty into the enlarged fenestrated capillaries (cortical sinusoids) of the adrenal cortex.