4.1: The pituitary gland Flashcards
What is a hormone?
A messenger carried by the blood stream
Two main hormone classifications
Peptide and Steroid
Synthesis of Peptide hormones
synthesised as prohormones (long inactive chain) requiring further processes to activate
Storage of Peptide hormones
Stored in vesicles, released by stimulus
Receptors of peptide hormones
On cell membrane, then transducer signal using 2nd messenger (intracellular signal cascade)
Synthesis of steroid hormones
Synthesised in series of reactions from cholesterol
Storage of steroid hormones
Released immediately (constitutive secretion)
Receptors of steroid hormones
Bind to intracellular receptors, change gene expression directly
What bone does the pituitary gland sit in
Stella turcica of sphenoid bone
Another name for anterior pituitary gland, and cell type
Adenohypophysis
Epithelial
Origin of anterior pituitary gland
Upgrowth from oral ectoderm of primitive oral cavity - Rathkes pouch (in embryo)
Another name of posterior pituitary gland and cell type
Neurohypophysis
Neural origin
Where is the posterior pituitary gland derived from
Down growth of diencephalon that forms floor of the third ventricle (in embryo)
What regulates anterior pituitary function
Hypothalamic-pituitary portal system
How is the anterior pituitary gland regulated
Parvocellular neurones in the hypothalamus release signals which terminate at the median eminence.
Median eminence released hypothalamic releasing/inhibiting factors into capillary plexus in median eminence.
Factors carried by portal circulation to anterior pituitary.
5 endocrine cells making up anterior pituitary
Somatotrophs
Lactotrophs
Corticotrophs
Thyrotrophs
Gonadotrophs
Hypothalamo-pituitary portal system
Hypothalamic neurosecretory cells release hormones into hypothalamo-pituitary portal system
RHS and IHs travel in portal system to anterior pituitary
Stimulate or inhibit hormone release from anterior pituitary cells
Anterior pituitary hormones leave gland via blood
Somatotrophs release
Growth hormone