anatomy - h and p

Question 1

Where does the pituitary gland sit and what is it surrounded by?

Answer 1

sits in sella turcica (Turkish saddle)

surrounded by 4 processes called the clinoid

Question 2

What are the alternative names of the anterior and posterior pituitary gland

Answer 2

Anterior lobe: adenohypophysis

Posterior lobe: neurohypophysis

Question 3

What are the origins of the ant and post pituitary gland

Answer 3

Ectodernal upgrowth (Rathke’s pouch) from roof of the mouth and a neuroectodermal down growth from the brain

Question 4

What are the subdivisions of both sides of the pituitary gland?

Answer 4

Anterior lobe: pars distalis, pars tuberalis and pars intermedia
Posterior lobe: pars nervosa, infundibular stem and median eminence

Question 5

What’s the 2 vessels supplying the pituitary? Difference between their supply? What vein drains them?

Answer 5

Superior hypophyseal artery (to anterior)
Inferior hypophyseal artery (to neural lobe)

inferior hypophyseal veins drain the pituitary

Question 6

Explain the system of capillary beds in the APG. What vessel connects the 2 beds?

Answer 6

superior hypophyseal arteries contains capillary beds. Connected by portal vessels

Question 7

Secretions come from nuclei in the brain. What are the 3 nuclei of the APG, and the 2 for the PPG?

Answer 7

APG - acruate nucleus, venteromedial nucleus and preoptic nucleus (releasing/inhibiting factors)
PPG - paraventricular and supraoptic (CARRY OXYTOCIN AND ADH)

Question 8

Where do each of the nuclei secrete to?

Answer 8

APG - go into capillary bed and draining vein

Question 9

what are some ways of identifying and differentiating between the cells of the APG and PPG?

Answer 9

posterior lobe looks like any common nerve
nerves with glial cells
anterior looks more vascularised

Question 10

Go to slide 11 and look through the histology. What kind of cells would you expect to see in the APG?

what do the cells produce?

Answer 10

Acidophils - somatotrophs (AH) and mammotrophs (prolactin)
Basophils - corticotrophs (ACTH) and thyrotrophs (TSH)
Cells secreting glycoproteins - gonadotrophs (LH and FSH)
Chromophobes

Question 11

why can you get tunnel vision if you have a pituitary tumour?
Where does the pituitary gland sit?

Answer 11

tumours can cause pressure on surrounding structures - optic chiasma lies over pituitary -> tunnel vision

sit in sella turcica (Turkish saddle)