Anatomy of the Pituitary gland Flashcards
What is located infreriorly and posteriorly to the cerebrum
Cerebellum
The brain stem can be subdivided into what 3 parts?
Midbrain
pons
medulla (oblongata)
what is the diencephalon composed of
The thalamus and hypothalamus
what does the diencephalon form
The central core of the cerebrum with connections to the right and left cerebral hemispheres and the midbrain
What connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland
the infundibulum
What does an infundibulum mean? regardless of location in the body
A funnel
what is the pituitary gland divided into
Anterior and posterior pituitary gland
what are the names of the 3 fossae of the skull?
anterior, middle and posterior
What are the bounderies of the anterior fossae of the skull
Frontal bone and the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone
What are the boundaries of the middle fossae of the skull
Lesser wings of the sphenoid and by the peatrus parts fo the temporal bone
What are the boundaries of the posterior fossae of the skull
Peatrus parts of the temporal bone and the occipital bone
Where is the pituitary fossa located
In the middle part of the middle fossa (sphenoid bone)
what does the pituitary fossa lie within
The sella turcica
what structure lies immediately inferior to the pituitary gland
optic chiasm
What forms the optic chiasm
Right and left optic nerves (CNs II)
What passes posteriorly from the chiasm
The optic tracts
Where do the neurones from the optic tract synapse
The thalamus
Neurones pass from the thalamus to where
To the visual cortext in the occipital lobe via the optic radiation
What can the field of view be divided into
The nasal and temporal side of visual field
If the light passes from the nassal side, where will it be perceived
In the temporal retina
Describe the route of neurones and action potentials if light passes from the nasal side
light is received by the temrporal retina,
APs are then sent via neurones from the retina long the optic nerve to then pass along the right optic tract to synapse in the thalamus.
A second neurone will then send signals to the visual cortex in the occipital bone
Describe the route of neurones and action potentials if light passes from the temporal side
Light rays will be received by the nasal retina and action potentials are sent along to the optic chiasma but will then cross over ehere to pass down the controlateral side in the optic tract to synapse in the thalamus. A second neurone will then send signals to the visual cortex in the occipital bone
What happens if there is a pituitary gland tumour
The gland enlarges resulting in compression of the optic chiasma meaning there will be a disruption of visual pathway and the loss of temporal vision
Why is there a loss of temporal vision with a pituitary tumour
The tumour disrupts the transmission of action potentials from the nasal retina bilaterally
Define bitemporal hemianopia
The loss of temporal field vision in both eyes