Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland

Question 1

What do the thalamus and hypothalamus make up?

Answer 1

Diancephalon

Question 2

Where in the brain can the diencephalon be found?

Answer 2

central core of cerebrum

Connects to R+L hemispheres and midbrain

Question 3

What 3 areas make up the brainstem?

Answer 3

Midbrain
Pons
Medulla (oblongata)

Question 4

What connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary?

Answer 4

the infundibulum

Question 5

What division of the pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus?

Answer 5

Posterior pituitary

Question 6

What embryological structure eventually develops into the anterior pituitary gland?

Answer 6

Rathke's pouch 
From Ectoderm (=> glandular tissue)

Question 7

What embryological structure eventually forms the posterior pituitary?

Answer 7

Infundibulum

From NEURAL ectoderm (=> neural tissue)

Question 8

What tumour is commonly found in the anterior pituitary gland?

Answer 8

Adenoma

Question 9

What 3 sections make up the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland?

Answer 9

Pars distalis
Pars tuberalis
Pars intermedia

Question 10

What section makes up the posterior pituitary

Answer 10

Pars nervosa

Question 11

Where is the pituitary gland located in the brain?

Answer 11

midline structure in pituitary fossa of sphenoid bone

Question 12

What does the pituitary gland lie immediately inferior to?

Answer 12

Optic chiasm

Question 13

What makes up the optic chiasm?

Answer 13

right & left optic nerves (CN II)

Question 14

Light entering what part of the retinae causes it to cross to the opposite occipital lobe?

Answer 14

Nasal Retinae

=> light coming from temporal visual field

Question 15

If a tumour grows from the pituitary and interrupts conduction at the optic chiasm, what can this cause?

Answer 15

Loss of vision in the temporal fields

=> Bitemporal Hemianopia

Question 16

How can a pituitary tumour be removed surgically?

Answer 16

Transcranial approach (subfrontal–under frontal lobe) 
Transsphenoidalapproach                                                  (via nasal cavities & sphenoid sinus)

Question 17

What bone is responsible for forming the roof of the nasal cavity?

Answer 17

Cribiform plate of the ethmoid bone

Question 18

What parts of the ethmoid bone are found above the hard palate

Answer 18

Superior, Middle and Inferior nasal concha

Question 19

What are the air spaces around the ethmoid bone called?

Answer 19

Paranasal sinuses

Question 20

What bones must be broken for a transsphenoid/transnasal approach?

Answer 20

surgical fracture of the nasal septum and the floor (septum) & roof of the sphenoid sinus(es)

Question 21

What fracture can be more useful for surgical approach in more complicated cases

Answer 21

Le Fort Fracture 1

Question 22

What is the Dura Mater?

Answer 22

thick membrane adherent to the internal aspects of all the bones of the cranial vault

Question 23

What is similar to the dura mater but covers the cerebellum?

Answer 23

Tentorium cerebelli

** Has central gap to permit the brainstem to pass through**

Question 24

What is the name given to the dura mater found over the pituitary fossa

Answer 24

Diaphragm sellae

Question 25

What are the dural venous sinuses?

Answer 25

• Venous channels within the dura mater

- drain most of the venous blood from the cranial cavity (including the brain) into internal jugular veins

Question 26

What structure passes through the cavernous sinuses?

Answer 26

Internal carotid arteries `