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Endocrine > Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland > Flashcards

Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of the endocrine glands?

A

Produce major hormones of the body, seven glands/[airs in the body

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2
Q

What is the diencephalon composed of?

A

The thalamus and hypothalamus

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3
Q

What does the diencephalon form?

A

The central core of the cerebellum = has connection to the left and right cerebral hemispheres, and the midbrain

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4
Q

What connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland?

A

The infundibulum (also called the pituitary stalk)

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5
Q

What is the pituitary gland divided into?

A

Anterior and posterior pituitaries

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6
Q

What is the embryonical origin of the anterior pituitary?

A

Rathke’s pouch = upwards protrusion of ectoderm into roof of the mouth

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7
Q

What is the embryonical origin of the posterior pituitary?

A

Finger of ectoderm invaginates ventrally from the diencephalon

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8
Q

How does the mature pituitary gland form?

A

By the eventual joining of the anterior and posterior pituitaries (form simultaneously)

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9
Q

What is the name for the anterior pituitary?

A

The adenohypophysis

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10
Q

What makes up the anterior pituitary, and what does it produce?

A

Components = pars distalis, pars tuberalis and pars intermedia
Responsible for synthesis and release of most pituitary hormones = GH, TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH, PRL

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11
Q

What is the other name for the posterior pituitary?

A

Neurohypophysis

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12
Q

What is the posterior pituitary composed of, and what is its function?

A

Made of pars nervosa, is actually an extension of brain

Releases ADH and OT (synthesised in hypothalamus)

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13
Q

What is the location of the pituitary gland?

A

Midline structure in the pituitary fossa of the sphenoid bone

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14
Q

Where is the pituitary fossa located?

A

Within the sella turcica (Turkish saddle) = lies immediately inferior to optic chiasm

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15
Q

What forms the optic chiasm?

A

Left and right optic nerves (CN II)

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16
Q

What structures pass posteriorly from the optic chiasm?

A

Right and left optic tracks

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17
Q

Where do the next axons in the visual pathway chain pass after synapsing in the thalamus?

A

Pass to the via cortex in the occipital lobe via the optic radiation

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18
Q

What is contained in the temporal retina?

A

Photoreceptors = rods and cones

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19
Q

What is contained in the nasal retina?

A

Photoreceptors = rods and cones

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20
Q

Where is the optic canal located?

A

In the sphenoid bone

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21
Q

What does the initial midline compression of the optic chiasm by a pituitary tumour cause?

A

Disrupts transmission of APs from nasal retina bilaterally

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22
Q

What does disruption of AP transmission from the nasal retina cause?

A

Patient loses ability to see structures in temporal side of visual field bilaterally (Bilateral hemianopia)
Patients still have normal vision in nasal field bilaterally

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23
Q

What are the two surgical approaches to accessing the pituitary gland?

A

Transcranial approach = subfrontal (under frontal lobe)

Transsphenoid approach = via nasal cavities and sphenoid sinus

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24
Q

What does the cribiform plate of the ethmoid bone form?

A

Roof of the nasal cavity

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25
Q

What does the vomer form?

A

Part of the nasal septum (inferior part)

26
Q

What does the perpendicular part of the ethmoid bone form?

A

Superior part of the nasal septum

27
Q

What are the nasal conchae found in the nasal cavity?

A

Superior and middle (of ethmoid bone), inferior

28
Q

What are the paranasal sinuses?

A

Air-filled spaces within the bone surrounding the nasal cavities = lined by mucous secreting respiratory mucosa

29
Q

What is the function of the paranasal sinuses?

A

Make mucous and drain into nasal cavities through ostia, reduce weight of skull and add resonance to voice

30
Q

Where do the frontal sinuses usually connect?

A

In the midline = medial aspect of top of socket

31
Q

What are some features of the ethmoid air cells?

A

Exists in three groups located between the nasal cavity and orbit

32
Q

Where are the sphenoid sinuses located?

A

Within body of sphenoid = sometimes connect in midline

33
Q

Where are the maxillary sinuses located?

A

Within each maxilla = known clinically as antrum

34
Q

What are the different paranasal sinuses?

A

Frontal, maxillary and sphenoid sinuses, ethmoid air cells

35
Q

What does the transsphenoid approach to accessing the pituitary gland require?

A

Surgical fracture of nasal septum, and the roof and floor of the sphenoid sinuses

36
Q

What is the best approach to accessing the pituitary gland in complicated cases?

A

Le Fort I down-fracture

37
Q

Where is the dura mater present?

A

Adherent to internal aspects of all bones of the cranial vault

38
Q

What is the tentorium cerebelli?

A

Tough sheet of dura mater “tenting” over the cerebellum within the posterior cranial fossa

39
Q

Why is there a central gap in the tentorium cerebelli?

A

To allow the brainstem to pass through

40
Q

What is the diaphragm sellae?

A

Tough sheet of dura mater forming a roof over the pituitary fossa

41
Q

What nerves are present within the cranial vault?

A

Internal carotid artery, basilar artery, vertebral artery, infundibulum, superior sagittal sinus, dural venous sinuses

42
Q

What nerves are present in the cranial vault?

A

Optic nerve (CN II), abducent nerve (CN VI), trigeminal nerve (CN V), trochlear nerve (CN IV), oculomotor nerve (CN III)

43
Q

What are the dural venous sinuses?

A

Venous channels within the dura mater that drain most of the venous blood from the cranial cavity into the internal jugular veins

44
Q

Are the dural venous sinuses true veins?

A

No = not histologically veins, but function like them

45
Q

What sinuses surround the pituitary gland?

A

Cavernous and intercavernous sinuses

46
Q

Where do the dural venous sinuses drain into the internal jugular veins?

A

At the jugular foraminae in the floor of the posterior cranial fossa

47
Q

What does the anterior intercavernous sinus connect?

A

The right and left cavernous sinuses = anterior to pituitary gland

48
Q

What is the ophthalmic artery?

A

Branch of internal carotid artery = enters the orbit via the optic canal

49
Q

What are some structures at risk of being damaged in pituitary gland surgery?

A

Optic chiasm, oculomotor nerve, trochlear nerve, trigeminal nerve, abducent nerve, cavernous sinus, internal carotid artery, dura mater

50
Q

What is the function of the optic chiasm, and what can damage to it cause?

A

Conducts APs bilaterally from nasal retinae = damage causes bilateral hemianopia

51
Q

What doses the oculomotor nerve supply?

A

Motor to muscles that move the eyeball

Parasympathetic to the sphincter muscle of the iris

52
Q

What can damage to the oculomotor nerve cause?

A

Problems with several eye movements and dilated pupil (ipsilateral)

53
Q

What does the trochlear nerve supply?

A

Motor to one muscle that moves the globe = damage causes problems with looking inferiorly and laterally (ipsilateral)

54
Q

What does the trigeminal nerve supply?

A

Sensory to most of face and motor to muscles of chewing = damage causes sensory symptoms in face and difficulty chewing (ipsilateral)

55
Q

What does the abducent nerve supply?

A

Motor to one muscle that moves the globe = damage causes problems with abduction of the eye (ipsilateral)

56
Q

What is the function of the cavernous sinus and what does damage to it cause?

A

Drains venous blood = damage causes venous haemorrhage (ipsilateral)

57
Q

What does damage to the internal carotid artery cause?

A

Catastrophic haemorrhage

58
Q

What is the function of the dura mater, and what does damage to it cause?

A

Protects structures of the cranial cavity = damage causes cerebrospinal fluid leak

59
Q

How do hormones get transported to the posterior pituitary?

A

Within the axoplasm by axoplasmic transport

60
Q

What do hypothalamic neutrons secrete to affect the anterior pituitary?

A

Release stimulating or release inhibiting hormones

Endocrine (42 decks)

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