Anatomy: pituitary gland

Question 1

what glands lie in the cranial cavity

Answer 1

hypothalamus and pituitary

Question 2

what glands lie in the neck

Answer 2

4 parathyroid glands and thyroid

Question 3

what glands lie in the abdomen

Answer 3

2 adrenal glands and pancreas

Question 4

what glands lie in the pelvis and peritoneum

Answer 4

pelvis: 2 ovaries
perineum: 2 testes

Question 5

what is the diencephalon

Answer 5

the thalamus + hypothalamus

Question 6

what does the diencephalon form

Answer 6

central core of the cerebrum that connects the right and left hemispheres and the midbrain

Question 7

where does the hypothalamus lie

Answer 7

superior and anterior to brainstem

Question 8

what makes up the brainstem superior to inferior

Answer 8

midbrain, pons, medulla, oblongata

Question 9

what connects the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus

Answer 9

infundibulum

Question 10

what does rathke’s pouch develop into in embryology

Answer 10

anterior pituitary lobe

Question 11

what does the infubdibulum develop into in embryology

Answer 11

posterior pituitary lobe

Question 12

which pituitary lobe is an extension of the hypothalamus

Answer 12

posterior

Question 13

what is another term for the posterior pituitary

Answer 13

neurohypophysis

Question 14

what does the posterior pituitary secrete

Answer 14

oxytocin and vasopressin (ADH)

Question 15

how are hormones transported from the hypothalamus to the posterior pituitary

Answer 15

within axoplasm (cytoplasm of axons) by axoplasmic transport - neurosecretory

Question 16

what activates the anterior pituitary to secrete/ stop secreting hormones and from what mode of tranport

Answer 16

hypothalamic releasing or inhibitory hormones into the BLOODSTREAM

Question 17

what hormones to anterior pituitary cells release

Answer 17

growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), ACTH, LH, FSH

Question 18

what is a portal system and give 2 examples

Answer 18

2 venous capillary beds joined by a portal vein - hypophyseal portal system (transport hypothalamic hormones) and hepatic portal system

Question 19

where is the pituitary gland located on the cranial floor

Answer 19

in pituitary fossa of sphenoid bone

Question 20

where does the pituitary fossa lie within

Answer 20

sella turcica

Question 21

what is the pituitary gland immediately inferior to

Answer 21

optic chiasm

Question 22

what cranial nerves are close to the pituitary (5)

Answer 22

oculomotor (CNIII), trochlear (CNIV), ophthalmic trigeminal (CNV1), maxillary trigeminal (CNV2), abducens (CNVI)

Question 23

what carries light from the eyes to the optic chiasm

Answer 23

right and left optic nerves (CNII)

Question 24

what structures do light follow after the optic chiasm

Answer 24

right and left optic tracts

Question 25

after the optic chiasm where does ‘light’ travel to

Answer 25

thalamus –> visual cortex in occipital lobe via optic radiation

Question 26

what structures in the optic chiasm are compressed in a pituitary tumour

Answer 26

right and left nasal retina transmission

Question 27

if the nasal retinas are compressed how does this affect the visual field

Answer 27

cannot see light coming from the temporal sides ie the peripheries

Question 28

what visual defect does a pituitary tumour cause

Answer 28

bitemporal hemianopia

Question 29

how would you surgically access the pituitary fossa

Answer 29

transcranial approach (under frontal bone) transsphenoidal (via nasal cavity and sphenoid sinus) - more common

Question 30

what bones are in the nasal cavities (4)

Answer 30

inferior (hard palate - maxilla), vomer (nasal septum), perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone (superior nasal septum), cribriform plate of ethmoid bone (roff of nasal cavity)

Question 31

how many nasal conchae are there and what do they create

Answer 31

superior conchae (ethmoid bone), middle nasal conchae (ethmoid bone) and inferior nasal conchae - create superior, middle and inferior nasal meatus which are spaces for airflow

Question 32

how many nasal sinuses are there and what bones do they lie in

Answer 32

left and right FRONTAL sinus, right and left SPHENOID sinus (sphenoid bone but sometimes connected), right and left ETHMOID air cells (3 on each side), right and left MAXILLARY sinuses (12 sinuses in total)

Question 33

what are paranasal sinuses lined by and what is their function

Answer 33

lines by mucous secreting resp mucosa - make mucosa and drain it to nasal cavity, make skull lighter, add resonance to voice

Question 34

what are le fort fractures and how many classifications are there

Answer 34

fractures of the midface - type 1 - 3

Question 35

what artery lies next to the optic nerve

Answer 35

internal carotid

Question 36

what arteries come together to make the basilar artery

Answer 36

left and right vertebral artery

Question 37

what is the diaphragm sellae

Answer 37

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

Question 38

what is the tentorium cerebelli

Answer 38

tough sheet of dura mater over the cerebellum of posterior cranial fossa with a gap for the brainstem

Question 39

what is dura mater

Answer 39

lines entire cranial cavity

Question 40

what are dural venous sinuses

Answer 40

venous channels that drain blood from the cranial cavity (incl brain) to the internal jugular veins

Question 41

what sinuses surround the pituitary

Answer 41

cavernous and intercavernous sinuses

Question 42

what arteries pass through the cavernous sinuses

Answer 42

internal carotids

Question 43

where do dural venous sinuses drain into the jugular veins

Answer 43

jugular foraminae in the floor of the posterior cranial fossa