APE 8: Anatomy of the Endocrine System Flashcards
What is the pituitary fossa also known as?
Sella turcica (Turkish saddle)
Where is the sella turcica found?
In the sphenoid bone behind the chiasmatic groove and tuberculum sellae
What passes through the optic canal?
The optic nerve and opthalmic artery
What does the sphenoid bone extend into?
The orbit, temporal region and infra-temporal region
Where does the pituitary gland sit?
In the sella turcica
Which two arteries make up the Circle of Willis?
Vertebral artery and internal carotid artery
What lies at the centre of the Circle of Willis?
The pituitary stalk
What is the diaphragma sellae?
The dura which forms a roof of the fossa
What is the cavernous sinus?
The side walls
What are the borders of the anterior triangle of the neck?
Sternocleidomastoid, mandible and the midline of the neck
Which bone is found in the anterior triangle of the neck?
Hyoid bone
What is unique about the hyoid bone?
It isn’t attached to any other bone
What are the infrahyoid muscles?
Group of four pairs of muscles in the anterior part of the neck
What are the 4 infrahyoid muscles- name them?
Sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid and omohyoid
Where are each of the infrahyoid muscles found?
Sternohyoid- next to the sternum on the left hand side
Sternothyroid- below the thyroid gland
Thyrohyoid- next to the thyroid gland on the right hand side of sternum
Omohyoid- superior belly= further to the left and goes down to form the inferior belly
What is deep to the infrahyoid muscles?
The thyroid gland
What are the three parts of the thyroid gland?
The right and left lobes and the isthmus
What is the position of the thyroid gland with respect to the larynx?
The thyroid gland is inferior to the larynx
Which cartilage is the thyroid attached to on the larynx?
The thyroid cartilage
What does the thyroid do on swallowing and what is this important in?
Will rise on swallowing
Important in the differential diagnosis of a swelling in the neck
Where is the carotid sheath found?
Immediately postero-lateral to the thyroid gland and the larynx
What does the carotid sheath contain?
Vagus nerve, internal jugular vein and common carotid artery
Where does the inferior thyroid artery originate?
The subclavian artery
What runs superiorly in the groove between the trachea and the oesophagus?
The recurrent laryngeal nerve
What is the consequence of injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery?
Hoarse like voice due to damaged vocal cords
Where does the superior thyroid artery originate?
The external carotid
Which veins are found in the thyroid?
Superior and middle thyroid veins
What do the different thyroid veins drain into?
Superior and middle= internal jugular vein
Inferior= brachiocephalic veins
How many parathyroid glands are there?
4
When and where can the parathyroid glands be indentified?
When they’re enlarged they can be identified in the posterior aspect of the thyroid lobes
What is a ‘goitre’
Pathological swelling of thyroid which doesn’t move when you swallow or when you stick your tongue out
What can happen as a result of an enlarged thyroid gland?
It can extend retrosternally and compress the trachea
What are the borders of the posterior triangle of the neck?
Trapezius, clavicle and sternocleidomastoid
Which nerve crosses the posterior triangle of the neck?
Accessory nerve
Which vertebral muscles form the floor of the posterior triangle of the neck?
Splenius captis, levator scapulae and scalenes
Which muscle crosses the triangle inferiorly?
The omohyoid muscle
Which part of the brachial plexus cross the posterior triangle of the neck?
The trunks
What is the position of the subclavian artery relative to the scalenes muscle?
The subclavian artery emerges between the anterior and middle scalenes muscle. Becomes the axillary artery as it crosses the 1st rib
Posterior to the anterior scalenes
What is the position of the subclavian vein relative to the scalenes muscle?
Anterior to the scalenes muscle
Where are the adrenal glands found?
Superior to kidneys and posterior to abdominal wall
Which artery supplies the adrenal gland?
The superior, middle and inferior adrenal artery
Where does the superior and middle adrenal artery arise from?
The aorta and/or inferior phrenic arteries
Where does the inferior adrenal artery arise from?
The renal artery
What is the venous drainage of the adrenal gland?
A single adrenal vein on each side
Where do the right and left adrenal vein drain into?
Right= inferior vena cava Left= renal vein
Where is the pancreas found?
In the posterior part of the abdomen
Where is the abdominal aorta found?
Approximately in the midline of the posterior abdominal wall, as it emerges from the diaphragm
What is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta?
The ceoliac trunk
Which vertebral level does the coeliac trunk arise?
T12
What are the branches of the coeliac trunk?
The common hepatic artery and the splenic artery
Which artery supplies the pancreas?
Splenic artery
What does the head of the pancreas wrap around and what does it contain and at which vertebral level?
A large vascular bundle containing the superior mesentric artery and vein, L1
At which vertebral level is the inferior mesentric artery found?
L3
