APE 8: Anatomy of the Endocrine System

Question 1

What is the pituitary fossa also known as?

Answer 1

Sella turcica (Turkish saddle)

Question 2

Where is the sella turcica found?

Answer 2

In the sphenoid bone behind the chiasmatic groove and tuberculum sellae

Question 3

What passes through the optic canal?

Answer 3

The optic nerve and opthalmic artery

Question 4

What does the sphenoid bone extend into?

Answer 4

The orbit, temporal region and infra-temporal region

Question 5

Where does the pituitary gland sit?

Answer 5

In the sella turcica

Question 6

Which two arteries make up the Circle of Willis?

Answer 6

Vertebral artery and internal carotid artery

Question 7

What lies at the centre of the Circle of Willis?

Answer 7

The pituitary stalk

Question 8

What is the diaphragma sellae?

Answer 8

The dura which forms a roof of the fossa

Question 9

What is the cavernous sinus?

Answer 9

The side walls

Question 10

What are the borders of the anterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 10

Sternocleidomastoid, mandible and the midline of the neck

Question 11

Which bone is found in the anterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 11

Hyoid bone

Question 12

What is unique about the hyoid bone?

Answer 12

It isn’t attached to any other bone

Question 13

What are the infrahyoid muscles?

Answer 13

Group of four pairs of muscles in the anterior part of the neck

Question 14

What are the 4 infrahyoid muscles- name them?

Answer 14

Sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid and omohyoid

Question 15

Where are each of the infrahyoid muscles found?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is deep to the infrahyoid muscles?

Answer 16

The thyroid gland

Question 17

What are the three parts of the thyroid gland?

Answer 17

The right and left lobes and the isthmus

Question 18

What is the position of the thyroid gland with respect to the larynx?

Answer 18

The thyroid gland is inferior to the larynx

Question 19

Which cartilage is the thyroid attached to on the larynx?

Answer 19

The thyroid cartilage

Question 20

What does the thyroid do on swallowing and what is this important in?

Answer 20

Will rise on swallowing

Important in the differential diagnosis of a swelling in the neck

Question 21

Where is the carotid sheath found?

Answer 21

Immediately postero-lateral to the thyroid gland and the larynx

Question 22

What does the carotid sheath contain?

Answer 22

Vagus nerve, internal jugular vein and common carotid artery

Question 23

Where does the inferior thyroid artery originate?

Answer 23

The subclavian artery

Question 24

What runs superiorly in the groove between the trachea and the oesophagus?

Answer 24

The recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 25

What is the consequence of injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery?

Answer 25

Hoarse like voice due to damaged vocal cords

Question 26

Where does the superior thyroid artery originate?

Answer 26

The external carotid

Question 27

Which veins are found in the thyroid?

Answer 27

Superior and middle thyroid veins

Question 28

What do the different thyroid veins drain into?

Answer 28

Superior and middle= internal jugular vein | Inferior= brachiocephalic veins

Question 29

How many parathyroid glands are there?

Answer 29

4

Question 30

When and where can the parathyroid glands be indentified?

Answer 30

When they're enlarged they can be identified in the posterior aspect of the thyroid lobes

Question 31

What is a 'goitre'

Answer 31

Pathological swelling of thyroid which doesn't move when you swallow or when you stick your tongue out

Question 32

What can happen as a result of an enlarged thyroid gland?

Answer 32

It can extend retrosternally and compress the trachea

Question 33

What are the borders of the posterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 33

Trapezius, clavicle and sternocleidomastoid

Question 34

Which nerve crosses the posterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 34

Accessory nerve

Question 35

Which vertebral muscles form the floor of the posterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 35

Splenius captis, levator scapulae and scalenes

Question 36

Which muscle crosses the triangle inferiorly?

Answer 36

The omohyoid muscle

Question 37

Which part of the brachial plexus cross the posterior triangle of the neck?

Answer 37

The trunks

Question 38

What is the position of the subclavian artery relative to the scalenes muscle?

Answer 38

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

Question 39

What is the position of the subclavian vein relative to the scalenes muscle?

Answer 39

Anterior to the scalenes muscle

Question 40

Where are the adrenal glands found?

Answer 40

Superior to kidneys and posterior to abdominal wall

Question 41

Which artery supplies the adrenal gland?

Answer 41

The superior, middle and inferior adrenal artery

Question 42

Where does the superior and middle adrenal artery arise from?

Answer 42

The aorta and/or inferior phrenic arteries

Question 43

Where does the inferior adrenal artery arise from?

Answer 43

The renal artery

Question 44

What is the venous drainage of the adrenal gland?

Answer 44

A single adrenal vein on each side

Question 45

Where do the right and left adrenal vein drain into?

Answer 45

``` Right= inferior vena cava Left= renal vein ```

Question 46

Where is the pancreas found?

Answer 46

In the posterior part of the abdomen

Question 47

Where is the abdominal aorta found?

Answer 47

Approximately in the midline of the posterior abdominal wall, as it emerges from the diaphragm

Question 48

What is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta?

Answer 48

The ceoliac trunk

Question 49

Which vertebral level does the coeliac trunk arise?

Answer 49

T12

Question 50

What are the branches of the coeliac trunk?

Answer 50

The common hepatic artery and the splenic artery

Question 51

Which artery supplies the pancreas?

Answer 51

Splenic artery

Question 52

What does the head of the pancreas wrap around and what does it contain and at which vertebral level?

Answer 52

A large vascular bundle containing the superior mesentric artery and vein, L1

Question 53

At which vertebral level is the inferior mesentric artery found?

Answer 53

L3