Chapter 21: Endocrine Hypopituitary and Pituitary Hormones

Question 1

A defect of Rathke’s pouch causes…

Answer 1

Craniophyringioma

Question 2

Corticotrophs are ____ color and secrete ____

Answer 2

Corticotrophs are basophilic, secrete POMC -> ACTH, MSH, Lipotropic hormone, endorphins

Question 3

Lactotrophs are ___ color and secrete ____

Answer 3

Lactotrophs are eosinophilic and secrete prolactin

Question 4

Somatotrophs are ____ color and secrete ____

Answer 4

Somatotrophs are eosinophilic and secrete growth hormone

Question 5

Thyrotrophs are ____ color and secrete ____

Answer 5

Thyrotrophs are mixed color and secrete TSH

Question 6

Gonadotrophs are ____ color and secrete ____

Answer 6

Gonadotrophs are basophilic and secrete FSH and LH.

Question 7

The posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis) secretes…

Answer 7

ADH (vasopressin) and oxytocin

Question 8

Neonate presents with micropenis, hypoglycemia, and jaundice.

Answer 8

Isolated growth hormone deficiency.

GHRH or GH genes implicated (AR, AD, XLR)

Question 9

Short obese individual with high GH levels and low IGF-1

Answer 9

Laron syndrome/Dwarfism. GH insensitivity.

AR mutation to GH receptors -> no IGF1 transcription, short stature

Question 10

Radiograph finds enlarged sella with a thin flattened pituitary.

Answer 10

Empty sella syndrome.

Absent diaphragm sellae -> CSF compresses pituitary gland.

Question 11

Patient presents with hyopgonadism, smell perception defects (anosmia) and cleft palate.

Answer 11

Kallman’s syndrome (isolated gonadotropic deficiency). Lack of GnRH, which stimulates gonadotrophs to secrete FSH and LH.

X-linked: KAL1 gene, extracellular matrix enzyme
AD: KAL2 gene, fibroblast growth factor

Question 12

Patient presents with pallor, hypothyroidism, failure of lactation, adrenal insufficiency, and ovarian failure with amenorrhea.

Answer 12

Panhypopituitarism

Question 13

What is the most common form of pituitary tumor, and how often is it associated with panhypopituitarism?

Answer 13

Half of panhypopituitarism cases.
Usually an adenoma.
Functional (secretory) versus non-functional.

Question 14

Patient presents with agalactia, amenorrhea, hypothyroidism, and ACTH insufficiency after severe post-partum bleeding.

Answer 14

Sheehan Syndrome -> Ischemic necrosis of the pituitary gland caused by hypotension or an obvious vascular event.

Question 15

Hemorrhagic damage to the pituitary.

Answer 15

Pituitary apoplexy