CIS - Hypothalamic-Pituitary Relationships Flashcards
What is another name for the pituitary gland?
Hypophysis
What is another name for the anterior pituitary gland?
Adenohypophysis
What is another name for the posterior pituitary?
Neurohypophysis
What is the name for the structure connecting the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland?
Hypophysial Stalk
What structures make up the posterior pituitary?
Posterior pituitary is a collection of axons
Where are the cell bodies that belong to the axons that make up the posterior pituitary located?
In the hypothalamus, specifically the Supraoptic Nucleus (SON) - which is located superior to the Optic Chiasm
And the Paraventricular Nucleus (PVN)
What are the signaling neuropeptides that are sent along the axons of the posterior pituitary and where do they come from?
ADH mostly comes from cell bodies in the Supraoptic Nucleus (SON)
Oxytocin mostly comes from cell bodies in the Paraventricular Nucleus (PVN)
What makes structures make up the anterior pituitary gland?
Endocrine cells
How does the hypothalamus communicate with the anterior pituitary gland?
Neurons of the hypothalamus secrete hormones into the Hypothalamic-Hypophysial Portal vessels, which signal the endocrine cells of the anterior pituitary to secrete different hormones into blood stream.
What hormones are secreted by the anterior pituitary endocrine cells?
ACTH LH FSH GH TSH Prolactin
What is a Primary Endocrine Disorder?
Low or high levels of hormone secreted due to a defect in the peripheral endocrine gland
What is a Secondary Endocrine Disorder?
Low or high levels of hormones secreted due to a defect in the pituitary gland
What is a Tertiary Endocrine Disorder?
Low or high levels of hormone secreted due to a defect in the hypothalamus
What cell type in the anterior pituitary secretes ACTH?
Corticotrophs
What cell type in the anterior pituitary secretes Prolactin?
Lactotrophs
What cell type in the anterior pituitary secretes GH?
Somatotrophs
What cell type in the anterior pituitary secretes FSH?
Gonadotrophs
What cell type in the anterior pituitary secretes TSH?
Thyrotrophs
What cell type in the anterior pituitary secretes LH?
Gonadotrophs
What is Acromegaly?
Rare disease caused by excessive, prolonged secretion of GH
Causes excessive growth of soft tissue, cartilage, and bones of the face, hands, and feet
Develops gradually, not recognized for many years
Describe the axis of regulation of GH
Hypothalamus secretes GHRH and Somatostatin
- GHRH STIMULATES secretion of GH from the anterior pituitary, but INHIBITS secretion of GHRH from the hypothalamus
- Somatostatin INHIBITS secretion of GH from the anterior pituitary
Anterior Pituitary secretes GH
- GH STIMULATES target tissues to secrete IGFs (Somatomedins), but also STIMULATES secretion of Somatostatin from the hypothalamus
Target Tissue secrete IGFs (Somatomedins)
- IGFs STIMULATE secretion of Somatostatin from the Hypothalamus
- IGFs INHIBIT secretion of GH from the anterior pituitary
What are three possible pathophysiologies of Acromegaly?
1) Excessive secretion of GH from anterior pituitary
2) Extrapituitary GH secreting tumor
3) Excessive GHRH secretion
When testing for acromegaly, what are you looking for and why?
Elevated IGF levels
Measuring GH is not useful as GH levels fluctuate throughout the day, whereas IGF-1 levels remain constant
You also conduct an oral glucose tolerance test. Normally, oral glucose will cause an initial drop in serum GH levels. If GH levels remain unchanged after oral glucose administration, acromegaly is confirmed.
Additionally, a pituitary MRI will be ordered to look for any pituitary mass. If no mass is found, Chest and abdominal CT are ordered and a GHRH serum level is measured