Deep Brain Structures 3 - the pituitary gland

Question 1

development of anterior pituitary

Answer 1

• glands of hard palate evaginated downward at around 4-5 weeks
• called Rathke’s pouch
• it eventually ascends into the base of the brain as the anterior pituitary

Question 2

anterior pituitary is aka

Answer 2

adenohypophysis

Question 3

development of the posterior pituitary

Answer 3

• evagination from the bottom of the developing nervous system
• all nervous tissue

Question 4

posterior pituitary is aka

Answer 4

neurohypophysis

Question 5

afferent to the posterior pituitary

Answer 5

• supraoptic nuclei

- paraventricular nuclei

Question 6

once receiving afferent projections, what does the posterior pituitary release?

Answer 6

• oxytocin

- ADH

Question 7

oxytocin function

Answer 7

• uterine contraction

- milk let down

Question 8

ADH is aka

Answer 8

vasopressin

Question 9

ADH/vasopressin function

Answer 9

-most powerful vasoconstrictor known

Question 10

too much ADH =

Answer 10

SIADH

Question 11

too little ADH =

Answer 11

diabetes insipidus

Question 12

what is different with the afferents to the anterior pituitary compared to the posterior?

Answer 12

-NO neurons directly project to the anterior pituitary

Question 13

how do signals get to the anterior pituitary?

Answer 13

• hypothalamic cells stop at median eminence and dump NTs
• NTs enter capillary network
• capillary network transports them into the anterior pituitary

Question 14

hypothalamus factor: CRH

-anterior pituitary releases?

Answer 14

• beta-LPH

- ACTH

Question 15

ACTH

Answer 15

• tells adrenal cortex to produce cortisol

- circadian rhythm tells you to start pumping out CRH to increase BP and HR and wake up

Question 16

beta-LPH

Answer 16

• opiod precursor
• responsible for “runners high”

(can’t relate)

Question 17

hypothalamus factor: TRH

-anterior pituitary releases?

Answer 17

TSH

Question 18

TSH

Answer 18

• if thyroid hormone is low, feedback produced TRH to produce TSH to increase thyroid hormone
• and opposite is true if too low

Question 19

hypothalamus factor: GnRH

-anterior pituitary releases?

Answer 19

• LH

- FSH

Question 20

LH

Answer 20

• ovulation

- corpus luteum development

Question 21

FSH

Answer 21

• develops follicles

- increases estrogen

Question 22

hypothalamus factor: GIH and GRH

-anterior pituitary releases?

Answer 22

growth hormone

Question 23

GIH

Answer 23

somatotropin

Question 24

GRH

Answer 24

somatostatin

Question 25

hypothalamus factor: PRH and PIH

-anterior pituitary releases?

Answer 25

prolactin

Question 26

prolactin

Answer 26

• most likely to be tumor producing

- involved in lactation

Question 27

PIH

Answer 27

-inhibitory so dopaminergic from arcuate nucleus

Question 28

other hypothalamic functions

Answer 28

• satiety: feeding center
• osmoreceptors
• autonomics
• temp regulation
• sleep
• retinosuprachiasmatic
• behavior** big one

Question 29

how does hypothalamus control temp regulation?

Answer 29

• everyone has genetic set point of temp
• if sick, hypothalamus sets a new one
• body adjusts to meet it = fever

Question 30

what REALLY separates us from other species?

Answer 30

• emotional response attached to perceiving the environment

- taught, genetics, learned, hormonal, etc.

Question 31

describe how our CNS is on a continuum

Answer 31

• from public speaking to panic disorder
• from deja vu to schizophrenia
• sexual desire to predator

Question 32

where are most of the estrogen receptors located?

Answer 32

in the hypothalamus and thalamus

Question 33

why is it significant that there is a neuroendocrine system?

Answer 33

• PMS has varying degrees
• PMS is a neurological response to hormones
• PMDD - McNeill’s wife… yikes