Endo - Anatomy (Adrenal & Pituitary glands)

Question 1

What is the embryologic origin of the adrenal cortex? What is the embryologic origin of the adrenal medulla?

Answer 1

Mesoderm; Neural crest

Question 2

What are the anatomical layers of the adrenal gland as you enter it from the outside?

Answer 2

(1) Capsule (2) Zona Glomerulosa (3) Zona Fasciculata (3) Zona Reticularis (4) Medulla

Question 3

What are the layers of the adrenal cortex as you enter it from the outside?

Answer 3

(1) Zona Glomerulosa (2) Zona Fasciculata (3) Zone Reticularis; Think: “GFR”

Question 4

What kind of cells are found in the adrenal medulla?

Answer 4

Chromaffin cells

Question 5

What is the primary regulatory control for the Zona Glomerulosa? What product(s) does the Zona Glomerulosa secrete?

Answer 5

Renin-angiotensin; Aldosterone

Question 6

What is the primary regulatory control for the Zona Fasciculata? What product(s) does the Zona Fasciculata secrete?

Answer 6

ACTH, hypothalamic CRH; Cortisol, sex hormones

Question 7

What is the primary regulatory control for the Zona Reticularis? What product(s) does the Zona Reticularis secrete?

Answer 7

ACTH, hypothalamic CRH; Sex hormones (e.g., androgens)

Question 8

What is the primary regulatory control for the adrenal medulla? What product(s) does the adrenal medulla secrete?

Answer 8

Preganglionic sympathetic fibers; Catecholamines (Epi, NE)

Question 9

What is a good way to remember the order of anatomical layers in the adrenal cortex and what they produce?

Answer 9

GFR corresponds with Salt (Na+), Sugar (glucocorticoids), and Sex (androgens); “The deeper you go, the sweeter it gets”

Question 10

What is the most common tumor of the adrenal medulla in adults? What is the most common tumor of the adrenal medulla in children? What is one way to differentiate between these two clinically?

Answer 10

Pheochromocytoma; Neuroblastoma; Pheochromocytoma causes episodic hypertension, Neuroblastoma rarely causes hypertension

Question 11

What is the drainage route for the left adrenal gland? What is the drainage route for the right adrenal gland?

Answer 11

Left adrenal gland –> left adrenal vein –> left renal vein –> IVC; Right adrenal gland –> right adrenal vein –> IVC (no renal vein in middle)

Question 12

How does the drainage to the left and right gonadal veins compare to the adrenal gland drainage?

Answer 12

Same; Just like… Left adrenal –> left adrenal vein –> left renal vein –> IVC; Right adrenal –> right adrenal vein –> IVC (no renal vein in middle)

Question 13

What are the lobes of the pituitary gland? Give two names for each.

Answer 13

(1) Posterior pituitary (Neurohypophysis) (2) Anterior pituitary (Adenohypophysis)

Question 14

What products does the posterior pituitary secrete?

Answer 14

(1) Vasopressin (ADH) (2) Oxytocin

Question 15

Again, what are the products of the posterior pituitary? Where are they made? How are they shipped to the posterior pituitary?

Answer 15

Secretes vasopressin (ADH) and oxytocin, made in the hypothalamus and shipped to the posterior pituitary via neurophysins (carrier proteins)

Question 16

What is the embryologic origin of the posterior pituitary?

Answer 16

Neuroectoderm

Question 17

What products does the anterior pituitary secrete?

Answer 17

Secretes FSH, LH, ACTH, TSH, prolactin, GH, melanotropin (MSH); Think: “(My) FLAT PiG: (MSH), FSH, LH, ACTH, TSH, Prolactin, GH”

Question 18

What is the embryologic origin of the anterior pituitary? Give both a general and specific name.

Answer 18

Derived from oral ectoderm (Rathke’s pouch)

Question 19

Which products of the anterior pituitary are acidophils? Which products of the anterior pituitary are basophils?

Answer 19

ACIDOPHILS - GH, prolactin; BASOPHILS - FSH, LH, ACTH, TSH; Think: “B-FLAT for Basophils & FLAT PiG for both acidophils and basophils”

Question 20

What is the significance of the alpha subunit of (anterior pituitary) hormones?

Answer 20

Hormone subunit common to TSH, LH, FSH, hCG

Question 21

What is the significance of the beta subunit of (anterior pituitary) hormones?

Answer 21

Determines hormone specificity