Endo Embryology (lecture)

Question 1

What is the embryological origin of the anterior pituitary?

Answer 1

Rathke’s pouch (oral ectoderm)

Question 2

What is the embryological origin of the posterior pituitary?

Answer 2

Diencephalon (neuro ectoderm)

Question 3

What is the embryologic origin of the parathyroid, be specific?

Answer 3

Inferior lobes are from the 3rd pharyngeal pouches

Superior lobes are from the 4th pharyngeal pouches

Question 4

What is the embryologic origin of the thyroid gland?

Answer 4

Foramen cecum

Question 5

What is the most common finding related to improper migration of the embryologic structures responsible for formation of the thyroid and parathyroid glands?

Answer 5

Thyroglossal cysts - midline cysts that may be found anywhere from the base of the tongue to the thyroid

Question 6

What are the embryologic origins of the adrenals?

Answer 6

Medulla - ectoderm

Cortex (neural crest) - mesoderm

Question 7

What embryologic cell type forms the adrenal medulla?

Answer 7

Chromaffin cells

Question 8

How does the pancreas form in utero?

Answer 8

The ventral bud migrates to the dorsal bud

Question 9

What is the signal that is responsible for formation of the testes in utero?

Answer 9

Sertoli cells secret Mullein-inhibitng factor