Endocrine Flashcards

1
Q

What forms the diencephalon? What does it do?

A

Diencephalon = Thalamus (T) + Hypothalamus (H)

Diencephalon forms the central core of the cerebrum with connections to the right and left cerebral hemispheres & the midbrain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Describe the location of the pituitary gland?

A

Hangs off the hypothalamus which is in the centre of the brain superior to the mid brain
The pituitary gland is a midline structure in the pituitary fossa of the sphenoid bone. The pituitary fossa (space) lies within the sella turcica (Turkish saddle)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Describe how the pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus?

A

The infundibulum (funnel) connects the hypothalamus to the posterior lobe of pituitary gland. The anterior lobe does not connect but hugs around the posterior lobe.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

The pituitary gland is anatomically & functionally divided into the ___________________

A

anterior pituitary and the posterior pituitary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe the embryological origins of the two lobes of the pituitary glands?

A

The posterior part of the pituitary has its embryological origins in nervous tissue. It is formed from a downgrowth of the diencephalon that forms the floor of the third ventricle. The anterior part is derived from an upgrowth from the oral ectoderm of the primitive oral cavity called Rathke’s pouch.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Neurohypophysis is another name for the __1__

Adenohypophysis is another name for ___2___

A

1) posterior pituitary gland

2) anterior pituitary gland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe the differences in tissue in the anterior and posterior pituitary glands?

A

The posterior pituitary gland is a continuation of the hypothalamus. Axons project down through infundibulum to posterior pituitary and the hormones are transported to the posterior pituitary within the axoplasm (cytoplasm of the axons) by axoplasmic transport. So it’s NEURAL tissue.

The anterior pituitary gland has no direct connection to the CNS so needs vascular tissue to secrete the hormones. So the tissue is GLANDULAR.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The posterior pituitary secretes two hormones made by the hypothalamus which are ___________

A

oxytocin and ADH/ vasopressin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The anterior pituitary secretes six hormones which are ___________

A
Growth hormone (GH)
Prolactin (milk production)
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
Lutenising hormone (LH)
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the two portal venous systems in the body?

A

Hypophyseal portal system

Hepatic portal system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe how the hypophyseal portal system works

A

The hypothalamic neurones secrete releasing hormones or release-inhibiting hormones into a “portal system” of veins
the “hypophyseal portal system” drains venous blood:
1. from hypothalamus to anterior pituitary capillary beds
this blood contains the releasing or release-inhibitory hormones
2. from the anterior pituitary a second set of veins drains the venous blood to the hypophyseal veins and then eventually to the SVC
this blood contains the anterior pituitary hormones
hence the hypothalamic hormones control the release of the hormones manufactured by the anterior pituitary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the optic chiasm?

A

X-shaped structure formed by the crossing of the optic nerves in the brain. The optic nerve connects the brain to the eye.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Explain how the visual pathway can be disrupted with a pituitary tumour?

A

If the tumour presses on the optic chiasm those which cross over (the temporal vision) will not work properly so will lose your temporal vision but nasal vision will be in tact, this is called bitemporal hemianopia.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe the paranasal sinuses

A
Air-filled spaces within the bones surrounding the nasal cavities
Frontal bone (frontal sinuses)
Maxillae (maxillary sinuses)
Ethmoid bone (ethmoidal air cells)
Sphenoid bone (sphenoid sinuses)

Lined by mucous-secreting respiratory mucosa

No real function?
Make mucous and drain it into the nasal cavities through ostia (singular = ostium – bony drainage hole)
Reduce the weight of the skull
Add resonance to the voice

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What type of fracture may give better access in pituitary gland surgery?

A

Le Fort 1 of the mid face

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is dura matter? Where is it?

A

The tough outermost membrane enveloping the brain and spinal cord. The entire cranial cavity is lined internally with dura matter.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe the role of dural venous sinuses

A

Venous channels within the dura mater that drain most of the venous blood from the cranial cavity (including the brain) into the internal jugular veins (not histologically veins but function like veins)

18
Q

What are the cavernous sinuses?

A

dural venous sinuses of the head

these are specific dural venous sinuses near the pituitary

19
Q

Thyroid gland usually consists of _______1________

The lobes attach to the lateral aspects of _______2_________

The isthmus lies anterior to the___3_____ cartilages of the trachea

A

1) 2 lateral lobes (right & left) and an isthmus (a narrow connecting band)
2) the thyroid & cricoid cartilages and to the trachea
3) 2nd & 3rd

20
Q

How many parathyroid glands are there and where are they located?

A

4 parathyroid glands are located on the posterior surfaces of the thyroid gland’s lateral lobes

21
Q

What group of muscles does the platysma muscles belong to?

A

Muscles of facial expression

22
Q

Describe the platysma muscles?

A

Located immediately deep to the skin within the superficial fascia of the neck
Two muscles span out like fan from neck and can pull up thoracic skin

23
Q

Prevertebral deep fascia of the neck encloses…

A

Postural neck muscles

Cervical vertebrae

24
Q

Investing fascia of the neck encloses…

A

Encloses all the other neck fascial compartments encloses 2 pairs of muscles:
Trapezius
Sternocleidomastoid

25
Q

Carotid sheaths in the neck enclose…

A

Vagus nerves
Deep cervical lymph nodes
Carotid arteries
Internal jugular vein

26
Q

Pretracheal fascia in the neck encloses…

A
Oesophagus
Trachea
Thyroid gland
Strap muscles 
Recurrent laryngeal nerves
27
Q

What is Berry’s ligament?

A

Attaches thyroid gland to the trachea

28
Q

Describe origins and attachments of the sternocleidomastoid?

A

Sternal head: attaches to the manubrium of the sternum
Clavicular head: attaches to the medial end of the clavicle
Both heads pass superiorly to attach to the mastoid process of the temporal bone

29
Q

How many pairs of strap muscles are there? What are they? What is the function?

A
4
Sternohyoid
Omohyoid
Sternothyroid
Thyrohyoid
Move the larynx and play a role in swallowing
30
Q

Describe alar fascia and clinical implications?

A

Fascial plane between both carotid sheath, this separates the retropharyngeal space (forms the posterior border of the space). It has a connection to pretracheal fascial plane that runs from the head to the mediastinum, implications as oral infection could potential track all the way down to thoracic organs.

31
Q

The superior and middle thyroid veins drain into

A

IJVs

32
Q

The inferior thyroid veins drains into the

A

left brachiocephalic

33
Q

Venous drainage of the thyroid?

A

superior middle and inferior right and left thyroid veins

34
Q

Arterial supply of the thyroid?

A

right and left superior thyroid arteries
right and left inferior thyroid arteries
thyroid ima artery in middle occasionally

35
Q

What is the first branch of the external carotid artery?

A

superior thyroid artery

36
Q

Superior thyroid artery comes from?

A

external carotid artery

37
Q

Inferior thyroid artery comes off?

A

Subclavian artery

38
Q

Where do left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves recur?

A

left: under aortic arch
right: under subclavian artery

39
Q

Borders of the anterior triangle of the neck?

A

superior: inferior border of the mandible
medial: midline of the body
lateral: anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid

40
Q

Borders of the posterior triangle of the neck?

A

anterior: posterior border of SCM
posterior: anterior border of trapezius
base: middle one third of the clavicle