Endocrine Anatomy

Question 1

Where do the pituitary veins drain to?

Answer 1

The cavernous sinus

Question 2

Where is the pituitary gland located?

Answer 2

The pituitary gland lies in the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone in the skull.

Question 3

Outline the structure of the pituitary gland

Answer 3

The pituitary stalk (infundibulum) connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland, and the posterior lobe is continuous with the hypothalamus, consisting of the same tissue (neural) whereas the anterior gland is embryologically and functionally different.

Question 4

What hormones are secreted by the anterior pituitary gland (adenohypophysis)

Answer 4

ACTH, TSH, LH, FSH, PRL, GH and MSH

Question 5

Describe the blood supply to the anterior pituitary gland

Answer 5

The superior hypophyseal artery comes from the hypothalamus and forms the primary plexus of vessels; this then becomes the hypophyseal portal vein which gives off a secondary plexus in the anterior lobe which consists of the efferent hypophyseal veins which drain to the cavernous sinus

Question 6

Which hypothalamic nuclei is involved in the production of ADH?

Answer 6

Supraoptic nuclei

Question 7

Which hypothalamic nuclei is involved in the production of oxytocin?

Answer 7

Paraventricular nuclei

Question 8

What hormones are secreted by the posterior pituitary gland?

Answer 8

ADH and oxytocin

Question 9

What are the four main parts of the internal carotid artery?

Answer 9

Cervical portion, petrous portion, cavernous portion and cerebral portion

Question 10

What artery runs through the cavernous sinus?

Answer 10

Internal carotid artery

Question 11

Which nerves are located in the cavernous sinus

Answer 11

CN III, IV, V1, V2, VI

Question 12

What hormones are secreted by the adrenal medulla?

Answer 12

Noradrenaline and adrenaline

Question 13

What hormones are secreted by the adrenal cortex?

Answer 13

Aldosterone, cortisol and corticosterone

Question 14

Compare the appearance of the left and right adrenal glands

Answer 14

Right adrenal: pyramid-shaped (contact with liver and IVC)

Left adrenal: crescent-shaped due to compression from stomach, spleen and pancreas

Question 15

Describe the arterial supply to the adrenal gland

Answer 15

Superior suprarenal artery - branches from the inferior phrenic artery

Middle suprarenal artery - a branch of the abdominal aorta (near base of SMA)

Inferior suprarenal artery - branch of the renal artery

Question 16

From which artery is the superior suprarenal artery a branch?

Answer 16

Inferior phrenic artery

Question 17

From which artery is the middle suprarenal artery a branch?

Answer 17

Abdominal aorta (near the base of SMA)

Question 18

From which artery is the inferior suprarenal artery a branch?

Answer 18

Renal artery

Question 19

Describe the venous drainage of the adrenal gland

Answer 19

Right adrenal gland drains directly into IVC, left adrenal gland drains into the left renal vein

Question 20

Where is the zona glomerulosa found and what does it secrete?

Answer 20

Outermost layer of the adrenal cortex that is involved in the secretion of mineralocorticoids such as aldosterone

Question 21

Where is the zona fasciculata found and what does it secrete?

Answer 21

Middle layer of the adrenal cortex that is involved in the secretion of glucocorticoids such as cortisol

Question 22

Where is the zona reticularis found and what does it secrete?

Answer 22

Inner layer of the adrenal cortex that is involved in the secretion of androgens such as testosterone

Question 23

At what approximate spinal level does the thyroid lie?

Answer 23

C5-T1

Question 24

By what are the left and right lobes of the thyroid gland connected?

Answer 24

By the isthmus

Question 25

Describe the arterial blood supply to the thyroid gland

Answer 25

Superior thyroid artery - this is a branch from the external carotid artery

Inferior thyroid artery - this is a branch from the thyrocervical trunk

Thyroid ima artery - this isn’t always present but this stems from the brachiocephalic trunk

Question 26

From what artery does the superior thyroid artery branch?

Answer 26

External carotid artery

Question 27

From what artery does the superior thyroid artery branch?

Answer 27

Thyrocervical trunk (a branch from the subclavian artery)

Question 28

Describe the venous drainage of the thyroid gland

Answer 28

Superior thyroid vein - this is a branch from the IJV

Middle thyroid vein - also a branch from the IJV

Inferior thyroid vein - this is a branch from the brachiocephalic vein

Question 29

From what vein does the superior and middle thyroid vein branch?

Answer 29

Internal jugular vein

Question 30

From what vein does the inferior thyroid vein branch?

Answer 30

Brachiocephalic vein

Question 31

What does the prefix -omo stand for?

Answer 31

Relating to the shoulder

Question 32

Name the four inferior strap muscles in the neck

Answer 32

Thyrohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid and sternohyoid

Question 33

What is the exocrine function of the pancreas?

Answer 33

The secretion of powerful digestive enzymes into the small intestine

Question 34

Where is the head of the pancreas found?

Answer 34

In the gastroduodenal flexure

Question 35

Where is the tail of the pancreas found?

Answer 35

Extending towards the spleen

Question 36

What two arteries supply the pancreas?

Answer 36

Coeliac trunk and superior mesenteric arteries