Endocrine Anatomy

Question 1

What is the name of the hollow in the skull that houses the pituitary gland?

Answer 1

Hypophaseal fossa

Question 2

Where does the optic chiasm sit in relation to the pituitary gland?

Answer 2

Superior

Question 3

Which fibres of the optic nerve, nasal or temporal, cross over to the opposite side at the optic chiasm?

Answer 3

Nasal

Question 4

What visual defect results from enlargement of the pituitary gland?

Answer 4

Bitemporal hemianopia

Question 5

Which structure connects the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus?

Answer 5

Pituitary stalk

Question 6

Which lobe of the pituitary gland is larger?

Answer 6

Anterior

Question 7

Which pituitary gland is glandular and manufactures hormones?

Answer 7

Anterior

Question 8

What is the function of the posterior lobe of the pituitary?

Answer 8

Neural

Question 9

What are the two types of chromophil?

Answer 9

Acidophils and basophils

Question 10

What are the classes of acidophils?

Answer 10

Somatotrophs and mammotrophs

Question 11

What are the classes of basophils?

Answer 11

Corticotrophs, thyrotrophs and gonadotrophins

Question 12

Name the hormone secreted by somatotrophs?

Answer 12

Somatotropin (GH)

Question 13

Name the hormone secreted by mammotrophs?

Answer 13

Prolactin

Question 14

Name the hormones secreted by corticotrophs?

Answer 14

ACTH and MSH

Question 15

Name the hormone secreted by thyrotrophs?

Answer 15

TSH

Question 16

Name the hormones secreted by gonadotrophins?

Answer 16

FSH and LH

Question 17

What are the main secretory cells in the posterior pituitary?

Answer 17

Magnocellular neurons

Question 18

What hormones are secreted by the posterior pituitary?

Answer 18

Vasopressin (ADH) and oxytocin

Question 19

What is the blood supply to the anterior pituitary?

Answer 19

Hypophysial portal system formed from the superior hypophysial artery

Question 20

What is the blood supply to the inferior pituitary?

Answer 20

Inferior hypophysial artery

Question 21

How does the hypothalamus communicate with the anterior pituitary?

Answer 21

Hypophyseal portal system

Question 22

How does the hypothalamus communicate with the posterior pituitary?

Answer 22

Pituitary stalk

Question 23

What is the venous drainage of the pituitary gland?

Answer 23

Hypophyseal veins into the cavernous sinus

Question 24

Where is the thyroid gland located?

Answer 24

Between the thyroid gland and the 6th tracheal ring

Question 25

What is the vertebral level of the thyroid gland?

Answer 25

C5-T1

Question 26

What is the location of the isthmus of the thyroid gland?

Answer 26

Opposite the 2nd - 4th tracheal rings

Question 27

Name three strap muscles that lie over the thyroid gland?

Answer 27

Sternohyoid, sternothyroid and omohyoid

Question 28

Name two nerves that supply the vocal cords and their relation to the thyroid gland?

Answer 28

Recurrent laryngeal nerve: runs between trachea and oesophagus External laryngeal nerve: lies close to the superior thyroid artery

Question 29

From which major artery does the superior thyroid artery arise?

Answer 29

ECA

Question 30

From which artery does the inferior thyroid artery arise?

Answer 30

Subclavian

Question 31

Into which vein does the superior thyroid vein drain?

Answer 31

IJV

Question 32

Into which vein does the middle thyroid vein drain?

Answer 32

IJV

Question 33

Into which vein does the inferior thyroid vein drain?

Answer 33

Brachiocephalic vein

Question 34

Where do the majority of lymph vessels from the thyroid gland drain into ?

Answer 34

Deep cervical group

Question 35

What type of cells line the colloid?

Answer 35

Cuboidal

Question 36

What colour does the colloid stain (in H&E)?

Answer 36

Pink

Question 37

What hormones does the thyroid gland secrete?

Answer 37

Thyroxine and triodothyronine

Question 38

How many parathyroid glands do most people have?

Answer 38

4

Question 39

What is the arterial supply to the parathyroid glands?

Answer 39

Inferior thyroid arteries

Question 40

What is the venous drainage of the parathyroid glands?

Answer 40

Veins draining the thyroid into the IJV

Question 41

Which hormone is secreted by the parathyroid glands and what is its action?

Answer 41

PTH: controls calcium levels

Question 42

What cells does PTH act on?

Answer 42

Bones and kidneys

Question 43

Are the adrenal glands intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal?

Answer 43

Retroperitoneal

Question 44

What is the embryological origin of the adrenal cortex?

Answer 44

Mesodermal epithelium

Question 45

What is the embryological origin of the adrenal medulla?

Answer 45

Neuroectoderm

Question 46

What is the blood supply to the adrenal glands?

Answer 46

Suprarenal arteries arising from inferior phrenic arteries, aorta and renal arteries

Question 47

Where does the suprarenal vein drain on the right side?

Answer 47

IVC

Question 48

Where does the suprarenal vein drain on the left side?

Answer 48

L. renal vein

Question 49

What are the three layers of the adrenal cortex?

Answer 49

Zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculate and zona reticularis

Question 50

What are the three main types of hormones secreted from the adrenal cortex?

Answer 50

Mineral corticoids e.g. aldosterone Glucocorticoids e.g. corticoids Androgens e.g. DHEA

Question 51

Is the pancreas retroperitoneal or intraperitoneal?

Answer 51

Retroperitoneal

Question 52

What cells types are found in the islets of Langerhans and what do they secrete?

Answer 52

Alpha: glucagon Beta: Insulin Delta: somatostatin