Endocrine Embryology Review

Question 1

anterior pituitary develops from the

Answer 1

original oral ectoderm

Question 2

The pars distalis, pars intermedia and pars
tuberalis are all derived from ______whereas the posterior (pars nervosa and infundibular stalk) are derived from ________

Answer 2

Rathke’s pouch,

neural ectoderm

Question 3

The parathyroids originate from _______

Answer 3

endoderm

Question 4

The thyroid follicle epithelial cells are derived from ______

Answer 4

endoderm

Question 5

calcitonin-secreting cells are derived from _____

Answer 5

the neural crest (originally ectodermal)

Question 6

The vasculature of the thyroid is derived from ____

Answer 6

mesoderm

Question 7

The thyroid begins as a medial evagination
of the endoderm called the ______,which begins to extend at about the region between the first and second pharyngeal pouches.

Answer 7

thyroid diverticulum

Question 8

Components of the parathyroid develop from cells in clefts between the ________ (inferior parathyroids) and in a cleft after the ______ (superior parathyroids).

Answer 8

3rd and 4th pouches,

4th pouch

Question 9

Which cells give rise to the calcitonin-secreting or parafollicular cells of the thyroid?

Answer 9

cells in the cleft of the 4th pouch called the ultimobranchial body

Question 10

The thyroid diverticulum enlarges and descends along the pharynx with the developing thyroid
initially attached via the _______

Answer 10

thyroglossal duct

Question 11

The adrenal glands are comprised of a cortex and medulla. The cortex originates from _______
whereas the medulla is of ______ origin.

Answer 11

mesoderm,

ectodermal

Question 12

The initial primordium of the adrenal cortex originates from a group of cells of the _______ in a cleft between the region of the gut (dorsal mesentery, a tissue that connects the gut to the dorsal portion of the embryo) and the urogenital ridge (A.K.A the Wolffian body)

Answer 12

coelomic epithelium (mesothelium)

Question 13

The cortical region of the adrenal gland is entirely ______ in origin

Answer 13

mesodermal

Question 14

_______ cells migrate to a region that will become the sympathetic ganglia. Early on, these cells
are called ____ and some of them continue to migrate into the center of the cup that will become the medullary region of the adrenal.

Answer 14

Neural crest (ectoderm),
sympathogonia

Question 15

______ cells are the progenitors of the

epinephrine- and norephinephrine-producing cells of the medulla

Answer 15

chromaffin