Endocrine System Anatomy 1

Question 1

What separates the thalamus from the hypothalamus?

Answer 1

The hypothalamic sulcus, which is a groove in the lateral wall of the third ventricle

Question 2

What sits in the hypophyseal fossa of the sella turcica of the sphenoid bones?

Answer 2

Pituitary gland

Question 3

What attaches the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus?

Answer 3

The pituitary stalk

Question 4

What lies within the pituitary stalk?

Answer 4

Hypophyseal portal vein and axons of neurons

Question 5

What divides the anterior and posterior pituitary?

Answer 5

Pars intermedia

Question 6

What is located posterior to the thalamus and superior to the midbrain of the brainstem?

Answer 6

Pineal gland

Question 7

What is the body’s largest endocrine gland?

Answer 7

Thyroid

Question 8

Describe the location of the thyroid by bony landmarks

Answer 8

Located between levels of C5 and T1 vertebrae, on the anterior aspect of the neck below the cricoid cartilage

Question 9

How many parathyroid glands do you usually have?

Answer 9

4. These control calcium levels.

Question 10

Where are the superior and inferior parathyroid glands located?

Answer 10

The superior glands are on the thyroid’s posteromedial aspect near the tracheoesophageal groove

The inferior parathyroids are located below the inferior thyroid artery

Question 11

The union of the pancreatic and bile duct forms what?

Answer 11

Hepatopancreatic ampulla

Question 12

What are the 2 parts of the adrenal gland?

Answer 12

Cortex

Medulla

Question 13

Superior to what organ would find each adrenal gland?

Answer 13

Kidney

Question 14

Which arteries supply blood flow to the adrenal glands?

Answer 14

Superior, middle, and inferior suprarenal arteries

Question 15

What are the 3 layers of the adrenal cortex?

Answer 15

Glomerulosa

Fasciculata

Reticularis

Question 16

What does each layer secrete?

Answer 16

Glomerulosa secretes mineralocorticoids (e.g. aldosterone)

Fasciculata secretes glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisol)

Reticularis secretes androgens (e.g. Dehydroepiandrosterone)

Question 17

What cells produce catecholamines in adrenal glands?

Answer 17

Chromaffin cells

Question 18

What nerve provides sympathetic innervation to the adrenal medulla?

Answer 18

The greater splanchnic nerve. It stimulates catecholamine release