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Histology Block 3 > Endocrine System - Pituitary > Flashcards

Endocrine System - Pituitary Flashcards

1
Q

What are the embryological origins of the Anterior/Posterior pituitary?

A

Anterior - Oral ectoderm (roof of mouth, Rathke’s pouch)

Posterior - Neural Ectoderm

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2
Q

What sort of tissues are the Adenohypophysis and the Neurohypophysis?

A

Adenohypophysis: glandular epithelial tissue

Neurohypophysis: nervous tissue

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3
Q

What are the parts of the Adenohypophysis?

A

Pars Distalis
Pars Intermedia
Pars Tuberalis

Distalis and Intermedia = 2/3 of lobe
Tuberalis = remaining 1/3 of lobe

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4
Q

What are the parts of the Neurohypophysis?

A

Pars Nervosa

Infundibulum

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5
Q

How are the components of the Adenohypophysis derivatives of Rathke’s pouch (embryological origin).

A

Distalis (thickened anterior wall of pouch)
Intermedia (remnant of posterior wall of pouch)
Tuberalis (thickened lateral walls of pouch)

Note: Pars Intermedia will have remnants of Rathke’s Pouch

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6
Q

What is the function of the Infundibulum?

A

It connects the Pars Nervosa to the nervous system. It contains ONLY axons that terminate in the Nervosa.

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7
Q

What is the blood supply of the Pituitary gland?

A

Internal Carotid artery

  • Superior hypophyseal artery for anterior lobe
  • inferior hypophyseal artery for posterior lobe
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8
Q

Describe the blood pathway in the Adenohypophysis.

A

Internal Carotid -> Superior Hypophyseal artery -> Primary Capillary Plexus -> Hypophyseal Portal Veins -> Secondary Capillary Plexus -> Exit lobe via Hypophyseal Veins

Note: Pars Distalis has no real ARTERIAL blood supply.

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9
Q

Describe the blood pathway in the Neurohypophysis.

A

Internal Carotid -> Inferior Hypophyseal artery -> Capillary Plexus -> Exit via Hypophyseal veins

Note: The Inferior Hypophyseal arteries enter the Pars Nervosa DIRECTLY.

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10
Q

Describe the endocrine secretion of the Adenohypophysis.

A

Neurons for Pars Distalis are in the 3rd Ventricle.

  • Produce Releasing/Inhibiting factors and send to Primary Capillary Plexus
  • Factors will then make it to the Pars Distalis, which will respond accordingly.
  • If hormones are released, they will be released into the Secondary Capillary Plexus, then into the Collecting Vein via the Hypophyseal Veins.
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11
Q

Describe the endocrine secretion of the Neurohypophysis.

A

Neurons for the Pars Nervosa are in the Thalamus

  • Produce hormone directly.
  • Send hormones down axons and into the blood stream of the Pars Nervosa.
  • Hormones will enter bloodstream.
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12
Q

What are the cell types of the Pars Distalis?

A

Acidophils (40%)
Basophils (10%)
Chromophobes (50%)

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13
Q

What are the hormones produced by acidophils? What are their functions?

A

Prolactin

  • promote secretion of progesterone
  • initiate milk formation
  • promotes development of mammary

Growth Hormone
- …dude.

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14
Q

What are the pathologies involving Growth Hormone?

A

Too much = Gigantism

Too little = Dwarfism

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15
Q

What are the hormone produced by basophils? What are their functions?

A

FSH

  • stimulate growth of ovarian follicles and estrogen secretion
  • activate spermatogenic epithelium and stimulates Sertoli Cells

LH

  • promotes ovulation, corpus luteum formation, progesterone secretion
  • stimulate Leydig cells of testes to secrete testosterone

ACTH
- stimulate adrenal cortex to secrete glucocorticoids and gonadocorticoids

TSH

  • stimulate growth of thyroid epithelial cells
  • stimulate production and release of thyroid hormones
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16
Q

How is the Pars Distalis regulated in terms of producing and releasing hormones?

A
  • releasing/inhibitory hormones from hypothalamus (supraoptic nucleus)
  • small direct effect of hormones from target organs on median eminence and distalis
17
Q

What are some of the releasing/inhibitory hormones?

A

STIMULATORS

  • Thyrotropin RH: stimulate dopamine release
  • Growth Hormone RH (GHRH): stimulate GH release
  • Gonadotropin RH (Low frequency pulses): stimulate FSH release
  • GRH (High frequency pulses): stimulate LH release

INHIBITORS
Dopamine - inhibit prolactin release
Somatostatin - inhibit GH release

18
Q

What hormones are released via the Neurohypophysis?

A

ADH/Vasopressin

Oxytocin

19
Q

What are the cell types of the Pars Nervosa?

A

Terminal endings of Axons
- Note the Herring Bodies
Pituicytes

20
Q

Where do the Neurohypophysis hormones come from?

A

Herring Bodies of the axon terminal endings.

21
Q

What brings the hormones to the Pars Nervosa for release?

A

Neurophysin I and II

I = Oxytocin
II = ADH
22
Q

What is a potential symptom of a tumor growing on the pituitary?

A

Loss of vision on one side due to tumor pressing on the optic chiasm

Histology Block 3 (10 decks)

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