Endocrinology Practical 2.1.9

Question 1

What vessel does the right renal artery pass behind?

Answer 1

IVC

Question 2

What vessel does the left renal vein pass in front of?

Answer 2

abdominal aorta

Question 3

What vessel does the left renal vein pass under?

Answer 3

superior mesenteric artery

Question 4

what is nutcracker syndrome

Answer 4

compression of the left renal vein between the SMA and aorta, commonly presents as haematuria due to a renal venous hypertension, resulting in the rupture of the thin walled veins in the collecting duct

Question 5

Locate the distal and proximal convoluted tubules. What are the different characteristics of these tubules?

Answer 5

Distal tubules are lighter staining as they contain fewer vesicles and mitochondria than proximal tubules.
Lumen appears larger due to the presence of fewer microvilli

Question 6

What are the three cell types of the kidney that have an endocrine function and what is that function?

Answer 6

JG cells = renin release
macula densa = na sensing in the sital convuluted tubule
mesangial = store renin

Question 7

What hormone is produced at the juxtaglomerular apparatus? What is its function?
What is it produced in response to, specifically?

Answer 7

renin, convert angiotensinogen to angiotensin 1 to increase systemic pressure, produced in response to low na in dct

Question 8

where do the left and right kidneys lie?

Answer 8

• Right is lower than left due to its relationship with the liver.
• Left is posteriorly protected by ribs 11 and 12, right only has a relationship with rib 12.
• Left is taller and narrower than right kidney.

Question 9

The blood supply to the adrenal glands is from three different arteries: the superior, middle and inferior adrenal arteries. Where do each of these arteries branch from?

Answer 9

Superior adrenal artery from inferior phrenic artery
Middle adrenal artery from abdominal aorta
Inferior adrenal artery from renal artery

Question 10

What is the difference between left and right sides in the venous drainage pattern of the adrenal glands?

Answer 10

right = one single adrenal vein drains into the IVC
A collection of adrenal veins drain into the inferior phrenic and renal veins

Question 11

what hormone and function from: zona glomerulosa

Answer 11

mineralocorticoids, maintain water and electrolyte balance

Question 12

what hormone and function from: zona fasiculuata

Answer 12

glucocorticoids regulate metabolism

Question 13

what hormone and function from: zona reticularis

Answer 13

gonadocorticoids - growth and development of reproductive organs

Question 14

what hormone and function from: medulla

Answer 14

adernaline or noradrenaline
fight or flight response

Question 15

what is the name of the veins that surround the ovarian arteries?

Answer 15

pampiniform plexus

Question 16

what does a mature follicle produce?

Answer 16

oestrogen

Question 17

what does the corpus luteum produce?

Answer 17

progesterone

Question 18

what is the name of the veins that surround the testicular arteries?

Answer 18

pampiniform plexus

Question 19

where is the epididymus located?

Answer 19

outwith the scrotum

Question 20

where are the vas deferens located?

Answer 20

in the spermatic cord

Question 21

what do lydig cells produce?

Answer 21

testosterone, aldosterone, dhea

Question 22

what does the broad ligament cover?

Answer 22

the uterus and surrounding structures

Question 23

what is the blood supply to the uterus?

Answer 23

uterine artery which is a branch of the internal illiac artery

Question 24

where does blood from the uterine vein drain into?

Answer 24

internal illiac vein

Question 25

what features of the endometrium suggest the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 25

restricted blood vessels, thin endometrial wall, flat luminal surface . FSH is being secreted from the anterior pituitaryr and oestrogen from maturew follicles

Question 26

what features of the endometrium suggest the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 26

thickening of functional layer
coiling of glands
some saw toothed glands
oestrogen from mature follicles and
progesterone

Question 27

Is the blood in the placenta mainly foetal or maternal?

Answer 27

foetal

Question 28

What are the main functions of the placenta?

Answer 28

o Placental transfer: passes nutrients and O2 to foetus, removes waste produces (e.g. urea) to the mother
o Protection from maternal immune system: it inhibits, for example, Natural Killer (NK) cells, and secretes immunosuppressors (e.g. progesterone, cytokines and chemokines)
o It is also an endocrine organ – produces human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and progesterone.

Question 29

What is the outermost layer of foetal cells that completely surrounds the foetus and ALL foetally-derived tissues, and lies adjacent to the maternal tissue?

Answer 29

The chorion – an outer layer formed by trophoblasts and an inner layer formed by somatic mesoderm.

Question 30

Which hormone do trophoblast cells secrete in the first few weeks of pregnancy?

Answer 30

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)

Question 31

What does HCG do?

Answer 31

hCG is an analogue of pituitary LH and maintains the function of the corpus luteum during the first few weeks of pregnancy

Question 32

After approximately 8 weeks, the placenta takes over the production of which hormone from the corpus luteum? (this is called the luteal-placental shift)

Answer 32

Progesterone

Question 33

Why is progesterone important?

Answer 33

Following ovulating, it converts the endometrium to the secretory phase, preparing the uterus for implantation. If fertilisation and implantation do take place, it maintains the secretory phase and promotes blood vessel and tissue development – this is important to sustain the embryo.
Progesterone also acts on the myometrium to inhibit uterine contractions which might otherwise expel the embryo.