Functional Anatomy of the Endocrine System Flashcards
Name some glands and tissues that contain endocrine cells.
(endocrine gland)Pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal,
(Cluster of cells in organs)ovarian follicle, corpus luteum, Leydig cells in testes, synctiotrophoblasts in placenta, pancreatic islets, some cells in thymus and kidney,
(single cell/ isolated cells in epithelia) endocrine cells of gut, neuroendocrine or APUD cells.
What are the types of hormones based on their structure?
Peptide or protein, steroids, tyrosine or amino-derived, and fatty acid derivatives.
What is the origin of the anterior and posterior pituitary glands?
Anterior pituitary develops from Rathke’s pouch (outpouching of the roof of pharynx),
and the posterior pituitary develops as an extension of the diencephalon.
What are the major cell types in the anterior pituitary gland and the hormones they secrete?
Acidophils: Somatotrophs (growth hormone), Mammotrophs (prolactin)
Basophils: Gonadotrophs (FSH, LH), Corticotrophs (ACTH), Thyrotrophs (TSH)
Chromophobes (degranulated chromophil cells)
Pars intermedia: Melanotrophs (melanocyte-stimulating hormone)
What are the functions of oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) stored in the posterior pituitary?
Oxytocin causes uterine contraction during labor and milk expulsion from mammary glands. ADH acts on renal tubules, reducing urinary flow by increasing water absorption.
Describe the blood supply of the pituitary gland.
Supplied by internal carotid artery branches: superior hypophyseal arteries and inferior hypophyseal arteries.
What is the feedback mechanism controlling the anterior pituitary gland?
Negative feedback depends on plasma levels of hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary.
What are the functional groups of hormones secreted by the pituitary gland?
Hormones directly acting on non-endocrine tissues (e.g., growth hormone, prolactin, ADH) and hormones modulating the activity of other endocrine glands (e.g., TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH).
What are common pituitary disorders?
Adenomas, gigantism in children, acromegaly in adults, Cushing’s disease, and diabetes insipidus due to damage to the neurohypophysis.
Describe the thyroid gland’s structure and function.
Located anterior and inferior to the larynx with two lobes connected by an isthmus, richly supplied by superior and inferior thyroid arteries, Innervated by Vagus nerve stores secretion in follicles, produces thyroglobulin, T3, T4, and calcitonin.
What are the effects of thyroid hormones T3 and T4?
Regulate basal metabolic rate (BMR) and influence growth and maturation of nervous tissue.
What is the role of calcitonin produced by parafollicular cells?
Regulates blood calcium levels by lowering them.
What is the function of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) secreted by the chief cells?
Increases blood calcium levels by stimulating osteoclastic activity in bones, increasing calcium reabsorption in the kidneys (inhibit phosphate reabsorption), and enhancing calcium absorption in the small intestine by stimulating via D absorption.
What are the primary functions of the adrenal cortex and medulla?
Adrenal cortex: secretes mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens.
Adrenal medulla: secretes catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) for the fight or flight response.
Describe the cell types and hormones of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
Alpha cells: glucagon (increases blood glucose)
Beta cells: insulin (decreases blood glucose)
Delta cells: somatostatin (inhibits other hormones)
PP cells: pancreatic polypeptide (affects gastric and pancreatic functions)
Expl endocrine gland
What are the parts of the anterior and posterior pituitary
Identify these glands
What are the hormones secreted by cells in anterior pituitary
Label these parts
Describe the Pars Tuberalis
- Undifferentiated cells (gonadotrophs)
- Many cells appear to be chromophores
- Some acidophils and basophils are also present
Expl about the poserior pituitary
Label this
Name of the fascia attached to the posterior surface of the thyroid gland
Pretracheal fascia
What gland is this
What are the type of cells in the thyroid gland
Parafollicular cells stain less intensely
Identify the cells
What are the parathyroid disorders
What is the calcium homeostasis
Describe the adrenal medulla
Disorders of adrenal gland
