Histology of Endocrine Organs (Brauer) Flashcards
What is difference between the endocrine and nervous system?
-
Nervous:
- Rapid communication
- Short lived effects
-
Endocrine:
- Slower communication via release of hormones into blood and binding on receptor cells
- Longer lasting effects
What are the stimuli that control hormonal release?
- Humoral
- Neuronal
- Hormonal
What is humoral stimuli?
Release of hormones are controlled by levels of ions and nutrients in blood/body fluids
Ex: PTH stimulated by low Ca2+ levels
What is neuronal stimuli?
Release of hormones stimulated by nerve signals
Ex: Epinephrine is relased from adrenal gland signaling via sympathetic nerve fibers
What is hormonal stimuli?
Hormones secreted into the blood by another endocrine tissue
Ex: TSH from pituitary gland stimulates TH release in the thyroid
How are endocrine glands organized?
Epithelioid cells arranged as follicles which lack free surfaces (does not open to lumen). They are well vascularized with fenestrated endothelium.
What are the direct targets of hypothalamic hormones?
- Anterior pituitary gland (releasing and inhibiting factors)
- Kindey and uterus (ADH & Oxytocin stored in posterior pituitary)
- Adrenal medulla (sympathetic innervation)
What are the indirect targets of hypothalamic hormones and how are the stimulated?
Indirectly influenced by stimulating secretion of hormones by the anterior pituitary
TSH –> Thyroid gland
ACTH –> Adrenal cortex
Prolactin –> Mammary gland
FSH/LH –> Gonads
GH & MSH –> Bone & other organs
What are the embryoligcal origins of the anterior and posterior pituitary gland?
- Anterior Pituitary: Surface Ectoderm
- From Rathke’s Pouch
- Posterior Pituitary: Neuroectoderm
- From diencephalon
What kind of cell types compose most of the anterior pituitary gland?
Glandular epithelial cells controlled by neurohormones released from hypothalamus
What composes most of the posterior pituitary gland?
Axons from hypothalamus and support cells
Looks like nerve tissue
Identify the various components of the pituitary gland
- Pars Distalis
- Pars Nervosa
- Pars Tuberalis
- Pars Intermedia
- Cyst Intemedia: remnant of lumen of Rathke’s pouch
What are some major cell types in the Pars Distalis (Anterior pituitary)?
Are they acidophilic or basophilic?
Acidophilic:
- Somatotropic cells
- Mammotropic cells
Basophilic:
- Thyrotropic cells
- Corticotropic cells
- Gonadotropic cells
Chromophobes - unknown function
Sinusoidal (fenestrated) capillaries
What do somatotroph cells release?
How do they stain?
- Secrete Growth Hormone (GH) in response to GHRH
- Acidophilic (lighter)
What do mammotroph cells release?
How do they stain?
- Secrete prolactin to stimulate milk production
- Acidophilic (stain lighter)
What do corticotroph cells release?
How do they stain?
- Secrete ACTH: stimulates adrenal cortex to secrete stress related hormones and mediate metabolism
- Basophilic (stains lighter)