Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Endocrine- Pituitary > Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axes > Flashcards

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axes Flashcards

1
Q

Where do the hormones released from the pituitary gland act (generally)?

A
  • Target organs

- Peripheral hormones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What hormones are released from the anterior pituitary gland?

A
  • ACTH
  • TSH
  • LH
  • FSH
  • GH
  • Prolactin (PRL)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What hormones are released from the posterior pituitary gland?

A
  • ADH

- Oxytocin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

The hormone released from the hypothalamus which acts on the pituitary gland is known as what?

A

Neurohormone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

The hormone which is released from the pituitary gland which acts on the peripheral gland is known as what?

A

Trophic hormone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Which hormones released from the pituitary gland are active hormones?

A

GH and prolactin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which hormones released from the pituitary gland stimulate the release of another hormone?

A

TSH
ACTH
LH
FSH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Which is the only hormone released from the pituitary gland to not have a direct stimulating hormone released from the hypothalamus?

A

Prolactin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What three things are measured to evaluate thyroid function?

A

fT3, fT4 and TSH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When may TSH not be a good marker of thyroid function?

A

Pituitary tumours or other causes of secondary thyroid problems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

The hypothalamus releases what stimulating hormone in the thyroid axis?

A

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

The anterior pituitary releases what hormone in the thyroid axis? What does this stimulate the release of?

A

TSH- releases thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the long and short negative feedback loops in the thyroid axis?

A

TSH from anterior pituitary inhibits further TRH from the hypothalamus
Thyroid hormones inhibit release of TRH from the hypothalamus and TSH from the anterior pituitary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What hormone does the hypothalamus produce in the adrenal axis?

A

Corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What hormone does the anterior pituitary produce in the adrenal axis? Where does this act?

A

ACTH- acts on the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How is cortisol secreted?

A

In a diurnal rhythm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is cortisol deficiency?

A

Adrenal insufficiency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is primary adrenal insufficiency?

A

Addison’s Disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Where is the problem in primary adrenal insufficiency?

A

Adrenal glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is secondary adrenal insufficiency?

A

Pituitary disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is cortisol excess?

A

Cushing’s Syndrome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

ACTH is high in a patient with Cushing’s syndrome. Give two possible causes?

A
  • Pituitary origin

- Ectopic ACTH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

ACTH is low in a patient with Cushing’s syndrome. Give the cause?

A

Adrenal origin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the difference between Cushing’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome?

A

Cushing’s Disease- the problem is from the pituitary gland

Cushing’s syndrome- the problem comes from anywhere else

25
Q

When is a stimulation test used in adrenal disorders? What is the stimulation test?

A

Synacthen Test- used when there is suspected adrenal insufficiency

26
Q

When is a suppression test used in adrenal disorders? What is the suppression test?

A

Dexamethasone suppression test- used when there is suspected excess cortisol (Cushing’s)

27
Q

What is secreted from the hypothalamus to increase the production of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary?

A

Growth hormone releasing hormone

28
Q

What is secreted from the hypothalamus to decrease the production of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary?

A

Somatostatin

29
Q

What hormone released from the stomach increases the production of GHRH from the hypothalamus and GH from the pituitary?

30
Q

What hormone released from adipose tissue increases the production of GHRH from the hypothalamus and GH from the pituitary?

31
Q

Growth hormone once it has been released acts mainly where to produce what?

A

Mainly at the liver to produce IGF-1

32
Q

As well as the liver, where else can growth hormone act directly?

A

Adipose tissue and other target tissues

33
Q

Where does IGF-1 act?

A

Target tissues

34
Q

Free fatty acids have what effect on the stimulation of GHRH and GH?

A

Inhibit production

35
Q

What non-hormonal factors can also stimulate the hypothalamus to produce more GHRH?

A 
Sleep
Exercise
Stress
Amino acids
Sex hormones
36
Q

Can GH be measured randomly?

37
Q

What is usually measured instead of growth hormone?

38
Q

If GH is consistently high, what does this indicate?

A

GH secreting pituitary tumour

39
Q

If IGF-1 is normal, what does this indicate?

A

Good control of the GH axis

40
Q

If IGF-1 is high, what can this be indicative of?

A

Acromegaly

41
Q

What is the result if there is excess secretion of growth hormone in childhood? Why is this?

A

Pituitary gigantism because the growth plates have not yet closed

42
Q

What are the two functions of the gonadal axis?

A
  • Regulate steroid hormone synthesis

- Regulate gamut maturation and production

43
Q

What sex hormone displays diurnal variation?

A

Testosterone

44
Q

When is the only time testosterone should be measured?

A

Between 8 and 10am

45
Q

What does the evaluation of female sex hormones depend on?

A

Timing in the menstrual cycle

46
Q

What hormone is released from the hypothalamus in the gonadal axis?

A

Gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH)

47
Q

What two hormones does the anterior pituitary produce in the gonadal axis?

A

LH and FSH

48
Q

Prolactin is secreted by what cells of the anterior pituitary?

A

Lactotroph cells

49
Q

What is released from the hypothalamus in the prolactin axis? What effect does this have on prolactin secretion?

A

Dopamine- inhibits release of prolactin

50
Q

If dopamine wasn’t present, what would happen to secretion of prolactin?

A

It would be continually secreted

51
Q

Where is the target tissue of prolactin?

A

The breasts

52
Q

What can too much prolactin result in?

A

Hypogonadism

53
Q

What receptors regulate thirst and water balance? Where are these found?

A

Osmoreceptors in the brain

54
Q

What are 4 factors which act on the hypothalamus to signal there is too much water and more needs to be reabsorbed (i.e. more ADH needs to be produced)?

A
  • Hyperosmolality
  • Angiotensin II
  • Sympathetic stimulation
  • Decreased atrial receptor firing
55
Q

What effect does the release of ADH have on the blood vessels?

A

Constriction

56
Q

What does vasoconstriction result in?

A

Increased systemic vascular resistance

57
Q

What effect does the release of ADH have on the kidneys?

A

Fluid reabsorption to increase blood volume

58
Q

What is the overall action of ADH?

A

Increased arterial pressure

Endocrine- Pituitary (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions