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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

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2
Q

What hormones are released from the anterior pituitary gland?

A
  • ACTH
  • TSH
  • LH
  • FSH
  • GH
  • Prolactin (PRL)
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3
Q

What hormones are released from the posterior pituitary gland?

A
  • ADH

- Oxytocin

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4
Q

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

A

Neurohormone

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5
Q

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

A

Trophic hormone

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6
Q

Which hormones released from the pituitary gland are active hormones?

A

GH and prolactin

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7
Q

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

A

TSH
ACTH
LH
FSH

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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

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9
Q

What three things are measured to evaluate thyroid function?

A

fT3, fT4 and TSH

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10
Q

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

A

Pituitary tumours or other causes of secondary thyroid problems

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11
Q

The hypothalamus releases what stimulating hormone in the thyroid axis?

A

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)

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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

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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

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14
Q

What hormone does the hypothalamus produce in the adrenal axis?

A

Corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH)

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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

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16
Q

How is cortisol secreted?

A

In a diurnal rhythm

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17
Q

What is cortisol deficiency?

A

Adrenal insufficiency

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18
Q

What is primary adrenal insufficiency?

A

Addison’s Disease

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19
Q

Where is the problem in primary adrenal insufficiency?

A

Adrenal glands

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20
Q

What is secondary adrenal insufficiency?

A

Pituitary disease

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21
Q

What is cortisol excess?

A

Cushing’s Syndrome

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22
Q

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

A
  • Pituitary origin

- Ectopic ACTH

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23
Q

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

A

Adrenal origin

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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?

A

Ghrelin

30
Q

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

A

Leptin

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?

A

No

37
Q

What is usually measured instead of growth hormone?

A

IGF-1

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)

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