Hypothalamic & Pituitary Hormones Flashcards
Where is the hypothalamus located?
Below the thalamus, just above the brain stem.
What is the hypothalamus important for?
The control of basic functions, such as hunger, thirst and sleep. It senses internal and external environments and gives out signals to the rest of the body in order to adapt
What is the pituitary gland?
An endocrine gland that sits in a small bone cavity below the hypothalamus. It connects to hypothalamus via the ifundibulum
What 2 lobes does the pituitary gland have?
Anterior and posterior. These link to the hypothalamus in very different ways
How does the Anterior lobe link to the hypothalamus?
Parvicellular neurons in the hypothalamus secrete regulatory hormones into the bloodstream which travel through the portal system to the anterior pituitary lobe triggering secretion of other hormones (CIRCULATORY SYSTEM LINK)
How does the posterior lobe link to the hypothalamus?
Large magnocellular neurons in the hypothalamus have long axons which extend down into the posterior pituitary lobe (DIRECT NEURO-ENDOCRINE LINK).
Carried to the nerve terminals
How do hormones secreted by the hypothalamus reach the target cells of the anterior pituitary?
Via the hypothalamic-pituitary portal system
What function does the Prolactin releasing hormone have?
It’s a hypothetical hormone as the effect is not proven, but it has a positive tropic effect, causing the anterior pituitary to produce prolactin and that has an effect on the mammary develo-ment and lactation
What does the Prolactin inhibiting hormone do?
Released from the hypothalamus, has no tropic effect, inhibits the secretion of prolactin. This is the normal response, only during pregnancy that the dopamine negative effect is stopped in order to produce milk
What does the Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) do?
TRH signals the production of TSH in the anterior pituitary which then acts on the thyroid glands to secrete thyroid hormones
What does the Corticotropin Releasing Hormone do?
Released from hypothalamus, causes the production of Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the anterior pituitary which causes the release of cortisol from the adrenal cortex
What does the Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone do?
Signals the release of Growth Hormone from the anterior pituitary, having an effect on the growth and secretion of insulin-like growth factors from liver
What does the Gonadotropin releasing hormone do?
Stimulates the release of FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary which has an effect on the gonads for production of sex hormones
What is somatostatin?
Growth Hormone Inhibiting Hormone
What does tropic mean?
means hormone will act on an endocrine gland (i.e. pituitary) to cause the release of another hormone
Where are hypothalamic regulatory hormones secreted directly into?
the portal system = hypothalamic-pituitary portal vein (no dilution or degradation) to cause cells in the anterior pituitary lobe to secrete other hormones
What hormones are tropic?
TSH, ACTH, LH, FSH
What does FLATPiG stand for?
All the anterior pituitary hormones: Follicle Stimulating hormone (FSH) Luteinising Hormone (LH) Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Prolactin (PRL) Growth Hormone (GH)
FLAT = tropic hormones PiG = non-tropic