Hypothalamus and pituitary gland Flashcards
An alternative name for the posterior pituitary gland
Neurohypophysis
An alternative name for the anterior pituitary gland
Adenohypophysis
What is the adenohypophysis?
Anterior pituitary gland
What is the neurohypophysis?
Posterior pituitary gland
What tissue is the pituitary gland composed of?
posterior = neural tissue Anterior = glandular cuboidal tissue
What is the embryological origin of the anterior pituitary gland?
Derived from an evagination of the oropharynx of the primitive gut called Rathke pouch
What is the embryological origin of craniopharyngiomas?
tumours that form from cells left behind from Rathke pouch which should form the anterior pituitary gland
What is the Rathke pouch?
Emrybological origin of the anterior pituitary gland
What is another name for the pituitary gland?
The hypophysis
Which hormones are secreted by the posterior pituitary gland?
ADH and oxytocin
Which hypothalamic nucleus is responsible for ADH production?
Supra-optic nucleus
Where is ADH released?
Posterior pituitary gland
What is another name for ADH?
Vasopressin
What is vasopressin?
Another name for ADH
Which physiological changes induce ADH release?
Low blood pressure and high plasma osmolality - detected at the supra-optic nucleus
Which physiological changes inhibit ADH release?
Alcohol
High blood pressure
Low plasma osmolality
Which hypothalamic nucleus is responsible for oxytocin release?
Paraventricular nucleus
Which hormone is released by stimulation of the paraventricular nucleus?
Oxytocin in the posterior pituitary gland
Also corticotrophin releasing hormone and thyrotropin releasing hormone, to the hypophyseal portal system
Which hypothalamic nuclei serve the posterior pituitary gland?
The paraventricular (vasopressin) and the supra-optic nuclei (ADH)
What the communication between the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary gland called?
Hypothalamic hypophyseal tract (neural axons)
What is the communication between the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary gland called?
Hypothalamic hypophyseal portal system (vascular)
What does CRH stand for?
Corticotropin releasing hormone
Which cells does CRH stimulate?
Corticotropes in the anterior pituitary gland
Was does ACTH stand for?
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
What is the difference between CRH and ACTH?
CRH released by the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalmus into the portal system to stimulare ACTH release from the anterior pituitary gland
What dose TRH stand for?
Thyrotropin releasing hormone
Which hormone stimulates thyrotropes?
TRH
Which cells release TSH?
Thyrotropes in the anterior pituitary gland