Lect. 2 - Hypothalamus and pituitary gland Flashcards
The hypothalamic-pituitary system consists of three major systems:
1) neuroendocrine system connected to endocrine system by portal circulation
2) a neurosecretory pathway (neurohypophysis)
3) direct neural regulation of endocrine secretion (pars intermedia)
explain simple neural reflex
A simple reflex contains only one space where information in the spinal cord travels between neurons. Thus, a simple reflex is called monosynaptic, where “mono” means “one.”
e.g. tendon stretch reflex causes muscle contraction
explain neuroendocrinne reflex
Hormones are released into the blood by the brain when it gets triggered by the nervous signal.
A physical stimulus causes a nervous signal, which triggers the release of hormones from the brain into the blood.
The hypothalamus is
(+ location)
a region in the diencephalon located directly below the thalamus (hypo = beneath), in the floor of the
third ventricule.
Its rostral limit lies just in front of the
optic chiasm. From there it extends bilaterally around the infundibulum and ends caudally at the mammillary body.
the hypophysis lies in what space
the sella turcica
what does it mean when a tumor is described as active?
e.g. in the case of pituitary tumors, they can actively secrete hormone
the hypophysis consists of
– Posterior lobe (neurohypophysis or pars nervosa), derived from the brain
– Anterior lobe, adenohypophysis(or pars distalis)
pars intermedia too in some species
the adenohypophysis develops from
oral ectoderm (epithelium forming the roof of the mouth) of the embryo
In many species the adenohypophysis can be subdevided into larger anterior portion and smaller
intermediate lobe (pars intermedia)
Some species lack distinct intermediate lobe (humans).
What is Rathke’s pouch?
During embryogenesis the adenohypophysis develops from Rathke’s pouch, which arises from the roof of the primitive mouth in contact with the base of the brain.
Rathke’s pouch subsequently separates by constriction from the oral cavity.
nuclei of the hypothalamus
dorsomedial, ventromedial, paraventricular, supraoptic, and arcuate nuclei
the secondary portal plexus delivers blood (and releasing-hormones) to
the cells of the anterior lobe.
A portal system is a
vascular arrangement in which venous blood flows directly from one capillary bed through a connecting vessel to
another capillary bed before going back to the heart.
broadly, hypophysiotropic hormones will include
releasing hormones and inhibiting hormones
2 main effects of vasopressin
causes vasoconstriction
increases the permeability of the distal and collecting tubules to H2O in order to retain more water (by regulating the density of aquaporins in the luminal portion of the tubular cells.)
2 main effects of oxytocin
stimulates uterine contractions
stimulates milk ejection from the alveolus by contraction of the myoepithelial cells/basket cells
where are ADH and oxytocin synthesized?
synthesized by the magnocellular neurons of two particular hypothalamic nuclei:
– oxytocin - mainly by the paraventricular nucleus
– vasopressin- mainly by the supraoptic nucleus
by what is ADH synthesized?
mainly by the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus
by what is oxytocin synthesized?
mainly by the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus
The type of vasopressin secreted
from the posterior pituitary of
most mammals is
arginine vasopressin (AVP) - Arg at position 8.
at nerve endings within the posterior pituitary the hormones become bound to small proteins called
neurophysins
