Neuroendocrinology - ENC

Question 1

What is a unique feature of the circumventricular organ’s BBB capillaries?

Answer 1

1. They are fenestrated (BBB is essentially absent).

Question 2

What are the 7 circumventricular organs?

Answer 2

1. Subfornical organ.
2. Vascular organ of the lamina terminalis.
3. Median eminence.
4. Posterior lobe of the pituitary (neurohypophysis).
5. Subcommissural organ.
6. Pineal gland.
7. Area postrema.

Question 3

Above which structure does the anterior hypothalamus lie?

Answer 3

1. Optic chiasm (known as the chiasmatic region of the hypothalamus).

Question 4

Which hypothalamic nucleus is responsible for bodily temperature regulation?

Answer 4

1. Anterior nucleus.

Question 5

Which hypothalamic nuclei contain the magnocellular neurosecretory cells?

Answer 5

1. Paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei contain large cells (magnocellular), which are responsible for the production and release of oxytocin and vasopressin.

Question 6

To which portion of the pituitary do the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei project?

Answer 6

1. Posterior pituitary.

Question 7

Which anterior region hypothalamic nucleus mediates circadian rhythms?

Answer 7

1. Suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Question 8

The posterior hypothalamic nucleus is continuous posteriorly with what midbrain structure?

Answer 8

1. Periaqueductal gray matter.

Question 9

Which hypothalamic nucleus is responsible for the sensation of hunger?

Answer 9

1. Lateral nuclei.

Question 10

Which hypothalamic nucleus is involved with the sensation of satiety?

Answer 10

1. Ventromedial nucleus.

Question 11

Which hypothalamic nucleus is involved with the rage response?

Answer 11

1. Dorsomedial nucleus.

Question 12

Which medial tuberal hypothalamic nucleus secretes small peptides known as hypothalamic-releasing and inhibiting hormones?

Answer 12

1. Arcuate nucleus and other median eminence nuclei.

Question 13

Which fibers are present in the stria terminalis?

Answer 13

1. Efferent fibers from the amygdala to the septal nuclei and anterior hypothalamus and reciprocal projections from the hypothalamus to the amygdala.

Question 14

What is the mammillotegmental tract?

Answer 14

1. Efferent fibers from the mammillary bodies to the raphe nuclei of the midbrain reticular formation.

Question 15

Which fibers are present in the stria medullaris?

Answer 15

1. Efferent fibers from the septal nuclei to habenular nuclei.
2. This tract forms a ridge on the medial thalamus.

Question 16

Which hormone is released from the intermediate lobe (pars intermedia) of the pituitary?

Answer 16

1. Melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSHs).

Question 17

From what embryological precursor do the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary arise?

Answer 17

1. Rathke’s pouch.