Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Endocrinology > Pituitary > Flashcards

Pituitary Flashcards

1
Q

Where is the pituitary gland?

A

Between and behind eyes
Deep in the brain

Like two grapes hanging off the hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Describe the structure of the pituitary?

A

Attached to hypothalamus via the infundibulum (stalk)

Two ‘lobes’ anterior and posterior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a hypophysis?

A

Another name for pituitary gland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Blood supply of pituitary?

A

Posterior pituitary receieves blood from many arteries

Anterior pituitary receives blood from a portal vein from the hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the name of the portal venous system that supplies the anterior pituitary?

A

Hypothalamo-hypophysial portal system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does the pituitary do?

A

Produces different hormones which regulate the function of all the endocrine glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

List some effects that hormones made by the pituitary have on the body?

A

Growth
Thyroid function
Puberty
Steroid production in body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What control pituitary function?

A

Hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How does the hypothalamus communicate with the anterior pituitary gland?

A

Hypothalamus secretes a hormone into the hypothalamo-hypophysial portal system

It goes to the anterior pituitary, stimulating the pituitary to release hormones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which hormones are produced in the anterior pituitary? What are the target organs for these hormones?

A

Growth hormone: bones + soft tissues

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): adrenals

Thyroid stimulating hormone: thyroid

FSH and LH: ovaries and testes

Prolactin: breast

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Which hormones does the posterior pituitary gland make?

What are the target organs for these hormones?

A

Anti-diuretic hormone: kidney

Oxytocin: breast, uterus in labour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How does the hypothalamus communicate with the posterior pituitary gland?

A

Neuronal communication

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Name some diseases of the pituitary?

A 
Benign adenoma
Craniopharyngioma
Trauma
Apoplexy / Sheehan's
Sarcoid / TB
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What problems does benign adenoma of pituitary cause?

A

Pressure on local structures: optic chiasm, dura

Raised ICP

Pituitary hormone production problems (deficiency or excess)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a craniopharyngioma?

A

Childhood tumour affecting the hypothalamus and pituitary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Clinical features of craniopharyngioma?

A

Raised ICP

Visual problems

Pituitary hormone deficiency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What visual problems occur when a pituitary tumour presses on the optic chiasm?

A

Bilateral hemianopia

18
Q

What happens when a pituitary tumour presses on the dura?

A

Headaches

19
Q

What happens when a pituitary tumour causes deficiency of pituitary hormones?

A

Hypopituitarism

20
Q

Clinical features of hypopituitarism?

A

Pale
Central obesity
Lack of body hair

Amenorrhoea in women

21
Q

What are functioning pituitary tumours?

A

Tumours of pituitary that cause it to release excess of the normal hormones it produces

22
Q

Name the big 3 conditions caused by functioning pituitary tumour?

A

Prolactinomas

Acromegaly

Cushing’s syndrome

23
Q

Difference between microadenoma and macroadenoma?

A 
Micro = less than 1cm
Macro = more than 1cm
24
Q

You suspect a patient has a problem with the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis.

How do you investigate?

A

Measures levels of

TSH
T3 and T4

25
Q

What levels of TSH, T3 and T4 would you expect to see in primary hypothyroidism?

A

Low T3, T4
High TSH

Thyroid is not working so low T3 and T4

Pituitary tries to compensate so releases more TSH

26
Q

What levels of TSH, T3 and T4 would you expect to see in hypopituitarism?

A

Low T3, T4
Low TSH

Pituitary is not producing enough TSH
So it is not stimulating thyroid to make T3 and T4

27
Q

What levels of TSH, T3 and T4 would you expect to see in Grave’s disease?

A

High T3, T4
Low TSH

Thyroid is overactive so too much T3 and T4 produced

Pituitary senses high levels so releases less TSH to try to compensate

28
Q

What is a TSHoma?

A

A tumour of the pituitary that releases too much TSH

29
Q

What levels of TSH, T3 and T4 would you expect to see in THSoma?

A

High T3, T4
High TSH

Tumour causes excess TSH
Which stimulates more T3 and T4 production

30
Q

You suspect a patient has a problem with HIS hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis.

How do you investigate?

A

Measure levels of

Testosterone (T)
FSH and LH

31
Q

What levels of T, FSH and LH would you expect to see in primary hypogonadism?

A

Low T
High FSH and LH

Problem with gonads (testes) so reduced production of T

Pituitary tries to compensate by producing more FSH and LH

32
Q

What levels of T, FSH and LH would you expect to see in hypopituitary?

A

Low T
Low FSH and LH

Pituitary is not releasing enough FSH and LH
So gonads are not being stimulated to make T

33
Q

What levels of T, FSH and LH would you expect to see in excessive anabolic steroid use?

A

Low T
Low FSH and LH

Anabolic steroids disrupt this pathway

34
Q

You suspect a patient has a problem with HER hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis.

How do you investigate?

A

Measure levels of

Oestradiol (O)
FSH and LH

35
Q

What levels of O, FSH and LH would you expect to see in primary ovarian failure?

A

Low O
High FSH and LH

Dysfunctioning of ovary means no O production
Pituitary tries to compensate so more FSH and LH

36
Q

You suspect a patient has a problem with their hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.

How do you investigate?

A

Measure cortisol levels

Synacthen test: give them a synthetic version of ACTH
If healthy, cortisol levels should rise as the ACTH is triggering the adrenals to make cortisol

37
Q

What result would you see when doing a synacthen test on someone with primary adrenal deficiency?

A

Poor

problem is in adrenals, no amount of extra ACTH makes the adrenals work better to make more cortisol

38
Q

What result would you see when doing a synacthen test on someone with hypopituitarism?

A

Increase in cortisol level, because the person is deficient in ACTH.
If you replace the ACTH the adrenals will be stimulated to produce cortisol

39
Q

What does ACTH stand for?

A

AdrenoCortioTropic hormone

40
Q

What controls prolactin secretion?

A

Dopamine!

Not the hypothalamus

41
Q

How would you investigate problems with prolactin axis?

A

Measure prolactin levels:

Prolactin is a stress hormone, more is released in times of stress

Cannulate the patient (cause stress) and then measure prolactin levels for an hour after.
You should see prolactin levels fall

Endocrinology (19 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions