Pituitary Flashcards
The hypothalamus and pituitary gland form a unit that exerts control over the function of several endocrine glands, what are they?
Thryoid
Adrenals
Gonads
The pituitary is the
“master gland”
What is the hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA) responsible for?
brain-endocrine interactions
What is the coordinating center of the endocrine system?
Hypothalamus
Where does they hypothalamus get its input signals from?
upper cortical inputs, autonomic function, environmental cues, and peripheral endocrine feedback
T/F: The hypothalamus delivers precise signals to the pituitary gland which release hormones that influence other endocrine systems.
TRUE
*** The pituitary gland rests in the sphenoid bone, in an area called the
Sella Tursica
*** There are 4 divisions of the pituitary
Anterior pituitary or adenohypophysis
Pars intermedius
Pars tubularis
Neurohypophysis
*** Which division is the largest
Anterior pituitary or adenohypophysis
*** Which division is gone after fetal development
Pars intermedius
***What division is highly vascularized with no known hormones secreted?
Pars tubularis
The anterior and posterior portions of the pituitary are ____ from one another
distinct
different connections to hypothalamus
different cell types
secrete different hormones
What is another name for the anterior pituitary?
adenohypophysis
Is the anterior pituitary highly vascularized?
yes
*** How is they anterior pituitary connected to the hypothalamus?
via a portal venous network
What glands is the anterior pituitary responsible for?
thyroid, adrenal and mammary glands
Also regulates growth hormone, gonads (FSH & LH), and melanocytes
What are the anterior pituitary cell types? (5)
Somatotropes Corticotropes Thyrotropes Gonadotropes Lactotropes
What do Somatotropes secrete?
Growth Hormone (GH) (most abundant cell type)
What do Corticotropes secrete?
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
What do Thyrotropes secrete?
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
What do Gonadotropes secrete?
Luteinizing & Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH/LH)
What do Lactotropes secrete?
Prolactin (PRL)
The posterior pituitary is also called the
neurohypophysis
The posterior pituitary is largely a collection of _____ projections from the hypothalamus
Axonal
What hormones does the posterior pituitary produce?
Oxytocin and vasopressin (ADH)
What does oxytocin regulate?
What dose ADH regulate?
uterine contractions
water balance
How are hormones that are synthesized in the hypothalamus transported for secretion by the posterior pituitary?
intracellulary
*** Where is vasopressin (ADH) synthesized?
supraoptic nuclei
ADH increases permeability of the collecting ducts, which increases free water absorption. What does this do to urine & plasma osmolality, and ECF volume?
Increased urine osmolality
Decreased plasma osmolality
Increased ECF volume
Vasopressin causes contraction of vascular smooth muscle producing what effect?
vasoconstrictive pressor effect
more prevalent in large doses
What is the V1 receptor?
presser effect
Prevalent with extreme increases in circulating levels, ie hemorrhage
What is the V2 receptor?
ADH effect
What is the stimulus for the release of vasopressin (ADH)?
Osmoreceptor in hypothalamus (HT) activated by plasma osmolality >290 mosm/kg
Other receptors in HT send sensation of thirst
What does decreased ECF volume activate?
stretch receptors in great veins, atria, pulmonary vessels for ADH release
What are some other stimulators for release?
angiotensin II, nicotine, nausea, pain, stress