Pituitary and Adrenal Gland

Question 1

Describe the tissue of the posterior pituitary gland

Answer 1

It is an extension of neural tissue consisting of modified glial cells and axonal processes

Question 2

What do somatotrophs secrete?

Answer 2

Growth hormone

Question 3

What do mammotrophs secrete?

Answer 3

Prolactin

Question 4

Name 3 types of basophil and what they produce

Answer 4

Corticotrophs (ACTH)
Thyrotrophs (TSH)
Gonadotrophs (FSH/LH)

Question 5

What do corticotrophs produce?

Answer 5

ACTH

Question 6

What do thyrotrophs produce?

Answer 6

TSH

Question 7

What do gonadotrophs produce?

Answer 7

FSH/LH

Question 8

Which part of the thyroid gland contains non-myelinated axons of neurosecretory neurons?

Answer 8

Posterior gland of the pituitary

Question 9

Sheehan’s syndrome?

Answer 9

Hypopituitarism caused by ischemic necrosis due to blood loss and hypovolemic shock during and after childbirth

Question 10

What could a tumour extending into the sella cause?

Answer 10

Hypopituitarism

Question 11

Inflammatory conditions (e.g. sarcoid) and the pituitary gland?

Answer 11

Could cause hypothyroidism
Surgery/radiation
Sudden Haemorrhage into gland
Ischaemic necrosis
Sheehan Syndrome
Tumours extending into sella
Inflammatory conditions (Sarcoidosis)

Question 12

Which gland does SIADH affect?

Answer 12

Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion affects the posterior pituitary (lel, posterior is in charge of ADH secretion so thats obvious lol)

Question 13

MEN1

Answer 13

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (Werner syndrome)

Question 14

Addison’s Disease Typical Presentation

Answer 14

Malaise, tiredness, poor appetite, weight loss
CRAVING FOR SALTY FOOD
Dizzy spells
Low BP, postural hypotension
PIGMENTATION

Question 15

Most common cause of Addison’s disease?

Answer 15

Autoimmunity

Question 16

Symptoms specific to women in addisons?

Answer 16

Loss of body hair and periods may stop

Question 17

What other disease may be associated with Addison’s disease?

Answer 17

Type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, pernicious anemia

Question 18

Why might patients with addisons become hypoglycaemic?

Answer 18

Steroids make you more insulin resistant, in addisons you aren’t producing sufficient steroids and so you become more insulin sensitive

Question 19

Diagnosis of Adrenal Insufficiency

Answer 19

Suspicious Biochemistry:

• Low sodium, high potassium, hypoglycaemia
• Short Synachten Test (>250, >480)
• ACTH levels will be high
• Renin will be massively increased, Aldosterone will be decreased
• Adrenal autoantibodies

Question 20

Most common type of pituitary adenoma?

Answer 20

Prolactinoma

Question 21

Symptoms of prolactinoma?

Answer 21

Infertility, lack of libido, amenorrhoea

Question 22

What causes levels of insulin like growth factors to rise?

Answer 22

Growth hormone

Question 23

Symptoms of a growth hormone secreting functional adenoma?

Answer 23

Growth of bone, cartilage and connective tissue

Gigantism or acromegaly

Question 24

Symptoms of Pituitary Apoplexy (apoplexy is bleeding within organs)

Answer 24

This is a surgical emergency! Headache, diploploia (pressure on CNIII), hypopituitarism, cardiovascular collapse and loss of consciousness