Pituitary Gland Flashcards
What are endocrine glands?
cells that secrete hormone directly into the surrounding ECF
How are exocrine glands products expelled?
through ducts
What are seven endocrine glands?
Thyroid Parathyroid Pituitary Pancreas Adrenal Placenta Ovaries and Testes
What are the mediators of the endocrine system?
hormones
What are hormones?
chemical messengers that transport information (a message) from one set of cells (endocrine cells) to another (target cells)
What is an example of an endocrine function?
pituitary gland to thyroid gland
What causes a response to a hormone?
primarily, the binding of hormone to its target cell receptor
What characteristics of the hormone receptor help with hormone receptor binding?
high specificity and affinity
Where is the receptor found?
location of the receptor directs the hormone to the correct target organ or target cell
What is an example of a hormone that has numerous target sites?
insulin
What is an example of a hormone that has one target tissue?
TSH
What are three processes that regulate hormone secretion?
neural control
biorhythms
feedback mechanisms
What hromones are under neural control?
ADH, catecholamines, cortisol
How can neural control influence hormone secretion?
suppress or stimulate secretion
What are types of stimulus for neural influence over hormones?
smell, touch, stress, sight, taste, pain
What are biorhythms?
intrinsic hormonal oscillations may be circadian, weekly or seasonal
vary in stages of life
What is the role of the pituitary?
collects and integrates information from almost everywhere in the body & uses information to control the secretion of vital pituitary hormones
What is the pituitary gland regulated by?
feedback control from peripheral target organ hormones or other target products
Do the pituitary and hypothalamus have a BBB?
No
Why do the pituitary and hypothalamus lack a BBB?
allows for feedback to have a potent effect on the two structures
Where is the pituitary gland located?
sella turcica at base of the brain
What is the anterior lobe of the pituitary?
adenohypophysis
What is the posterior lobe of the pituitary?
neurophypophysis
What is blood supply to the pituitary?
superior and inferior hypophyseal arteries
What are the six hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary?
growth hormone adrenocorticotrophic hormone thyroid-stimulating hormone follicle-stimulating hormone luteinizing hormone prolactin
What is the anterior pituitary target cell type for thyrotropin-releasing hormone?
thyrotroph
What is the anterior pituitary target cell type for corticotropin-releasing hormone?
corticotroph
What is the anterior pituitary target cell type for gonadotropin-releasing hormone?
gonadotroph
What is the anterior pituitary target cell type for prolactin-releasing hormone?
lactotroph
What is the anterior pituitary target cell type for prolactin-inhibiting hormone?
lactotroph
What is the anterior pituitary target cell type for growth hormone releasing hormone?
somatotroph
What is the anterior pituitary target cell type for growth hormone inhibitory factor hormone?
somatotroph
What is the anterior pituitary hormone release when thyrotroph is targeted?
thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
What is the target of TSH
thyroid gland
What is the primary peripheral feedback hormone for TRH?
T3
What is the anterior pituitary hormone released from corticotrophs
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, corticotropin)
What is the hormone target site of ACTH?
zona fasciculata & zona reticularis of adrenal cortex
What is the primary peripheral feedback hormone of CRH?
cortisol
What anterior pituitary hormone is released from gonadotrophs?
follicle-stimulating hormone lutenizing hormone
What are the target sites of LH and FSH
gonads (testes and ovaries)
What is the primary peripheral feedback hormone for GRH?
estrogen
progesterone
testosterone
What hormone does a lactotroph release?
prolactin
What is the target site of prolactin?
breast
Is there a primary feedback loop for prolactin secretion?
no
What is released from a somatotroph?
growth hormone
What is the target of growth hormone?
all tissues
What is the primary peripheral feedback hormone of somatotroph?
growth hormone, insulin, growth factor 1
What is a primary pituitary disorder?
defect to the peripheral endocrine gland
What is a secondary pituitary disorder?
defect to the pituitary
What is a tertiary disorder?
defect to the hypothalamus
What is panhypopituitarism?
generalized pituitary hypofunction
What causes anterior pituitary hyposecretion?
nonfunctioning tumors compress and destroy normal pituitary tissue hypophysectomy postpartum shock irradiation trauma infiltrative disorders
What may be required if the tumor or pituitary gland causing hypopituitarism is removed?
thyroid hormone
glucocorticoids
vasopressin
what does removing the tumor or pituitary gland causing hypopituitarism do?
decompress or removes the tumor
to control bleeding
What is anterior pituitary hypersecretion caused by?
bengin adenomas
What are the three most common tumors found in ant pituitary hypersecretion?
prolactin
ACTH
GH