Pituitary gland

Question 1

what are the two components of the neurohypophysis?

Answer 1

pars nervosa

infundibulum

Question 2

what are the two components of the infundibulum?

Answer 2

median eminence

infundibular process

Question 3

what are the three components of the adenohypophysis? what is the main part?

Answer 3

pars distalis (main part) 
pars tuberalis 
pars intermedia

Question 4

most empty sella syndrome cases are of what variety?

Answer 4

primary

Question 5

what is the pathophysiology of primary empty sella syndrome?

Answer 5

arachnoid mater gets pushed into anterior aspect of sella turcica - compresses anterior pituitary

Question 6

what is the pathophysiology of secondary empty sella syndrome?

Answer 6

infarction - pituitary dies off

Question 7

both divisions of the pituitary are derived from what germ layer?

Answer 7

ectoderm

Question 8

from which two parts of the ectoderm does the pituiary gland arise?

Answer 8

anterior - oral ectoderm from roof of stomadeum - upgrowth forming the hypophysial diverticulum (RATHKE’S POUCH)

posterior - neuroectoderm from diencephalon - downgrowth forming the neurohypophysial diverticulum

Question 9

which signaling molecules control the development of Rathke’s pouch?

Answer 9

BMP-4

FGF-8

Question 10

what is the clinical significance of remnant’s of Rathke’s pouch?

Answer 10

craniopharyngioma

Question 11

what is the main blood supply of the pituitary gland?

Answer 11

superior hypophyseal arteries

inferior hypophyseal arteries

Question 12

where does the superior hypophyseal artery form a plexus?

Answer 12

infundibulum

anterior lobe

Question 13

the arterial plexus from which artery has anatomical intimacy with the posterior lobe?

Answer 13

inferior hypophyseal artery

Question 14

what are the three major histological components of the pars distalis?

Answer 14

reticular CT
sinusoidal capillaries
epithelial cords of cells

Question 15

pituitary adenomas have a decreased amount of what major histological component?

Answer 15

reticulin network

Question 16

what are the three types of cords of epithelial (glandular) cells based on staining characteristics?

Answer 16

basophils
acidophils
chromophobes

Question 17

what are the five functional classifications of pituitary cells?

Answer 17

somatotropes 
mammotropes 
corticotropes 
gonadotropes 
thryotropes

Question 18

what is the staining characteristic of somatotropes? what do they secrete?

Answer 18

acidophil

GH

Question 19

what is the staining characteristic of mammotropes? what do they secrete?

Answer 19

acidophils

prolactin

Question 20

what is the staining characteristic of corticotropes? what do they secrete?

Answer 20

basophils

ACTH and beta-lipotrophic hormone

Question 21

what is the staining characteristic of gonadotropes? what do they secrete?

Answer 21

basophils

LH and FSH

Question 22

what is the staining characteristic of thyrotropes? what do they secrete?

Answer 22

basophils

TSH

Question 23

what are the only acidophils in the pars distalis?

Answer 23

somatotropes

mammotropes

Question 24

what is the origin of basophils?

Answer 24

residual pars intermedia

Question 25

in response to excess glucocorticoid influence, what is the histological response of the corticotropes?

Answer 25

Crooke’s hyaline change

Question 26

what is Crooke’s hyaline change?

Answer 26

histological change seen upon excess glucocorticoids in corticotropes

Question 27

what types of cells comprise the neurohypophysis?

Answer 27

1. axons whose cell bodies reside in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei
2. pituicytes
3. Herring bodies

Question 28

what hormones are released by the neurohypophysis?

Answer 28

ADH

oxytocin