Pituitary Gland

Question 1

List all the major endocrine glands

Answer 1

Hypothalamus
Pituitary
Parathyroid gland
Thyroid gland
Adrenal gland
Pancreas
Ovaries
Testes

Question 2

What is the role of the cerebrum?

Answer 2

Anterior part of the brain that controls voluntary activity in the body

Question 3

What is the role of the cerebellum?

Answer 3

Posterior part of the brain that coordinates and regulates muscle activity

Question 4

What is the diencephalon?

Answer 4

Central core of the cerebrum and connects hypothalamus to the midbrain

Question 5

List the parts of the brainstem in order

Answer 5

Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata

Question 6

What structure connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland?

Answer 6

Infundibulum/ pituitary stock

Question 7

Which bone is the pituitary gland located within?

Answer 7

Pituitary fossa of the sphenoid bone

Question 8

The pituitary gland lies within the…

Answer 8

Sella turcica

Question 9

The nasal retina supplies visual information from the ____ visual field

Answer 9

Temporal

Question 10

The temporal retina supplies visual information from the ____ visual field

Answer 10

Nasal

Question 11

Outline the visual pathway from the retina to the occipital lobe

Answer 11

Optic nerves
Optic chiasm
Optic tracts
Thalamus
Optic radiation
Visual cortex of occipital lobes

Question 12

The optic chiasm is located inferior to the ______

Answer 12

Pituitary gland

Question 13

A pituitary tumour compresses what part of the visual pathway?

Answer 13

Optic chiasm

Question 14

Name the visual field defect that arises from compression of the optic chiasm

Answer 14

Bitemporal haemanopia

Question 15

Describe the mechanism behind bitemporal haemanopia

Answer 15

Transmission of AP from nasal retina is disrupted bilaterally
Lose ability to see structures in temporal side of visual field ONLY bilaterally

Question 16

Name the two main surgical approaches to the pituitary gland

Answer 16

Transcranial subfrontal

Transphenoidal

Question 17

Through which Le Forte fracture can the pituitary gland be accessed from?

Answer 17

Intranasal via Le Forte fracture 1 (surgical fracture of nasal septum and floor and roof of sphenoid sinuses)

Question 18

What structure forms the superior part of the nasal septum?

Answer 18

Perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone

Question 19

What structure forms the middle part of the nasal septum?

Answer 19

Vomer

Question 20

What structure forms the roof of the nasal cavity?

Answer 20

Cribiform plate of the ethmoid bone

Question 21

Name the three nasal conchae. Which conchae are part of the ethmoid bone?

Answer 21

Superior, middle, inferior

Superior and middle, inferior is it’s own bone

Question 22

What is meant by ‘paranasal sinus’

Answer 22

Air-filled space within a bone surrounding the nasal cavity

Question 23

List the types of paranasal sinuses and their location

Answer 23

Frontal (right and left on frontal bone)
Maxillary (right and left, line each antrum)
Ethmoid air cells (3 groups between nasal cavity and orbit)
Sphenoid (connect in midline)

Question 24

What type of epithelium lines paranasal sinuses?

Answer 24

Mucous-secreting respiratory epithelium

Question 25

List the functions of the paranasal sinuses

Answer 25

Drain mucous into the nasal cavity via ostia Reduce skull weight Voice resonance

Question 26

Which foramen do vertebral arteries pass through?

Answer 26

Foramen magnum

Question 27

Define 'Circle of Willis'

Answer 27

Anastomosis of internal carotid and vertebral arteries around optic chiasm and infundibulum

Question 28

Define 'tentorium cerebelli'

Answer 28

Tough sheet of dura over posterior cranial fossa

Question 29

Define 'diaphragm sellae

Answer 29

Tough sheet of dura over pituitary fossa

Question 30

What are the dural venous sinuses? What do they drain into, and where do they drain?

Answer 30

Venous channels within dura matter that drain blood from cranial vault into the internal jugular vein at the jugular foramen in floor of posterior cranial fossa

Question 31

What structure do the cavernous sinuses surround?

Answer 31

Pituitary glands

Question 32

List the structures located WITHIN the cavernous sinuses

Answer 32

``` Internal carotid arteries CN III CN IV CN V1, V2 CN VI ```

Question 33

List the structures located in the LATERAL WALL of the cavernous sinuses

Answer 33

Internal carotid arteries | CN VI

Question 34

What is the function of the intercavernous sinuses?

Answer 34

Anterior and posterior sinuses that connect the right and left cavernous sinuses anteriorly to the pituitary gland

Question 35

List the structures at risk during pituitary gland surgery

Answer 35

``` Oculomotor nerve Trochlear nerve Trigeminal nerve Abducent nerve Optic chiasm Cavernous sinus Internal carotid artery Dura matter ```

Question 36

What intracranial event can occur due to damage to the cavernous sinuses?

Answer 36

Ventricular haemorrhage

Question 37

What fluid from inside the brain can leak due to damage to the dura matter?

Answer 37

CSF