Pituitary Gland Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 2 principal organisers of the endocrine system?

A

Hypothalamus and pituitary

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2
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A

Part of the brain and is directly connected to the pituitary gland via stalk called infundibulum

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3
Q

How would you describe communication between hypothalamus and pituitary?

A

NEUROENDOCRINE (neural - post; endo - ant)

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4
Q

What are tropic hormones?

A

Hormones which govern the release of another hormone (tropic and non-tropic released form H + P)

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5
Q

What type of hormones are released by hypothalamus?

A

Neurohormones

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6
Q

What type of hormones are released by the posterior pituitary?

A

Neurohormones

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7
Q

What type of hormones are released by the anterior pituitary?

A

Classic endocrine hormones

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8
Q

What part of the pituitary do hormones travel from hypothalamus to?

A

Posterior

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9
Q

Where are hormones released from in the posterior pituitary?

A

Vesicles

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10
Q

Are tropic or non-tropic hormones secreted into capillaries travelling to anterior pituitary?

A

TROPIC (govern release of anterior pituitary hormones)

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11
Q

Are tropic or non-tropic hormones produced in hypothalamus and travel to posterior pituitary?

A

NON-TROPIC (travel via axons of hypothalamic neurons where they are released into blood)

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12
Q

What is a property of all tropic hormones?

A

Bind to receptors on anterior pituitary and stimulate/inhibit release of AP hormones

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13
Q

Name 5 hypothalamic ‘releasing hormones’

A
Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH)
Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH)
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH)
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
Prolactin Releasing Hormone (PRH)
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14
Q

Name 2 hypothalamic ‘inhibiting hormones’

A

Growth Hormone Inhibiting Hormone (GHIH) aka somatostatin

Dopamine aka Prolactin Inhibiting Hormone (PIH)

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15
Q

Are all hypothalamic tropic hormones peptide or amine hormones?

A

They are all peptides, except dopamine which is amine

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16
Q

What is the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system?

A

Network of tiny vessels which transfer trophic hormones from hypothalamus to ant pituitary

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17
Q

Do we need small or large numbers of neurosecretory neurons for control?

A

Small numbers are sufficient as ant pituitary is hypersensitive to minute amounts (like any other endocrine cell)

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18
Q

Where are hormones released from hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system?

A

From neurosecretory neurons at the median eminence

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19
Q

What type of tissue is the anterior pituitary?

A

True endocrine tissue

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20
Q

What type of tissue is the posterior pituitary?

A

Neuroendocrine tissue

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21
Q

What is the origin of ant pituitary tissue?

A

Epithelial origin

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22
Q

What is the origin of post pituitary tissue?

A

Neural tissue origin

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23
Q

How is ant pituitary connected to hypothalamus?

A

Via hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system (2 capillary beds connected in series)

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24
Q

How is post pituitary connected to hypothalamus?

A

Neural connection

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25
Q

What is another name for ant pituitary?

A

Adenohypophysis

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26
Q

What is another name for post pituitary?

A

Neurohypophysis

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27
Q

What part of the pituitary gland makes up 2/3rds?

A

Anterior (posterior is 1/3rd)

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28
Q

What is the production of anterior pituitary hormones controlled by?

A

Hypothalamus

29
Q

How does the hypothalamus control the production of anterior pituitary hormones?

A

Producing ‘releasing’ or ‘inhibiting’ trophic hormones (aka factors) that stimulate or inhibit hormone production from AP

30
Q

Give an example of a ‘releasing’ hormone produced by the hypothalamus to the AP

A

Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) stimulates AP to secrete Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

31
Q

What type of hormones are released from the AP gland?

A

Peptides; 5 are also tropic

32
Q

Name the 6 anterior pituitary hormones

A
  • Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) aka thyrotropin
  • Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH) aka corticotrophin
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) aka a gonadatrophin
  • Luteinising Hormone (LH) aka a gonadatrophin
  • Growth Hormone (GH)
  • Prolactin
33
Q

What is the function of the 5 tropic AP hormones?

A

Control secretion of other endocrine glands and have direct/indirect effects in promoting growth

34
Q

What is the function of prolactin (only non-tropic AP hormone)?

A

Directly stimulates milk production from breast during lactation

35
Q

If u can, name the destinations of the 6 AP hormones

A
GH = adipose tissue, liver
TSH = thyroid gland
ACTH = adrenal cortex
LH + FSH (gonadatrophins) = gonads
Prolactin = mammary glands
36
Q

Describe the 3 broad stages of hypothalamus to AP to hormone release

A
  1. NEURONS synthesizing trophic hormones release them into capillaries of the portal system
  2. PORTAL VESSELS carry the trophic hormones directly to the AP
  3. ENDOCRINE CELLS release their hormones into the 2nd set of capillaries for distribution to rest of body
37
Q

Describe the mechanism of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system

A

Hypothalamic neurohormone released from stimulated hypothalamic neuron
Hormone moves from capillary bed 1 through portal system + binds to receptor on surface of AP endocrine cell in capillary bed 2
AP cell releases hormone that diffuses into capillary system + into circulation

38
Q

If u can, describe the effect of AP hormones on their target tissues

A

Prolactin = lactation
TSH = TH release
ACTH = cortisol release
GH = IGF-1 release (tropic) + tissue metabolism (direct)
FSH + LH = regulation of repro function (direct) + sex hormone release (tropic)

39
Q

What type of control is involved in the anterior pituitary?

A

Feedback control

40
Q

What are the 3 integration centres in anterior pituitary?

A

1) hypothalamus
2) anterior pituitary
3) target endocrine cell

41
Q

What acts as a negative feedback signal in the AP?

A

The hormones themselves

42
Q

How does each hormone feed back to inhibit hormone secretion?

A

By integrating centres earlier in the reflex

43
Q

Feedback from endocrine target cell =

A

long-loop feedback

44
Q

Feedback from anterior pituitary to hypothalamus =

A

short-loop feedback

45
Q

What do the feedback signals link?

A

Links levels of sequential hormones together and tightly maintains plasma levels within the correct range

46
Q

What 2 neurohormones does the posterior pituitary store and release?

A

VASOPRESSIN (aka ADH)

OXYTOCIN

47
Q

Where are the PP hormones synthesised?

A

Magnocellular neurons; diff subsets make either vasopressin or oxytocin

48
Q

Where are the cell bodies of magnocellular neurons?

A

In specific areas of the hypothalamus

49
Q

Where do axons project down to from the hypothalamus?

A

Down the infundibulum to the posterior pituitary

50
Q

Do the axons from the hypothalamus synapse with other neurons?

A

No, their terminals end directly on capillaries

51
Q

How are the PP hormones released at the PP?

A

Directly into the blood stream

52
Q

Describe the steps of the pathways of vasopressin and oxytocin from hypothalamus to PP to bloodstream

A

1: hormone is made and packaged in cell body of neuron
2: vesicles are transported down the cell
3: vesicles containing hormone are stored in posterior pituitary
4: hormones are released into blood

53
Q

What type of hormone do oxytocin and vasopressin behave as?

A

Typical peptide hormones i.e. synthesis and storage in vesicles, cell surface receptors etc

54
Q

What is the main function of vasopressin (ADH)?

A

Regulates water balance

55
Q

What is the main function of oxytocin?

A

Milk ejection and uterine contraction

56
Q

What is the release of vasopressin triggered by?

A

Increased plasma osmolarity

Decreased plasma volume/blood pressure

57
Q

What is the release of oxytocin triggered by?

A

Labout (baby’s head against cervix)

Suckling

58
Q

What is the site/mode of action of vasopressin?

A

Kidney collecting ducts
- Increased water reabsorption
Vascular smooth muscle
- Increase BP

59
Q

What is the site/mode of action of oxytocin?

A

Milk duct smooth muscle
- Contracts muscle, ejecting milk
Uterine smooth muscle
- Child birth

60
Q

Walk us through the neurohormone release from posterior pituitary gland

A

Integration of stimuli triggers action potential in neurons e.g. suckling
Hormone is released from either oxytocin or ADH specific magnocellular neuron in the hypothalamus
Action potential travels down axon to terminals in posterior pituitary
Mature hormones are stored within terminals in posterior pituitary
Hormone is released directly into blood stream for effect

61
Q

What are the 2 types of secretion disorders

A

Hypo

Hyper

62
Q

What are the 2 types of responsiveness disorders

A

Hypo
Hyper
(response of target cell)

63
Q

What is a primary disorder?

A

Those in which the defect is in the cells that secrete the hormone

64
Q

What are secondary disorders?

A

Those in which there is too little or too much trophic hormone from pituitary

65
Q

What are tertiary disorders?

A

Relate to hypothalamic defects

66
Q

Give an example of 1, 2, 3 disorders using thyroid

A

Primary hyperthyroidism = thyroid gland making too much
Secondary = anterior pituitary producing too much TSH
Tertiary (least common) = hypothalamus releasing too much TRH

67
Q

What could hyporesponsiveness be caused by?

A

Alterations in receptor for hormone, disordered post-receptor events or failure of metabolic activation of hormone

68
Q

What could hyperresponsiveness be cause by?

A

Permissive effects e.g. thyroid hormone ++ adrenaline mediated lipolysis