Pituitary Physiology Flashcards
anterior pituitary
glandular portion
contains epithelial cells
posterior pituitary
neural portion
contains neural axons
hypothalamus
located between optic chiasm and mammillary body
extends axons into the pituitary
magnocellular neurons
hypothalamic neurons that extend into the posterior pituitary
release hormones DIRECTLY into circulation via the inferior hypophyseal artery
parvocellular neurons
hypothalamic neurons that extend to the median eminence and release hormones into the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system to travel to the anterior pituitary to regulate hormone release
what hypothalamic nuclei contain magnocellular neurons
SON (supraoptic)
PVN (paraventricular)
what hypothalamic nuclei contain parvocellular neurons
PVN (paraventricular)
POA (pre optic)
ARC (arcuate)
what hormones does the SON release
vasopressin
oxytocin
what hormones does the PVN release
magnocellular: vasopressin, oxytocin
parvocellular: TRH, CRH, somatostatin
what hormones does the POA release
GnRH
what hormones does the ARC release
GHRH, dopamine
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
stress response hormone
stimulates the adrenal cortex
ACTH stimuli
stress, hypoglycemia, hypotension, trauma, infection, inflammation
ACTH inhibitors
feedback loops
short: ACTH inhibits CRH
long: cortisol inhibits CRH + ACTH
HPA axis
- hypothalamus (PVN) –> CRH
- anterior pituitary –> ACTH
- adrenal cortex –> cortisol, aldosterone, androgens
growth hormone (GH)
regulates growth and body size
indirect/anabolic: stimulates liver to produce IGF-1
direct/catabolic: stimulates gluconeogenesis (liver), lipolysis (adipose), and inhibits glucose uptake (muscle)
GH stimuli
sleep, stress, starvation, exercise, hypoglycemia, high protein meal
GH inhibitors
feedback loops + somatostatin (PVN)
short: GH inhibits GHRH
long: IGF-1 inhibits GHRH + GH
pathway for GH
- hypothalamus (ARC) –> GHRH
- anterior pituitary –> GH
- GH –> liver, muscle, adipose