unit 15 Flashcards
what are endocrine glands
tissues in which hormone secreting cells make up most of the parenchyma
where are hormones exerting endocrine action released
into the interstitial and then enter the blood stream for transport
where are aggregates of secretory cells embedded
in highly vascularized CT, no ducts are associated with secretory cells
what is different about secretory cells
resemble epithelial cells but lack free surface
how are secretory cells usually arranged
into cords or clusters and surrounded by an extensive capillary network
where are secretory cells derived from
most from CNS, neural crest, or gut tube epithelium, a few have mesenchymal origin
what are the four types of hormones
glycoproteins (mostly water-soluble)
protein or peptide (water)
amino acid derivatives (water)
steroids (lipid)
anterior pituitary
composed of glandular, densely packed epithelium
derived from ectoderm
stains darkly
not directly attached to the hypothalamus
aka adenohypophysis
posterior pituitary
composed of neural secretory tissue
derived from neuroectoderm
less cellular, appears streaky, stains lightly
directly attaches to the hypothalamus
aka neurohypophysis
pituitary development
regions of the posterior pituitary
pars nervosa - larger portion
infundibulum - continuous with median eminence
anterior pituitary regions
pars distalis
pars intermedia
pars tuberalis
pars distalis
bulk of anterior pituitary, arises from thickened anterior wall of Rathke’s pouch
composed of strongly staining secretory cells surrounded by fenestrated capillaries and minimal CT with reticular fibers
pars intermedia
thin remnant of posterior wall of Rathke’s pouch, abuts the pars distalis
pars tuberalis
sheath of tissue around infundibulum, developed from thickened lateral wall of Rathke’s pouch
what are the 3 cell types found in pars distalis
acidophils (40%), basophils (10%), chromophobes (50%)
what are chromophobes
heterogeneous group of cells including stem/progenitor cells and degranulated acidophils & basophils
what are the two types of acidophils
somatotrophs and lactotrophs
somatotrophs
secrete somatotropin (aka GH)
GH increases metabolic rate, induces liver to produce insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), stimulate bone and muscle growth
what affects somatotrophs
stimulated by GHRH, inhibited by somatostatin
lactotrophs
secrete prolactin
promotes androgen secretion in males and mammary gland development/lactation in female
large polygonal cells with oval nuclei
what affects lactotrophs
no dedicated releasing hormone, various factors promote secretion though
dopamine inhibits secretion
what do acidophils contain
cytoplasmic secretory vesicles containing peptide! hormone product
what are the 3 types of basophils
corticotrophs, gonadotrophs, thyrotrophs
corticotrophs
synthesize POMC, precursor to ACTH
ACTH stimulates synthesis & release of hormones from adrenal cortex
what affects corticotrophs
secretion stimulated by CRH, inhibited by high plasma cortisol levels
gonadotrophs
secrete FSH and LH
stimulate follicle growth, ovulation, sex hormone production
gonadotrophs location
small oval cells with round eccentric nuclei, scattered throughout pars distalis
what affects gonadotrophs
secretion stimulated GnRH, inhibited by high plasma levels of sex hormones
thyrotrophs
secrete thyrotropin (TSH), acts on follicular cells of the thyroid gland to stimulate production of thyroid hormones
what affects thyrotrophs
secretion stimulated by TRH, inhibited by high plasma thyroid hormone levels
pars intermedia
contains colloid-filled cysts (Rathke cysts) lined by cuboidal cells and clusters of basophil-like cells
what are Rathke cysts
remnants of Rathke pouch
pars tuberalis
highly vascular area containing large vessels if the hypothalamohypophyseal portal system with associated small clusters/cords of cells associated with BVs
contains nests of squamous cells and small follicles lined by cuboidal cells
what does the superior hypophyseal portal system supply directly
pars tuberalis, infundibulum, median eminence (contains termini of neurosecretory neurons producing releasing inhibitory hormones
what does the superior hypophyseal artery form
primary fenestrated capillary plexus
where does the primary capillary plexus drain
hypophyseal portal veins
what do hypophyseal portal veins form
secondary capillary plexus in pars distalis