Week 3: Endocrine - Anterior and Posterior Pituitary

Question 1

ID the following structures on histology: Anterior Pituitary, Hypothalamus, Optic Chiasm, Posterior Pituitary, and Sella Turcica

Answer 1

Question 2

Another name for the Anterior Pituitary

Answer 2

Adenohypophysis

Question 3

What are the three parts of the Anterior Pituitary?

Answer 3

Pars Tuberalis
Pars Intermedia
Pars Distalis

Question 4

What are the two parts of the Posterior Pituitary?

Answer 4

Infundibular Stalk
Pars Nervosa

Question 5

What is acidophils, basophils, and chromophobe cells on histology mean?

Answer 5

acidophils - stain reddish
Basophils - stain blueish
Chromophobes - poorly stained

Question 6

Somatotrophs are responsible for what hormone(s)

Answer 6

GH

Question 7

Mammosomatotrophs are responsible for what hormone(s)

Answer 7

GH and PRL

Question 8

Lactotrophs are responsible for what hormone(s)

Answer 8

PRL

Question 9

Corticotrophs are responsible for what hormone(s)

Answer 9

ACTH, POMC, and MSH (Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone)

Question 10

Thyrotrophs are responsible for what hormone(s)

Answer 10

TSH

Question 11

Gonadotrophs are responsible for what hormone(s)

Answer 11

FSH and LH

Question 12

What hormone inhibits PRH (Prolactin Releasing Hormone)?

Answer 12

Prolactin Inhibiting Hormone (PIH) or Dopamine

Question 13

Is this a micro/macroadenoma?

Answer 13

macroadenoma

Question 14

most common cause of hyperpituitarism

Answer 14

Pituitary Adenomas

Question 15

somatotroph adenoma is associated with what hormone?

Answer 15

GH

Question 16

somatotroph adenoma is associated with what associated syndrome?

Answer 16

Gigantism (children)
Acromegaly (adults)

Question 17

Lactotroph adenoma is associated with what hormone?

Answer 17

PRL

Question 18

Lactotroph adenoma is associated with what associated syndrome?

Answer 18

Pituitary Stone
Galactorrhea
Amenorrhea (women)
Infertility

Question 19

Thyrotroph Adenoma is associated with what hormone?

Answer 19

TSH

Question 20

Thyrotroph Adenoma is associated with what associated syndrome?

Answer 20

Hyperthyroidism

Question 21

Corticotroph Adenoma is associated with what hormone

Answer 21

ACTH

Question 22

Corticotroph Adenoma is associated with what associated syndrome

Answer 22

Cushing Disease
Hyperpigmentation (POMC is a precursor to ACTH and MSH)

Question 23

Gonadotroph adenoma is associated with what hormone

Answer 23

FSH and LH

Question 24

Gonadotroph adenoma is associated with what associated syndrome

Answer 24

Mass effect
Hypopituitarism (most are silent)

Question 25

ID

Answer 25

normal pituitary

see multiple cell colors (6 cell types) and architecture surrounding each cell type (red arrows)

Question 26

ID

Answer 26

Pituitary Adenoma

see one cell colors (1/6 cell types) and architecture surrounding each cell type is spread far apart

Question 27

What 3 destructive processes can cause Hypopituitarism

Answer 27

Empty Sella Syndrome (ESS)
Pituitary Apoplexy
Sheehan Syndrome

Question 28

Any condition or treatment that destroys all/part of the pituitary

Answer 28

Empty Sella Syndrome (ESS)

Destruction causes open space in Sella Turcica

Question 29

sudden hemorrhage into a pituitary adenoma (neurosurgical emergency)

Answer 29

Pituitary Apoplexy

Question 30

Ischemic necrosis of anterior pituitary. Physiologic expansion of pituitary during pregnancy (2x size) not accompanied by increase in blood supply.

Answer 30

Sheehan Syndrome

Question 31

Why does Sheehan Syndrome only happen to the anterior pituitary and not the posterior pituitary?

Answer 31

The anterior pituitary receives its blood supply from a portal system (low pressure system) and the posterior pituitary receives its blood supply from arteries so the anterior pituitary is more likely to be effected by sudden pressure drops

Question 32

What two hormones are secreted by the posterior pituitary?

Answer 32

ADH (AVP)
Oxytocin (AT)

Question 33

**What is the target of the hormones secreted by the posterior pituitary/pars nervosa **

Answer 33

ADH - V2 receptors on collecting ducts to insert aquaporin 2 AQ2 into the membrane
OT - myoepithelial cells of mammary glands for milk let down and smooth muscle of the myometrium for uterine contractions during birth

Question 34

Where are the hormones of the anterior pituitary system made?

Answer 34

In the specific cell types of the anterior pituitary

Question 35

Where are the hormones of the posterior pituitary system made?

Answer 35

Hypothalamus and transported via axons to the posterior pituitary for release

Question 36

What are two posterior pituitary syndromes

Answer 36

Diabetes Insipidus
Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH Secretion (SIADH)

Question 37

What causes central Diabetes Insipidus

Answer 37

ADH deficiency

Question 38

What causes nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus

Answer 38

renal tubular unresponsiveness to ADH

Question 39

What can cause SIADH?

Answer 39

Ectopic ADH secretion by small-cell carcinoma of the lungs
Drugs
Trauma
Infections

Question 40

ID

Answer 40

Adamantinomatous Craniopharyngioma (ACP) -

compact, lamellar “wet” keratin (top half)
cords of squamous epithelium with peripheral palisading (bottom half).

Question 41

ID

Answer 41

Adamantinomatous Craniopharyngioma (ACP)

compact, lamellar “wet” keratin (right half)
cords of squamous epithelium with peripheral palisading (left half).

Question 42

ID

Answer 42

Papillary Craniopharyngioma

Question 43

What is the embryology of the anterior pituitary

Answer 43

oral ectoderm (surface ectoderm)

Question 44

What is it the current consensus of where craniopharyngeomas arise from?

Answer 44

Rathke’s pouch

oral ectoderm that evagginates to become pituitary

Question 45

What is the embryology of the posterior pituitary

Answer 45

neural ectoderm (diencephalon)