Weeks 2/3 Pre-Prac

Question 1

What is the name of the fold of the dura mater that covers the pituitary? How does this explain why there is typically no pituitary in prosections?

Answer 1

• Dural fold is called diaphragma sellae
• This causes the pituitary to be torn off from brain when brain is removed from skull

Question 2

What is the name of the cells inside the pineal gland? What hormone do they produce?

Answer 2

• Cells are known as pinealocytes
• They produce melatonin, which is involved in regulation of sleep/wake cycles

Question 3

Which vein do pancreatic hormones drain into? How does this influence the importance of a certain organ in metabolic health?

Answer 3

• Drain into portal vein
• Increases the importance of the liver in metabolic health

Question 4

How does the venous drainage of the left adrenal gland differ from the right one?

Answer 4

• Right drains directly into IVC
• Left drains into renal vein, which drains then into the IVC

Question 5

Where is the blood supply to the ovary derived from? How do the ovarian blood vessels reach the ovary?

Answer 5

• Ovarian arteries are branches of the abdominal aorta
• They travel with suspensory ligaments of the ovaries