Pathology and Physiology

Question 1

What is the other name for the anterior pituitary?

Answer 1

Adenohypophysis

Question 2

Where is the anterior pituitary derived from?

Answer 2

Rathke’s pouch in the roof of the developing mouth

Question 3

Where are stimulator and inhibitor hormones released from the hypothalamus absorbed first?

Answer 3

Capillaries in the hypothalamus base

Question 4

What are the two groups of hormones that the anterior pituitary secretes?

Answer 4

Trophic and non-trophic

Question 5

What are the trophic hormones secreted from the anterior pituitary?

Answer 5

TSH, ACTH, LH and FSH

Question 6

Where does TSH act?

Answer 6

Thyroid glands

Question 7

Where does ACTH act?

Answer 7

Adrenal glands

Question 8

Where do LH and FSH act?

Answer 8

Reproductive glands

Question 9

What type of cell (generally) produces trophic hormones in the anterior pituitary?

Answer 9

Basophils

Question 10

What is the name of the type of basophil which secretes TSH?

Answer 10

Thyrotroph cells

Question 11

What is the name of the type of basophil which secretes ACTH?

Answer 11

Corticotroph cells

Question 12

What is the name of the type of basophil which secretes LH and FSH?

Answer 12

Gonadotrophs

Question 13

What are the non-trophic hormones released by the anterior pituitary?

Answer 13

GH and prolactin

Question 14

Where does GH act?

Answer 14

All body parts

Question 15

Where does prolactin act?

Answer 15

Mammary glands

Question 16

What type of cell (generally) produces non-trophic hormones in the anterior pituitary?

Answer 16

Acidophils

Question 17

What is the name of the type of acidophil which secretes GH?

Answer 17

Somatotrophs

Question 18

What is the name of the type of acidophil which secretes prolactin?

Answer 18

Mammotrophs

Question 19

Apart from basophils and acidophils, what other type of cell is found in the anterior pituitary?

Answer 19

Chromophobes

Question 20

What is the other name for the posterior pituitary gland?

Answer 20

Neurohypophysis

Question 21

Where does the posterior pituitary arise from?

Answer 21

It is an extension of neural tissue

Question 22

What does the posterior pituitary consist of?

Answer 22

Modified glial cells and axonal processes

Question 23

Where does the posterior pituitary grow from and where does it end up?

Answer 23

Grows down from the brain and remains connected to the hypothalamus via the pituitary stalk

Question 24

Which hormones are secreted from the posterior pituitary?

Answer 24

ADH and oxytocin

Question 25

Where are ADH and oxytocin synthesised?

Answer 25

Nerve cells within the hypothalamus

Question 26

What happens to the level of extracellular fluid when hormones are released from the posterior pituitary?

Answer 26

It rises

Question 27

Where does ADH act?

Answer 27

Urine collection channels in the kidneys

Question 28

Where does oxytocin act?

Answer 28

Mammary glands and smooth muscles above the uterus

Question 29

What are the causes of anterior pituitary hyper function?

Answer 29

Pituitary adenoma or carcinoma

Question 30

What are the causes of anterior pituitary hypo function?

Answer 30

Surgery
Radiation
Sudden haemorrhage
Ischaemic necrosis (Sheehan's)
Tumour extending into the sella turcica
Infiltrative inflammatory conditions

Question 31

What are the causes of posterior pituitary hyper function?

Answer 31

SIADH, ectopic ADH production, primary disorder in the pituitary

Question 32

What is the cause of posterior pituitary hypofunction?

Answer 32

Diabetes insipidus