anatomy of the pituitary gland

Question 1

what are major hormone producing glands in the cranial cavity?

Answer 1

• hypothalamus

- pituitary gland

Question 2

where are major hormone producing glands in the neck?

Answer 2

• thyroid gland

- four parathyroid glands

Question 3

where are major hormones produced in the abdomen (retroperineum)?

Answer 3

• pancreas

- two adrenal (suprarenal glands)

Question 4

where are major hormones produced in the female pelvis?

Answer 4

-two ovaries in broad ligaments

Question 5

where are major hormones produced in the male perienum?

Answer 5

two tested in scrotum

Question 6

what hormone producing structure is highlighted blue?

Answer 6

thalamus

Question 7

what hormone producing structure is highlighted blue?

Answer 7

hypothalamus

Question 8

what is the part of the brain highlighted light blue called?

Answer 8

diencephalon

Question 9

what does the diencephalon contain?

Answer 9

the thalamus and hypothalamus

Question 10

what is the diencephalon?

Answer 10

it is part of the brain that forms central core of the cerebrum with connections to right and left cerebral hemispheres and midbrain

Question 11

how is the hypothalamus connected to the pituitary?

Answer 11

hypothalamus sits superiorly to the pituitary gland connected by infundibulum or ‘pituitary stalk’

(infundibulum=funnel)

Question 12

how is the pituitary gland divided?

Answer 12

into anterior and posterior lobe

Question 13

what is the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland also known as?

Answer 13

adenohypophysis

Question 14

what makes up the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland?

Answer 14

• pars distalis
• pars tuberalis
• pars intermedia

Question 15

what part of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland is labelled blue?

Answer 15

pars tuberalis

Question 16

what part of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland is labelled blue?

Answer 16

pars distalis

Question 17

what part of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland is labelled blue?

Answer 17

pars intermiedia

Question 18

what is the anterior lobe (adenohypophysis) responsible for?

Answer 18

Responsible for synthesis and release most pituitary hormones such as:

• GH
• TSH
• ACTH
• FSH
• LH
• PRL

Question 19

what is another name for the posterior lobe?

Answer 19

-neurohypophysis

Question 20

what makes up the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland / neurohypophysis?

Answer 20

pars nervosa

Question 21

Which lobe of the pituitary gland is an extension to the brain?

Answer 21

posterior lobe (neurohypophysis)

Question 22

what is the role of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland/ neurohypophysis?

Answer 22

-release ADH and oxytocin which are synthesised in hypothalamus

Question 23

where is the pituitary gland located in the skull?

Answer 23

sella turcica

Question 24

where is the pituitary gland located in relation to the optic chiasma?

Answer 24

it lies immediately inferior to the optic chiasma

Question 25

what forms the optic chiasma?

Answer 25

the left and right optic nerves (CN II)

Question 26

what can occur to a patients eyesight if they have a pituitary tumour and why?

Answer 26

- there may be midline compression of optic chiasma - this disrupts transmission of action potentials from nasal retina bilaterally - patient loses ability to see structures in temporal side of visual field bilaterally (bitemporal hemianopia)

Question 27

what are the two ways in which the pitruitary fossa may be reached during surgery?

Answer 27

- transcranial approach (this is done subfrontal- inferior to frontal lobe) - transsphenoidal approach (via nasal cavities and sphenoid sinus)

Question 28

what is highlighted in blue?

Answer 28

left superior nasal concha (of ethmoid bone)

Question 29

what is highlighted in blue?

Answer 29

left middle nasal concha (of ethmoid bone)

Question 30

what is highlighted in blue?

Answer 30

left inferior nasal concha

Question 31

what is highlighted in blue?

Answer 31

pituitary gland

Question 32

what is highlighted in blue?

Answer 32

optic chiasma

Question 33

what are paranasal sinuses?

Answer 33

air filled spaces within bones surrounding nasal cavities

Question 34

what are some examples of paranasal sinuses?

Answer 34

- frontal sinuses (in frontal bone) - maxillary sinuses (in maxillae bone) - ethmoidal air spaced (in ethmoid bone) - sphenoid sinuses (in sphenoid bone)

Question 35

what lines the paranasal sinuses?

Answer 35

-mucus secreting respiratory mucosa

Question 36

what is the function of paranasal sinuses?

Answer 36

- secrete mucus which drains into nasal cavities through ostia - reduce weight of skull - add resonance to voice

Question 37

what forms a roof over the pituitary fossa?

Answer 37

the diaphragm sellae

Question 38

what sinuses is the pituitary gland surrounded by?

Answer 38

- cavernous sinus | - intercavernous sinus

Question 39

what arteries pass through the cavernous sinuses?

Answer 39

-internal carotid arteries