Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland

Question 1

what is the diencephalon formed from

Answer 1

thalamus and hypothalamus

Question 2

what does the diencephalon form

Answer 2

cental core of cerebrum with connections to right and left cerebral hemispheres and the midbrain

Question 3

what connects the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus

Answer 3

infundibulum

Question 4

what is the pituitary gland divided into

Answer 4

anterior and posterior

Question 5

where is the pituitary gland located in the skull

Answer 5

midline structure in the pituitary fossa of the sphenoid bone

Question 6

where does the pituitary fossa lie

Answer 6

within the sella turcica (Turkish Saddle)

Question 7

where does the pituitary gland lie in relation to the optic chiasm

Answer 7

inferior

Question 8

optic chiasm

Answer 8

x shaped structure formed by the crossing of the optic nerves (CNII) in the brain

R and L optic tracts pass posteriorly from the chiasm

synapse in the thalamus and then the axons pass via optic radiation to the visual cortex in the occipital lobe

Question 9

what is this

Answer 9

optic canal

Question 10

what is vision divided into

Answer 10

temporal and nasal fields

Question 11

what is the early clinical effect of a pituitary tumour of the visual pathway

Answer 11

bitemporal hemianopia

• tumour disrupts the transmission of AP from the nasal retina bilaterally
• patient loses ability to see structures in the temporal side of the visual field bilaterally

Question 12

Answer 12

sphenoidal sinus - part of the paranasal sinuses

Question 13

transcranial approach to pituitary fossa

Answer 13

under the frontal lobe (subfrontal)

Question 14

transphenoidal approach to pituitary fossa

Answer 14

via nasal cavities and sphenoid sinus

Question 15

Answer 15

Question 16

Answer 16

pituitary fossa (blue dot)

sphenoidal sinus

Question 17

what are the superior and inferior parts of nasal septum

Answer 17

superior - perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone

inferior - vomer

Question 18

what is the roof of the nasal cavity

Answer 18

cribriform plate of ethmoid bone

Question 19

Answer 19

cribiform plate of ethmoid bone

Question 20

what is the hard palate formed of

Answer 20

mainly maxilla

Question 21

what is the function of the nasal conchae

Answer 21

increase the surface area of the nasal cavities - rapid warming and humidification of air as it passes into the lungs

Question 22

what is another name for nasal conchae

Answer 22

turbinates

Question 23

Answer 23

also frontal, sphenoid and ethmoid sinus

Question 24

what are the paranasal sinuses

Answer 24

air filled spaces within the bone surrounding the nasal cavities

ethmoid is between the eyes

sphenoid is behind the eyes

Question 25

what are the paranasal sinuses lined by

Answer 25

mucous secreting respiratory mucosa

Question 26

what is the function of the paranasal sinuses

Answer 26

make mucous and drain it into the nasal cavities through ostia reduce the weight of the skull add resonance to the voice

Question 27

what is a singular ostia called

Answer 27

ostium = bony drainage hole

Question 28

how are the frontal sinuses connected

Answer 28

often in the midline

Question 29

what bone are the sphenoid sinuses in

Answer 29

body of the sphenoid bone (sometimes in the midline)

Question 30

what are the maxillary sinuses known as clinically

Answer 30

antrum (pleural= antra)

Question 31

where are the ethmoid air cells located

Answer 31

3 groups located between nasal cavity and orbit

Question 32

what bone are the nasal concha formed from

Answer 32

ethmoid bone apart from the inferior one

Question 33

le fort fractures

Answer 33

Question 34

what surgical procedure can provide better surgical access to nasal cavities etc in more complicated cases

Answer 34

le fort 1 down fracture

Question 35

Answer 35

Question 36

name the meninges from external to internal

Answer 36

Question 37

waht is the cranial vault

Answer 37

the space in the skull occupied by the brain

Question 38

what is the cranial cavity lined by

Answer 38

the entire cavity is lined by dura mater

Question 39

Answer 39

Question 40

what is the tentorium cerebelli

Answer 40

tough sheet of dura mater separates the cerebellum from the inferior portion of occipital lobes

Question 41

where in the cranial fossa is the TC located

Answer 41

posterior

Question 42

what does the central gap in the TC permit through

Answer 42

brainstem

Question 43

Answer 43

Question 44

diaphram sellae

Answer 44

tough sheet of dura mater forming a roof over the pituitary fossa has a hole that allows the vertical passage of the pituitary stalk (infundibulum)

Question 45

what are the dural venous sinuses

Answer 45

lie between the layers of dura mater best thought of as collecting pools of blood, that drain most of the venous blood from the cranial cavity (including brain) into the internal jugular veins

Question 46

where do the dural venous sinuses drain into the IJV

Answer 46

at the jugular foraminae in the floor of the posterior cranial fossa

Question 47

Answer 47

Question 48

what sinuses are the pituitary gland surrounded by

Answer 48

cavernous and intercavernous sinuses (these are part of the dural venous sinuses)

Question 49

what arteries pass through the cavernous sinuses

Answer 49

internal carotid arteries

Question 50

carotid canal

Answer 50

the passageway in the temporal bone which the internal carotid artery enters the middle cranial fossa from the neck

Question 51

trigeminal nerve function

Answer 51

sensory to most of face motor to muscles of mastication (CNV3)

Question 52

functional deficit of CNV

Answer 52

sensory symptoms on face difficulty chewing

Question 53

functional deficit of cavernous sinus

Answer 53

venous haemorrhage

Question 54

function of internal carotid artery

Answer 54

supplies arterial blood to brain and orbit

Question 55

functional deficit of internal carotid artery

Answer 55

catastrophic haemorrhage

Question 56

function of dura mater

Answer 56

protects the structures of the cranial cavity

Question 57

what is located anteriorly and posteriorly to the pituitary fossa

Answer 57

intercavernous sinuses

Question 58

name the contents of the cavernous system

Answer 58

internal carotid artery, cavernous sinus, CN III, IV, VI, V1, V2

Question 59

Answer 59

carotid canal