Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland

Question 1

What comprises the diencephalon?

Answer 1

Thalamus and hypothalamus

Question 2

The diencephalon cnnects which aspects of the brain?

Answer 2

Right and left hemispheres and midbrain

Question 3

How is the hypothalamus connected to the pituitary?

Answer 3

Infundibulum

Question 4

Into which two parts is the pituitary gland split?

Answer 4

Anterior and posterior

Question 5

The pituitary gland sits within the pituitary fossa which is located in which bone?

Answer 5

Sphenoid bone

Question 6

The pituitary fossa lies within what?

Answer 6

Sella turcica

Question 7

What are the two types of retina within the eye?

Answer 7

1. Nasal retina
2. Temporal retina

Question 8

The optic canal runs through which bone?

Answer 8

Sphenoid bone

Question 9

The right and left optic nerves combine/cross over forming what?

Answer 9

Optic chiasm

Question 10

The pituitary gland originates from which embryogenic tissue?

Answer 10

Ectoderm

Question 11

Which aspect of the pituitary is most glandular?

Answer 11

Anterior

Question 12

The optic chiasm gives off what?

Answer 12

Optic tracts

Question 13

Where do the optic tracts synapse?

Answer 13

Thalamus

Question 14

What happens after the optic tracts synapse in the thalamus?

Answer 14

The next axons in the chain pass via the optic radiation to the visual cortex in the occipital lobe

Question 15

Optic nerves from the nasal retinae will _______ _______ at the optic chiasm

Answer 15

Optic nerves from the nasal retinae will switch sides at the optic chiasm

Question 16

What is the name of the condition when a patient loses the ability to see bilaterally in the temporal side of their vision?

Answer 16

Bitemporal hemianopia

Question 17

Which two surgical procedures can allow access to the pituitary gland?

Answer 17

1. Transcranial approach (under frontal lobe)
2. Transsphenoidal approach (via nasal cavities and sphenoid sinus)

Question 18

Which nasal conchae bone is a bone in itself without joining another conchae bone?

Answer 18

Inferior nasal concha

Question 19

Both the ________ and __________ nasal conchae are part of the _________ bone

Answer 19

Both the superior and middle nasal conchae are part of the ethmoid bone

Question 20

How many types of paranasal sinuses are there?

Answer 20

4

Question 21

What are paranasal sinuses?

Answer 21

Air filled spaces within bones surrounding the nasal cavity

Question 22

What are the four different paranasal sinuses?

Answer 22

1. Frontal sinuses
2. Maxillary sinuses
3. Ethmoidal air cells
4. Sphenoid sinuses

Question 23

Which type of mucusa lines the paranasal sinuses?

Answer 23

Respiratory mucosa (mucous-secreting)

Question 24

What are some proposed functions for the paranasal sinuses?

Answer 24

1. To make mucous and drain it into the nasal cavities
2. Reduce weight of skull
3. Add resonance to voice

Question 25

Which type of fracture can be caused to allow for better surgical access to the pituitary via the transnasal approach?

Answer 25

Le fort I

Question 26

Which artery crosses the anterior surface of the pons?

Answer 26

Basilar artery

Question 27

What is the name of cranial nerve III

Answer 27

Oculomotor nerve

Question 28

What is the name of cranial nerve IV?

Answer 28

Trochlear nerve

Question 29

What is the name of cranial nerve VI?

Answer 29

Abducens nerve

Question 30

What are the three branches of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Answer 30

1. Opthalmic nerve 2. Maxillary nerve 3. Mandibular nerve

Question 31

The floor of the cranial cavity is lined with what?

Answer 31

Dura mater

Question 32

What is the name given to the tough sheet of dura mater forming a covering over the pituitary fossa?

Answer 32

Diaphragm sellae

Question 33

What is the name given to the tough sheet of dura mater over the cerebellum?

Answer 33

Tentorium cerebelli

Question 34

Why does the tentorium cerebelli have a central gap?

Answer 34

To allow passage of the brainstem

Question 35

What is the name given to the vein-like structures which drain blood within the floor of the posterior cranial floor?

Answer 35

Dural venous sinuses

Question 36

Where do the dural venous sinuses drain?

Answer 36

Jugular foraminae into internal jugular veins

Question 37

Which arteries pass through the caverous sinuses?

Answer 37

Internal carotid arteries

Question 38

What connects the left and right caverous sinuses anterior to the pituitary gland?

Answer 38

Anterior intercavernous sinus

Question 39

What surrounds the pituitary gland?

Answer 39

Caverous and intercavernous sinuses

Question 40

What is the function of the oculomotor nerve (CN III)?

Answer 40

Most movements of the eye and that to raise the eyelid

Question 41

What does innervation of the trochlear nerve do?

Answer 41

Abducts, depresses and internally rotates the eye

Question 42

Which muscle does the trochlear nerve innervate?

Answer 42

Superior oblique muscle of the eye

Question 43

Which muscle does the abducens nerve innervate in the eye?

Answer 43

Lateral rectus muscle

Question 44

What is the function of the lateral rectus muscle of the eye?

Answer 44

Lateral movement of the eyeball, specifically abduction

Question 45

The internal carotid arteries enter the _______ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ in the ___________ bones

Answer 45

The internal carotid arteries enter the carotid canals in the temporal bones

Question 46

Damage to which structure after pituitary gland surgery may result in a dilated pupil?

Answer 46

Oculomotor nerve

Question 47

Damage to which structure after pituitary gland surgery may lead to cerebrospinal fluid leak?

Answer 47

Dura mater

Question 48

What are the contents of the canvernous sinus?

Answer 48

1. Internal carotid artery 2. Internal jugular vein 3. CN III, IV, V₁, V₂, IV 4. Periarterial sympathetic nerve fibres