ANATOMY - pituitary gland

Question 1

which gland is known as the ‘master gland’ that controls function of other glands by secreting hormones

Answer 1

pituitary gland

Question 2

where is the hypothalamus in relation to the thalamus

Answer 2

inferior

Question 3

how big is the hypothalamus

Answer 3

4cm

Question 4

where is the hypothalamus in relation to the midbrain

Answer 4

superior

Question 5

where is the pituitary gland in relation to the hypothalamus

Answer 5

inferior

Question 6

where is the hypothalamus in relation to the pituitary gland

Answer 6

superior

Question 7

what connects the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus

Answer 7

infundibulum (pituitary stalk)

Question 8

what are the 2 segments of the pituitary gland

Answer 8

anterior and posterior

Question 9

which bone does the pituitary gland sit in

Answer 9

sphenoid

Question 10

which part of the sphenoid bone does the pituitary gland sit in

Answer 10

sella turcica (‘Turkish saddle’) in the pituitary fossa

Question 11

what lines the entire inside of the skull

Answer 11

dura mater

Question 12

what is the purpose of dura mater

Answer 12

protects structures of the cranial cavity

Question 13

where is dura mater

Answer 13

on the inside of the skull

Question 14

nerve supply of dura mater

Answer 14

CN V

Question 15

where is the diaphragm sellae

Answer 15

over the pituitary fossa

Question 16

what is the diaphragm sellae made of

Answer 16

dura mater only

Question 17

what is the only thing thats made of dura mater only

Answer 17

diaphragm sellae

Question 18

what is falx cerebri

Answer 18

dura mater between 2 cerebral lobes

Question 19

what is the sheet of dura mater over the cerebellum and vertebral cortex in the posterior cranial fossa called

Answer 19

tentorium cerebelli

Question 20

what does the tentorium cerebelli do

Answer 20

‘tents’ the cerebellum (goes over it)

Question 21

what is the tenorium cerebelli made of

Answer 21

dura mater

Question 22

what are the 3 structures you need to know that are made of dura matter

where are they

Answer 22

diaphragm sellae (over the pituitary fossa)
tentorium cerebelli (over cerebellum)
flax cerebri (between 2 cerebral lobes)

Question 23

which space in the cranial cavity is the dura mater on top of

Answer 23

arachnoid space

Question 24

what do the dural venous sinuses do

Answer 24

collect venous drainage of the brain

Question 25

where does venous drainage end up after the dural venous sinuses

Answer 25

right and left cavernous sinuses

Question 26

where are the cavernous sinuses (right and left)

Answer 26

lateral to the pituitary gland

Question 27

where do the right and left cavernous sinuses drain

Answer 27

anterior intercavernous sinus

Question 28

where is the anterior cavernous sinus

Answer 28

anterior to the pituitary gland

Question 29

apart from going to the left and right cavernous sinuses, where else might the venous drainage from the brain end up after being in the dural venous sinuses

Answer 29

straight down internal jugular vein

Question 30

what layer is internal to the dura mater

Answer 30

arachnoid mater

Question 31

where is the subarachnoid space (2)

Answer 31

between pia mater and arachnoid mater around brain and spinal cord

Question 32

what is the purpose of subarachnoid space

Answer 32

contains CSF | cushions brain and spinal cord

Question 33

where is the pia mater

Answer 33

between brain and subarachnoid space

Question 34

what does pia mater contain

Answer 34

nerves, arteries and veins to/from the brain

Question 35

what is the space in the sphenoid bone called

Answer 35

sphenoid sinus

Question 36

which vessel passes above the sphenoid sinus and curves back on itself

Answer 36

internal carotid artery

Question 37

where is the pituitary gland in respect to the sphenoid bone

Answer 37

above the sphenoid sinus

Question 38

what are lateral to the pituitary gland

Answer 38

right and left cavernous sinuses

Question 39

which vessels go through the right and left cavernous sinuses

Answer 39

internal carotid arteries | + nerves

Question 40

what are the inferior and superior structures of the pituitary gland

Answer 40

``` diaphragm sellae sphenoid bone (sphenoid sinus) ```

Question 41

which nerves go through the cavernous sinuses (4 - easy to guess)

Answer 41

CN III CN IV CN V (V1 and V2) CN VI

Question 42

what is the posterior pituitary made of

Answer 42

neurones

Question 43

what is the posterior pituitary also known as

Answer 43

neurohypophysis (bc its made of neurones)

Question 44

what is the anterior pituitary also known as

Answer 44

adenohypophysis

Question 45

which section of the pituitary is glandular

Answer 45

anterior pituitary

Question 46

what does the anterior pituitary look like on histology

Answer 46

red and blue dots (cytoplasms)

Question 47

what 2 cells are there in the anterior pituitary

Answer 47

acidophils and basophils

Question 48

how do basophils in the anterior pituitary present on histology

Answer 48

blue cytoplasm | Basophils = Blue

Question 49

how do acidophils in the pituitary present on histology

Answer 49

red cytoplasm

Question 50

what is the pituitaries blood supply

Answer 50

circle of willis

Question 51

what 2 arteries make up the circle of willis

Answer 51

internal carotid arteries | vertebral arteries

Question 52

what do the vertebral arteries join together to form

Answer 52

basilar artery

Question 53

where do the intercavernous sinuses drain into

Answer 53

internal jugular veins

Question 54

why is the visual pathway important for the pituitary

Answer 54

optic chiasm is right above the pituitary tumour

Question 55

what is the clinical significance of a pituitary tumour (pathophysiology and condition)

Answer 55

optic chiasm compression = bitemporal hemianopia

Question 56

which optic nerve fibres are affected in a compression of the optic chiasm (side and location)

Answer 56

both nasal retina fibres

Question 57

if there is a pituitary tumour (or any pituitary problem really) what are the 2 routes you can get to the pituitary gland name and description pls

Answer 57

transcranial - under frontal lobe, under brain, through frontal sinuses transsphenoidal - via nasal cavities, through sphenoidal sinuses

Question 58

which 2 bones have to be broken in transspehnoidal access to pituitary gland

Answer 58

ethmoid bone and vomer (make up the nasal septum)

Question 59

if someone had a sore nose (eg previous trauma) but you still wanted to do a transsphenoidal approach to get to the pituitary gland, how could you do this

Answer 59

stimulate a le fort I fracture - fracture of maxilla, easily fixed

Question 60

if you damage the cavernous sinus in pituitary surgery what would happen

Answer 60

venous haemorrhage

Question 61

if you damage the internal carotids in pituitary surgery what would happen

Answer 61

catastrophic haemorrhage

Question 62

if you damage optic chiasm in pituitary surgery what would happen

Answer 62

bitemporal hemianopia

Question 63

if you damage CN III (oculomotor) in pituitary surgery what would happen

Answer 63

cant move eye in some directions (can only move it laterally and inferiorly) on the affected side

Question 64

if you damage CN IV (trochlear) in pituitary surgery what would happen

Answer 64

cant move eye inferiorly when looking inwards

Question 65

if you damage CN V (trigeminal) in pituitary surgery what would happen

Answer 65

no facial sensation | chewing problems

Question 66

if you damage CN VI (abducent) in pituitary surgery what would happnen

Answer 66

cant move eye laterally (outwards)

Question 67

if you damage dura mater in pituitary surgery what would happen

Answer 67

CSF leak