Endocrine System Flashcards by Carys Hooper

What are endocrine and exocrine glands?

Collection of secretory epithelial cells

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the differences between exocrine and endocrine glands?

Exocrine have ducts and secrete onto a surface

Endocrine dont have ducts and secrete into bloodstream

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Give examples of exocrine glands

Sebaceous glands

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What shape is the pituitary gland?

Oval

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Where is the pituitary gland found?

Attached to the underside of the brain (hypothalamus)

In the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What attaches the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus?

Infundibulum/ pituitary stalk

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Name some secretions from the pituitary

Prolactin, growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, gonadotropin, adrenocorticotropic hormone

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is prolactins function and target organ?

Milk production - mammary glands

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is growth hormones function and target organ?

Stimulates growth, cell reproduction and cell regeneration - musculoskeletal system

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is thyroid- stimulating hormone function and target organ?

Stimulates thyroid to produce thyroxine and triiodothyronine - thyroid gland (….obviously)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is adrenocorticotropic hormone function and target organ?

Increases production and release of cortisol by the cortex of the adrenal gland

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is gonadotropins function and target organ?

LH triggers ovulation/ stimulates testosterone production

FSH regulates the development, growth, pubertal maturation and reproductive processes of the body

gonads

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How common is hypopituitarism?

Super rare

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the majority of hypopituitarism cases caused by?

Tumours

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the symptoms of hypopituitarism?

Small stature
Fertility issues
Temperature regulation issues
Fatigue
Inability to produce breast milk

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What does the thyroid gland secrete?

thyroxine, triiodothyronine and thyrocalcitonin

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What do thyroxine and triiodothyronine do?

Increase metabolic activity

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What does thyrocalcitonin do?

Lowers levels of blood calcium and promotes bone formation

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Where is the thyroid gland?

C5-T1

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What forms the thyroid gland?

Two lateral lobes and a central isthmus (also sometimes pyramidal lobe)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Where does the thyroid gland develop?

Oral cavity

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What was the pyramidal lobe?

Remnant of the thyroglossal duct

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Where does the superior thyroid artery come from?

External carotid

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Where does the inferior thyroid artery come from?

Thyrocervical trunk (comes from subclavian artery)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Where do the superior and middle thyroid veins drain into?

Internal jugular

Where do the inferior thyroid veins drain into?

Brachiocephalic veins

What muscles cover the thyroid gland?

Omohyoid, sternothyroid and sternohyoid muscles

What shape are the parathyroid glands?

Ovoid

How big are the parathyroid glands?

5mm

How many parathyroid glands do you have?

4 - 2 superior and 2 inferior

Where are the superior parathyroid glands found?

Middle of the posterior border of the thyroid

Where are the parathyroid glands found?

Posterior surface of the thyroid gland

What is the function of the parathyroid glands?

Secrete parathyroid hormone

What does the parathyroid hormone do?

Stimulates osteoclastic activity in bones, stimulates reabsorption of calcium in kidney and absorption from small intestine

What is the parathyroid hormone controlled by?

Blood calcium levels

What is osteoclastic activity in bones?

Mobilise bone calcium and increase calcium in blood

What type of feedback is the parathyroid hormone controlled by?

Negative feedback loop

When is hyperparathyroidism usually diagnosed?

After a routine blood test

How do you treat hypoparathyroidism?

Oral calcium and vitamin D analogues

What is the earliest endocrine organ to develop?

Thyroid gland

How does the thyroid gland develop?

Endodermal thickening in the midline of the pharynx that becomes a diverticulum —> thyroid gland

What is the diverticulum that eventually forms the thyroid gland called?

Thyroglossal duct

What is it called if not all of the thyroglossal duct disappears?

Pyramidal lobe

What remains of the thyroglossal duct can you see in the oral cavity?

A pit at the back of the tongue- foramen caecum

What happens if the thyroglossal duct doesnt close?

Mucus secretions from the oral cavity can run down and form a cyst that can become infected

What is the pancreas?

Lobular, elongated, glandular organ

Where does the pancreas sit?

Epigastric region and upper left quadrant

Is the pancreas an endocrine or an exocrine organ?

Both

What do pancreatic secretions contain?

Enzymes capable of hydrolysing fats, proteins and carbs

What collects the secretions in the pancreas?

Main bile duct of the pancreas

What part of the pancreas does the accessory duct drain?

Upper part of the head

What do hormones secreted by the pancreas help?

Maintain sugar and salt balance

What % of pancreas is made up of endocrine cells?

What are the clusters of endocrine cells in the pancreas called?

Pancreatic islets or islets of langerhans

Where are the suprarenal/adrenal glands found?

Upper poles of kidneys

How is the right suprarenal gland shaped?

Pyramid shaped

What shape is the left adrenal gland?

Crescent

What are the sections of the adrenal gland?

Cortex and medulla

Why is the right adrenal gland much harder to access?

Really close to the IVC

What hormones do the ovaries produce?

Oestrogen and progesterone

Where do the ovaries lie?

Within the broad ligament

What hormone do the testes produce?

Testosterone

What suspends the testes in the scrotum?

Spermatic cord

What makes up the spermatic cord?

Ductus deferens, testicular artery, testicular veins and more

What muscle do the walls of the scrotum contain?

Dartos muscle

What do the testicular veins form?

Pampiniform plexus around the outside of the spermatic cord

What is the function of the pampiniform plexus?

Cool incoming arterial blood

What is the thymus’ function?

Stimulates maturation of T lymphocytes

What does the thymus secrete?

Thymosin

How many lobes make up the thymus?

When is the thymus a thing in development?

Enlarges during childhood and atrophies after puberty

What is the main secretion of the pineal gland?

Melatonin

What is melatonin important in?

Circadian rhythm

What shape are the pineal glands?

Pine cone shaped

What can happen to the pineal glands in middle age?

Become calcified

Where is the pineal gland?

Related to the midbrain and attached via a stalk

What is the pineal gland important in?

Sight

What other functions (not sight) is the pineal gland believed to play a role in?

Sexual development, seasonal breeding and hibernation in animals

What have pineal tumours been linked to?

Early puberty

When does the pineal gland shrink?

Puberty

What separates the anterior and posterior triangles of the neck?

Sternoclaidomastoid muscle

Where does the sternoclaidomastoid muscle attach?

Sternum, clavicle and mastoid process

Where is the mastoid process?

Lumpy bit behind ear

What is the posterior triangle of the neck bound by?

Anterior border of trapezius, posterior border of the sternoclaidomastoid and the superior border of the clavicle

What is the anterior triangle bound by?

Anterior border of the sternoclaidomastoid, midline and the inferior border of the mandible

Where do right and left ovarian veins drain into?

Right- into IVC | Left- into left renal vein

What branches come off the coeliac trunk?

Splenic artery, left gastric and hepatic

What happens if the recurrent laryngeal nerve is injured during thyroid surgery?

Vocal cord paralysis and hoarse voice