Male Repro, Genetics & Endocrine - First Aid Flashcards
(164 cards)
What are three clinical manifestations supporting the manner in which the thyroid develops?
1) Foramen cecum 2) Pyramidal lobe of thyroid (persistent thyroglossal duct) 3) Thyroglossal duct cysts

What is the most common ectopic thyroid tissue?
Lingual thyroid
What endocrine abnormality might a fetus have that shows pulmonary hypoplasia and decreased lung surfactant?
The fetal adrenal gland consists of a dormant outer adult zone and an inner active fetal zone. The adult zone is dormant until late in gestation when CRH & ACTH from the fetal placenta & pituitary stimulate cortisol production. Cortisol is responsible for fetal lung maturation and surfactant production.

Most common tumor of the adrenal medulla in adults
Pheochromocytoma
Most common tumor of the adrenal medulla in children
Neuroblastoma
How to differentiate between a pheochromocytoma and a neuroblastoma?
Pheochromocytoma = paroxysms (episodic hypertension). Neuroblastoma does not have paroxysms.
What secretory products are released at each level of the adrenal gland?
Capsule = none. ATII -> Cortical zona glomerulosa = Aldosterone secretion. ACTH -> Cortical zona fasciculata = Cortisol + androgen secretion. ACTH -> Cortical zona reticularis = androgen secretion. Preganglionic sympathetic stimulation -> Adrenal medulla chromaffin cells -> Catecholamine secretion.

How does the venous drainage of the adrenal glands differ on each side?
Left adrenal vein -> left renal vein -> IVC. Right adrenal vein -> IVC…just like the gonadal veins.
Where do ADH and oxytocin come from?
Made in hypothalamus -> shipped down axons, carried by neurophysins -> Stored in posterior pituitary.
What are the different embryological origins of the pituitary gland?
Anterior: Rathke’s pouch, oral ectoderm. Posterior: neural ectoderm.

What hormones are secreted by what cells in the anterior pituitary?
B-FLAT: Basophils make FSH, LH, ACTH and TSH. GPA: Acidophils make GH and PRL.
What hormones released by the anterior pituitary may have some physiologic cross-over in less meticulous cells?
TSH, LH, FSH and hCG all share the same alpha subunits. The beta subunit is what determines hormone specificity.
What cells are present in this biopsy taken from the pancreas and what do they make?

Alpha cells make glucagon and are located peripherally. Beta cells make insulin and are located centrally. Delta cells make somatostatin and are interspersed throughout the islet of Langerhans.
What is the major regulator of insulin release?
Glucose. ATP generated from glucose metabolism closes K+ channels, causing beta cell membranes to depolarize. This opens Ca2+ VGCs and Ca2+ influx stimulates insulin secretion.

What tissues are independent of insulin when it comes to glucose uptake?
“BRICK L”: Brain, RBC, Intestine, Cornea, Kidney, Liver. Note that the brain and RBCs have GLUT-1 transporters that are insulin independent. Beta-islet cells, hepatocytes, kidney and the small intestine have GLUT-2 transporters that are bidirectional.
What tissues utilize GLUT-4 transporters?
Adipose and skeletal muscle: these are insulin-dependent glucose transporters.
What are the anabolic effects insulin has on the body?
Increased glucose uptake by skeletal muscle & fat. Increased glycogen synthesis. Increased fat synthesis. Increased Na+ retention. Increased protein synthesis. Increased uptake of K+ and amino acids. Decreased glucagon release.

3 things that will cause an increase in insulin release from beta cells
1) Hyperglycemia 2) Growth Hormone 3) Beta-2 antagonists
3 things that will cause a decrease in insulin release from beta cells
1) Hypoglycemia 2) Somatostatin 3) Alpha-2 agonists
By what mechanism does insulin allow for increased glucose uptake in fat and muscle?
Binding to alpha subunit -> Autophosphorylation of beta subunits -> Activation of Insulin receptor substrates (IRS) -> Phosphorylation of enzymes to induce fat synthesis, protein synthesis, glycogen synthesis, growth and GLUT-4 vesicle movement to the cell membrane.

Catabolic effects of glucagon
Glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, lipolysis and ketone production.
What are the hormones of the hypothalamus and what are their actions?
TRH -> +TSH/PRL. DA -> -PRL. CRH -> +ACTH/MSH/beta-endorphin. GHRH -> +GH. SST -> -GH/TSH. GnRH -> +FSH/LH.

What hormone is responsible for feedback inhibition of GnRH synthesis and release from the hypothalamus?
PRL. This is why PRL inhibits ovulation in females and spermatogenesis in males.
How is PRL release controlled at the level of they hypothalamus and pituitary?
TRH stimulates PRL release. PRL increases DA synthesis and secretion from hypothalamus. DA inhibits synthesis and secretion of PRL from anterior pituitary.


































