Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Endocrine System > Pathology of Endocrine System 2 > Flashcards

Pathology of Endocrine System 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Where is the pituitary gland located?

A

Sella turcica

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the pituitary gland connected to the hypothalamus by?

A

Pituitary stalk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the 2 distinct components of the pituitary gland?

A

Anterior pituitary

Posterior pituitary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the anterior pituitary also called?

A

Adenohypophysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Which componenet of the pituitary gland is the larger?

A

Anterior pituitary (is 80% of mass)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does the anterior pituitary secrete?

A

ACTH

TSH

GH

Prolactin

FSH/LH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the secretion of hormones from the anterior pituitary controlled by?

A

Release factors from hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Where does the blood supply to the anterior pituitary come from?

A

Hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the posterior pituitary also called?

A

Neurohypophysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What does the posterior pituitary secrete?

A

ADH

Oxytocin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the most common cause of pituitary hyperfunction?

A

Pituitary adenoma (carcinomas are very rare and also some hypothalamic disorders)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What age group does pituitary adenoma usually affect?

A

35-60 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Is there a genetic predisposition to pituitary adenoma?

A

MEN-1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the effect of a functioning pituitary adenoma?

A
  • Effects if functioning is hormone excess
    • Prolactinoma 20-30%
      • Galactorrhoea, menstrual disorders
    • GH secreting
      • Acromegaly, gigantism
    • ACTH secreting
      • Cushing’s disease
    • Non-functioning 25-30%
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

If a pituitary adenoma is a prolactinoma, what does it cause?

A

Galactorrhoea

Menstrual disorders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

If a pituitary adenoma is a GH secreting, what does it cause?

A

Acromegaly

Gigantism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

If a pituitary adenoma is a ACTH secreting what does it cause?

A

Cushing’s disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What can happen if a pituitary adenoma is large?

A
  • If large, can have a mass pressure effect
    • Radiographic abnormalities
    • Visual field abnormalities
    • Elevated intracranial pressure
    • Compression damage, such as hypopituitarism
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What percentage of pituitary function needs to be los to be considered pituitary hypofunction?

A

75%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What can cause pituitary hypofunction?

A

Compression by tumours

Trauma

Infection (rare)

Post partum ischaemic necrosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What infections can cause pituitary hypofunction?

A

TB

Sarcoidosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are the adrenal glands composed of?

A

Adrenal cortex

Adrenal medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What classification of hormones does the adrenal cortex secrete?

A

Steroid hormones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are the 3 layers of the adrenal cortex?

A
  • Zona glomerulosa secretes mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)
  • Zona fasciculate secretes glucocorticoids (cortisol)
  • Zona reticularis secretes sex steroids
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What does the zona glomerulosa secrete?
Minerlocorticoids (aldosterone)
26
What does the zona fasciculate secrete?
Glucocorticoids (cortisol)
27
What does the zona reticularis secrete?
Sex steroids
28
What does the adrenal medulla secrete?
Adrenaline/noradrenaline
29
What cells are found in the adrenal medulla?
Neuroendocrine (chromaffin) cells
30
What are some examples of the classifications of adrenal pathology?
* Hyperfunction * Hypofunction * Mass lesion * Effect depends on disease process which could be atrophy, normal, hyperplasia or tumour
31
What are the 3 syndromes for adrenal cortical hyperfunction?
* Hypercortisolism * Called Cushing’s syndrome * Hyperaldosteronism * Called Conn’s syndrome * Adrenogenital syndromes
32
What is hypercorticolism called?
Cushing's syndrome
33
What is hyperaldosteronism called?
Conn's syndrome
34
What is the aetiology of hypercortisolism?
* Exogenous * Iatrogenic steroids * Endogenous * ACTH dependent * Pituitary adenoma Cushing’s disease 70% * Ectopic ACTH * ACTH independent * Functioning adrenal adenoma 10%
35
What is the main cause of ACTH dependent hypercortisolism?
Pituitary adenoma Cushing's disease 70% Ectopic ACTH
36
What is the main cause of ACTH independent hypercortisolism?
Functioning adrenal adenoma
37
How is hypercortisolism diagnosed?
Measuring cortisol, ACTH and response to ACTH suppresion
38
What is the aetiology of hyperaldosteronism?
Bilateral idiopathic hyperplasia Functioning adrenal adenoma
39
What is the clinical presentation of hyperaldosteronism?
Increased sodium retention in nephron Maybe asymptomatic May have muscular weakness, tingling, spasms, hypertension, headaches
40
What are some adrenogenital syndromes?
* Functioning adrenal tumour * Pituitary tumour such as Cushing’s disease * Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (due to steroid enzyme deficiency)
41
What is the clinical presentation of adrenogenital syndrome?
Ambiguous genitalia Precocious puberty Failure of puberty Infertility
42
What is adrenal insufficiency caused by?
Destruction of the adrenal glands
43
What can cause acute adrenal insufficiency?
Meningococal septicaemia
44
What can cause chronic adrenal insufficiency?
* Primary is Addison’s disease * Caused by * Autoimmune * Autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes * Infections * TB, fungus HIV related infections * Replacement * Metastatic carcinoma amyloidosis * Atrophy * Prolonged steroid therapy * Congenital * Secondary is pituitary failure
45
What are some causes of Addison's disease?
* Autoimmune * Autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes * Infections * TB, fungus HIV related infections * Replacement * Metastatic carcinoma amyloidosis * Atrophy * Prolonged steroid therapy * Congenital
46
What do functioning adenomas in the adrenal cortex cause?
Hyperadrenal syndromes Atrophy of adjacent cortex
47
What is the histology of adrenal adenomas?
48
What are the different kinds of adrenal carcinoma?
Primary adrenocortical carcinoma Metastatic carcinoma
49
Are primary adrenocortical carcinomas more likely to be functioning or non-functional?
Functional
50
How does primary adrenocortical carcinoma often metastasis?
By lymphatics and blood, invades adrenal vein
51
Is primary adrenocortical carcinoma or metastatic carcinoma of adrenal gland more common?
Metastatic carcinoma
52
Where do metastatic carcinomas in the adrenal glands often come from?
Lung or breast
53
What is an example of an adrenal medullary tumour?
Phaeochromocytoma
54
What does phaeochromocytoma secrete and in turn cause?
Carecholamines causing hypertension
55
Is there a genetic predisposition to phaeochromocytoma?
Up to 30% is inherited, such as due to MEN2 or SDH
56
What is the histology of phaechromocytoma?
Nests of polygonal cells in vascular network Granular cytoplasm containing catecholamines
57
What are multiple endocrine neoplasia?
Inherited disorders with underlying gentic mutation
58
What does MEN stand for?
Multiple endocrine neoplasia
59
What does MEN cause?
Hyperplasia/neoplasms of endocrine organs
60
When is the term MEN used?
Whe there is two or more distinct endocrine tumours due to one syndrome
61
What are some different MEN syndromes?
MEN1 (Wermer syndrome) MEN2 (MEN2A and MEN2B)
62
What is MEN1 also known as?
Wermer syndrome
63
What does the MEN1 tumour suppressor gene mutation cause defect in?
Menin protein
64
What tumours are associated with MEN1 syndrome?
* Parathyroid hyperplasia and adenomas * Pancreatic and duodenal endocrine tumours (causing hypoglycaemia and ulcers) * Pituitary adenoma (prolactinoma)
65
What is the function of the menin protein?
Involved in regulating cell growth
66
What is MEN2 syndrome caused by?
RET proto-oncogene mutations
67
What tumours are associated with MEN2?
Medullar carcinoma of thyroid and phaeochromocytoma
68
What is MEN2A also known as?
Sipple syndrome
69
What is MEN2A due to?
Extracellular domain auto dimerisation of RET receptor
70
What tumours are associated with MEN2A?
Medullary carcinoma of thyroid, phaeochromocytoma and parathyroid hyperplasia
71
Is MEN2A or MEN2B more likely to affect younger patients?
MEN2B
72
What is MEN2B due to?
Autoactivation of tyrosine kinase pathway
73
What tumours are associated with MEN2B?
* Causes medullary carcinoma of thyroid, phaeochromocytoma and parathyroid hyperplasia * Plus neuromas of skin and mucous membrane, skeletal abnormalities
74
What is the normal function of RET gene?
Provide instruction for producing a protein involved in signalling within cells

Endocrine System (90 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions