Pituitary Gland

Question 1

How is the hypothalamus connected to the pituitary gland?

Answer 1

Infundibulum

Question 2

Which parts of the pituitary gland is an extension of neural tissue?

Answer 2

Posterior

Question 3

Which part of the pituitary gland is a true endocrine gland?

Answer 3

Anterior

Question 4

Where is the pituitary gland located?

Answer 4

Pocket in the sphenoid bone (sella turcica)

Question 5

What is a trophic hormone?

Answer 5

Trophic controls the release of hormones.

Question 6

How do non trophic hormones travel from the hypothalamus to the posterior pituitary?

Answer 6

Via axons of hypothalamic neurones

Question 7

What sort of hormones are released by the posterior pituitary gland and the hypothalamus?

Answer 7

Neurohormones

Question 8

What are the hypothalamic releasing hormones? (5)

Answer 8

• Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
• Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH)
• Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)
• Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone (CRH)
• Prolactin Releasing Hormone (PRH)

Question 9

What are the hypothalamic inhibiting hormones? (2)

Answer 9

Dopamine and Somatostatin

Question 10

Which is the only hypothalamic hormone that isn’t a peptide hormone?

Answer 10

Dopamine

Question 11

What is prolactin inhibiting hormone also known as?

Answer 11

Dopamine

Question 12

How do trophic hormones travel from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary?

Answer 12

Hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system (network of tiny vessels)

Question 13

What is the origin of anterior and posterior pituitary gland tissue?

Answer 13

Anterior = epithelial
Posterior = neural

Question 14

Which is larger; anterior or posterior pituitary gland?

Answer 14

Anterior (2/3 of gland)

Question 15

How is hormone production controlled in the AP gland?

Answer 15

Through the hypothalamus releasing trophic hormones

Question 16

How many hormones are released from the AP gland?

Answer 16

6 - all trophic

Question 17

What are the hormones released from the AP gland? (6)

Answer 17

FSH
LH
Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone
Thyroid stimulating Hormone

Prolactin
Growth Hormone

Question 18

FSH and LH are known together as?

Answer 18

Gonadotrophins

Question 19

What are the long and short feedback loops involved in anterior pituitary control?

Answer 19

Short = feedback between hypothalamus and pituitary gland
Long = feedback from endocrine target

Question 20

Define trophic and tropic

Answer 20

Trophic = have an endcrine gland as their target
Tropic = induce hyperplasia

Question 21

What hormones does the PP gland release?

Answer 21

ADH (vasopressin) and oxytocin

Question 22

What are the effects of oxytocin?

Answer 22

Milk ejection and uterine contraction

Question 23

Where does oxytocin act?

Answer 23

Milk duct smooth muscle and uterine smooth muscle

Question 24

What type of hormones are released by the PP gland?

Answer 24

Peptide

Question 25

Where does ADH act on?

Answer 25

Kidney collecting ducts to increase water reabsorption and vascular smooth muscle to increase blood pressure

Question 26

What are primary endocrine disorders?

Answer 26

Those in which the defect is in the cells that secrete the hormone

Question 27

What are secondary endocrine disorders?

Answer 27

Too much or too little trophic hormones from the pituitary

Question 28

What are tertiary endocrine disorders?

Answer 28

Related to hypothalamic defects