Station 1: The Pituitary Gland and the Hypothalamus Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is this and what does it contain?
Sella turcica
- Pituitary gland
How does the optic chiasm relate to the pituitary gland?
Sits on top of it
Which fibres, nasal or temporal, cross at the optic chiasm?
Nasal
If there is pressure on the optic chiasm, what is the resultant visual field defect?
Bitemporal hemianopia
How many lobes does the pituitary gland have?
2
Anterior
Posterior
Which is larger of the two lobes?
Anterior pituitary
Which of the two lobes is
A) Glandular
B) Neuroendocrine
A) Anterior pit
B) Posterior pit
What is the pars intermedia?
The intermediate between the two lobes
identify the two lobes
Posterior = white
Anterior = pink
What are the 3 types of cells present in the pituitary gland on histology and what colour do they stain?
Acidophilic - Pink
Basophilic - Purple
Chromophobes - don’t stain (chromo- colour . phobes - avoid)
What is a key thing that sets the pituitary apart from other glands?
There is no distinct organisation of the cells
What are the two types of acidophils?
Somatotrophs
Mammotrophs
What do somatotrophs secrete?
Growth hormone
What do mammotrophs secrete and what is their target organ?
Prolactin
Mammillary glands
What are the three types of basophils?
Corticotrophs
Thyrotrophs
Gonadotrophs
What is secreted by the corticotrophs?
ACTH
MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone)
What is secreted by thyrotrophs?
TSH
What is secreted by gonadotrophs?
FSH
LH
What are the main secretory cells in the posterior pituitary?
Axons of magnocellular neurones
What hormones are secreted by the posterior pituitary?
Oxytocin
Vasopressin
What is the blood supply of the pituitary gland?
The superior and inferior hypophyseal arteries
Which artery out of the superior and inferior hypophyseal artery forms the hypothalamic hypophyseal portal system?
Superior hypophyseal artery
What does the inferior hypophyseal artery supply?
The posterior pituitary
