The Hypothalamus and Autonomic Control

Question 1

Is the hypothalamus in the telencephalon or the diencephalon?

Answer 1

Diencephalon

Question 2

Which ventricle does the hypothalamus surround?

Answer 2

Third ventricle

Question 3

How many major nuclei are in the hypothalamus?

Answer 3

11

Question 4

What is the major function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 4

Regulate homeostasis

Question 5

What are the 2 sections of the pituitary gland?

Answer 5

• Anterior/adenohypophysis

- Posterior/neurohypophysis

Question 6

What is the adenohypophysis?

Answer 6

Anterior pituitary

Question 7

What is the neurohypophysis?

Answer 7

Posterior pituitary

Question 8

What are parvocellular neurons?

Answer 8

Small diameter neurons in the hypothalamus which project into the pituitary stalk, communicate with the anterior pituitary/adenohypophysis

Question 9

What are troph cells?

Answer 9

Hormone releasing cells in the anterior pituitary/adenohypophysis

Question 10

How are hormones released from the adenohypophysis?

Answer 10

• Parvocellular neurons in the hypothalamus release releasing hormones into the circulation which enter the anterior pituitary capillaries through a portal vein
• Neurohormones activate receptors on troph cells
• Troph cells release their own hormones into the general circulation

Question 11

What are magnocellular neurons?

Answer 11

Large diameter neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus whose axons project into the posterior pituitary/neurohypophysis

Question 12

Which nuclei in the hypothalamus contain magnocellular neurons? (2)

Answer 12

• Paraventricular nucleus

- Supraoptic nucleus

Question 13

How are hormones released from the neurohypophysis?

Answer 13

Magnocellular neuron axons project into the neurohypophysis and release hormones directly into the systemic circulation

Question 14

Which hormones are released from the adenohypophysis?

Answer 14

Tropic hormones (e.g. growth hormone, gonadotropic hormones)

Question 15

Which hormones are released from the neurohypophysis? (2)

Answer 15

• ADH/vasopressin

- Oxytocin

Question 16

Which effectors does the ANS innervate? (3)

Answer 16

• Smooth muscle
• Cardiac muscle
• Glands

Question 17

What are the 2 sections of the ANS?

Answer 17

• Sympathetic

- Parasympathetic

Question 18

What are visceral nerves?

Answer 18

• Nerves innervating internal organs

- Includes cranial nerves

Question 19

How is sensory information passed to the brain?

Answer 19

Via visceral afferents

Question 20

What are the 2 types of neurons in the ANS?

Answer 20

• Preganglionic

- Postganglionic

Question 21

Where are preganglionic neurons found?

Answer 21

In the CNS

Question 22

Where are postganglionic neurons found?

Answer 22

In ganglia in the periphery

Question 23

What kind of neuron are preganglionic neurons?

Answer 23

All cholinergic

Question 24

Which receptors do preganglionic neurons target on the postganglionic neurons?

Answer 24

Nicotinic ACh receptors

Question 25

Which region of the spinal cord contains the preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 25

Between T1 and L3

Question 26

Where is the white matter in the spinal cord?

Answer 26

Around the outside

Question 27

Where is the grey matter in the spinal cord?

Answer 27

In the middle

Question 28

What is the intermediolateral cell column?

Answer 28

Region in the lateral horn of the spinal chord containing the preganglionic sympathetic neurons, running from T1 to L3

Question 29

Where in the spinal cord are the preganglionic sympathetic neurons found?

Answer 29

Intermediolateral cell column

Question 30

What is the sympathetic chain ganglion?

Answer 30

Chain of ganglia joined together containing sympathetic preganglionic axons and postganglionic neurons which runs alongside the spinal cord

Question 31

What is the prevertebral ganglion?

Answer 31

Ganglia separate from the sympathetic chain ganglia where preganglionic sympathetic fibres synapse onto postganglionic fibres

Question 32

What kind of neurons are the postganglionic sympathetic neurons which come from the prevertebral ganglia?

Answer 32

Noradrenergic

Question 33

What controls sympathetic preganglionic neurons?

Answer 33

Ventrolateral medulla

Question 34

Which 2 areas of the body do preganglionic parasympathetic neurons come from?

Answer 34

Cranial and sacral

Question 35

How do preganglionic sympathetic neurons differ from preganglionic parasympathetic neurons?

Answer 35

Preganglionic sympathetic neurons are short but preganglionic parasympathetic neurons are long and reach closer to their effectors

Question 36

What kind of neuron are postganglionic parasympathetic neurons?

Answer 36

Cholinergic

Question 37

Which receptors do postganglionic parasympathetic neurons target on their effector organs?

Answer 37

Muscarinic ACh receptors

Question 38

What does the oculomotor nerve control?

Answer 38

Pupil constriction/dilation

Question 39

What is cranial nerve III?

Answer 39

Oculomotor nerve

Question 40

How much parasympathetic outflow is carried by the vagus nerve?

Answer 40

80%

Question 41

What is cranial nerve X?

Answer 41

Vagus nerve