The Hypothalamus and the Pituitary Flashcards

1
Q

Which glands coordinate the majority of the glands in the endocrine system?

A

Pituitary and Hypothalamus

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2
Q

Where does the pituitary gland sit in relation to the hypothalamus?

A

Immediately below

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3
Q

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

A

Neuroendocrine function- releases chemicals into blood to act at distal sites

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4
Q

In which bone in there a depression in which the anterior pituitary sits?

A

Sphenoid bone

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5
Q

Which part of the pituitary is an extension of the hypothalamus?

A

Posterior pituitary- extension of neural tissue

->anterior pituitary gland is a true endocrine gland but is still linked to hypothalamus

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6
Q

What is the name given to the stalk which connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary?

A

Infundibulum

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7
Q

What provides the connection between the anterior pituitary and the hypothalamus?

A

Capillary portal system

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8
Q

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

A

Anterior pituitary gland

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9
Q

Which part of the pituitary makes up the majority of it?

A

Anterior- 2/3
Posterior- 1/3

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10
Q

The posterior pituitary is neuroendocrine. What role does it have?

A

Consists of axons and nerve terminals of hypothalamic neurons and secretes neurohormones which are made in the hypothalamus

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11
Q

List some of the stimuli which create an input to the hypothalamus in which the hypothalamus then responds to.

A

Cold
Stress
Puberty
Sleep
Pregnancy
Metabolic demand

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12
Q

What is the goal of the hypothalamus?

A

To maintain homeostasis

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13
Q

After the hypothalamus receives input from stimuli, how is a response generated to maintain homeostasis?

A

Via the pituitary gland

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14
Q

Both the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary release tropic and non-tropic hormones.
What is meant by a tropic hormone?

A

A hormone which alters the release of another hormone

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15
Q

Which type of hormones are all hormones released from the hypothalamus?

A

Neurohormones

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16
Q

Which type of hormones are all hormones released from the posterior pituitary?

A

Neurohormones

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17
Q

Which type of hormones are all hormones released from the anterior pituitary?

A

Classic endocrine hormones

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18
Q

Name the two forms of hypothalamic neurohormones.

A

Tropic
Non-tropic

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19
Q

Where are non-tropic hormones produced and where do they travel to?

A

Non tropic hormones are produced in the hypothalamus and travel to the posterior pituitary.
They are then released into the blood

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20
Q

Where are all the tropic hormones secreted?

A

Into capillaries leading into the anterior the anterior pituitary.

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21
Q

Therefore:
a. which type of hormone are all the hormones of posterior pituitary gland?
b. which type of hormone are all the hormones of anterior pituitary gland?

A

a. Posterior= non-tropic
b. Anterior= tropic

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22
Q

Where are the non-tropic hormones of the posterior pituitary derived from?

A

Magnocellular neurons

23
Q

Where do the magnocellular neurons have their cell bodies?

A

Hypothalamus

24
Q

The posterior pituitary releases two non-tropic neuroendocrine hormones.
Name them.

A

Vasopressin
Oxytocin

25
Q

What role does vasopressin have?

A

Maintains water balance

26
Q

What role does oxytocin have?

A

Stimulates uterine contraction at parturition (giving birth)
Aids expression of milk in lactating breast

27
Q

What can vasopressin also be known as?

A

ADH- anti-diuretic hormone

28
Q

Name the five types of hypothalamic ‘releasing hormones’ which are tropic hormones.

A

TRH- thyrotropin releasing hormone
CRH- corticotropin releasing hormone
GHRH- growth hormone releasing hormone
GnRH- gonadotropin releasing hormone
PRH- prolactin releasing hormone

29
Q

Name the two types of hypothalamic ‘inhibiting hormones’ which are tropic hormones.

A

GHIH- growth hormone inhibiting hormone
PIH- prolactin inhibiting hormone

30
Q

What is GHIH also known as?

A

Somatostatin

31
Q

What is PIH also known as?

A

Dopamine

32
Q

Dopamine most commonly acts as a neurotransmitter but what is it’s endocrine role?

A

Inhibits the release of prolactin from the anterior pituitary gland

33
Q

All tropic hormones are peptide hormones except dopamine. Which type of hormone is dopamine?

A

Amine hormone

34
Q

What is the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system?

A

Network of tiny vessels which transfer tropic hormones from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary

35
Q

Name the five tropic hormones released from the anterior pituitary gland.

A

TSH- thyroid stimulating hormone
ACTH- adrenocorticotropic hormone
FSH- follicle stimulating hormone
LH- luteinising hormone
GH- growth hormone

36
Q

RECAP- what do tropic hormones do?

A

Control the secretion of other hormones

37
Q

Prolactin is another hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland and is the only hormone produced here that is not a tropic hormone. What does prolactin do?

A

Directly stimulates milk production from the breast during lactation

38
Q

In terms of anterior pituitary feedback control, there are three integration centres. List them.

A
  1. Hypothalamus
  2. Anterior pituitary
  3. Target endocrine cell e.g. thyroid gland, adrenal cortex etc.
39
Q

Hormones themselves act as negative feedback signals- each hormones feeds back to inhibit hormone secretion by integration centres earlier in the reflex.
What is meant by long-loop feedback?

A

Feedback from the endocrine target

(last integration centre in the loop hence long loop)

40
Q

Hormones themselves act as negative feedback signals- each hormones feeds back to inhibit hormone secretion by integration centres earlier in the reflex.
What is meant by short-loop feedback?

A

Feedback from the anterior pituitary to the hypothalamus

41
Q

Endocrine disorders can be described as hyposecretion. What does this mean?

A

Too little hormone secreted.

42
Q

Endocrine disorders can be described as hypersecretion. What does this mean?

A

Too much hormone secreted

43
Q

Hypo or hypersecretion can be as a result of primary, secondary and tertiary endocrine disorders.
What happens in primary endocrine disorders?

A

There is a defect in the cells that secrete the hormone

44
Q

Hypo or hypersecretion can be as a result of primary, secondary and tertiary endocrine disorders.
What happens in secondary endocrine disorders?

A

Too much or too little tropic hormone is released from the pituitary

45
Q

Hypo or hypersecretion can be as a result of primary, secondary and tertiary endocrine disorders.
What happens in tertiary endocrine disorders?

A

There are hypothalamic defects releasing too much or too little hormone from the hypothalamus

46
Q

What can cause hyporesponsiveness?

A

-Alterations in receptors for hormones
-Disordered post-receptor events
-Failure of metabolic activation or hormone
-Antagonistic effects

47
Q

What can cause hyperresponsiveness?

A

Permissive effects- when one hormone enhances the activity of another hormone

48
Q

What happens if there is prolonged exposure to low hormone concentration?

A

Up-regulation of receptor for that hormone

->this is so any hormone in plasma is more likely to bump into a receptor

49
Q

What happens if there is prolonged exposure to high hormone concentration?

A

Down-regulation of receptor for that hormone

50
Q

What is meant by antagonistic effects?

A

Presence of one hormone reduces the effect of another

51
Q

Give an example of permissive effects.

A

Epinephrine causes modest lipolysis but when thyroid hormones are also present, greatly increases lipolysis

52
Q

Give an example of antagonistic effects.

A

Growth hormone impairs glucose uptake

53
Q
A