Pituitary Gland Flash Cards - Anatomy & Physiology

Pituitary Gland

Question	Answer		Article
Describe the location of the Pituitary Gland.	The pituitary gland, or hypophysis lies within a bony cavity, the Sella Turcica, in the base of the skull just ventral to the hypothalamus. It lies between the more rostral Optic Chiasma, and the more caudal Mammillary Bodies.		Link to Article
Label the diagram ('Image 1' below).	A. Pars Tuberalis B. Pars Distalis C. Pars Intermedia D. Pars Nervosa		Link to Article
Which sections of the Pituitary Gland labelled above make up the Adenohypophysis and Neurohypophysis:	Adenohypophysis (A)		Link to Article
What is the blood supply to the Pituitary Gland:	Superior Hypophyseal Arteries		Link to Article
What part of the Pituitary Gland does this histological section ('Image 2' below) represent?	Pars Nervosa		Link to Article
Which parts of the Pituitary Gland does this histological section ('Image 3' below) represent?	Pars Intermedia (Upper Right) Pars Distalis (Lower Left) Sections Separated by the residual lumen of Rathke's Pouch - the Hypophyseal Cleft.		Link to Article
What part of the Pituitary Gland does this histological section ('Image 4' below) represent?	Pars Distalis		Link to Article
What are the cell types within the Pars Distalis and what hormones do they produce?	Corticotropes - POMC which is then cleaved to Adrenocorticotropin Hormone - ACTH Thyrotropes - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Gonadotropes - Luteinising Hormone and Follicle Stimulating Hormone Lactotropes - Prolactin Somatotropes - Growth Hormone.		Link to Article
What is secreted by the Posterior Pituitary Gland and what are their actions:	Oxytocin - Promotes milk let down and uterine contractions during parturtion. Anti Diuretic Hormone - ADH - Acts on the renal tubules to minimise water loss into the urine.		Link to Article
Decribe how Milk Let-Down is initiated.	Impulses travel via superfical sensory pathways and the inguinal nerve. Afferent sensory neurons enter the lumbar part of the spinal cord to the thalmus. They reach the cell bodies of neuroendocrine cells Oxytocin is then released from the nerve endings in the posterior pituitary gland. Oxytocin enters capillaries and the systemic circulation. Mammillary cappillaries contract, pressure within the alveoli increases. Resistance in excretory ducts and teat canal is reduced. Increased milk outflow.		Link to Article

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