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Systems Exam IV (L)
Endocrine System
54
Medical
Graduate
04/14/2009

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Cards

Term
What are hormones?
Definition
Potent chemical signaling substances that are produced by secretory cells and released into the circulatory sustem
Term
What are on target cells that cause them to be affected by hormones?
Definition
Cellular Receptors
Term
What are the three mechanisms of chemical signaling that are based on distance?
Definition

Endocrine

Paracrine

Autocrine

Term
Which secretory cells are most linked to the hypothalamo-hypophyseal (neuroendocrine) system via feedback loops?
Definition
Endocrine
Term
Where does the Pituitary gland reside?
Definition
In a cavity in the sphenoid bone (sella turcica).
Term
Explain the embryological development of the Pituitary Gland.[image]
Definition

It develops from the oral ectoderm (Rathke's pouch) and the diencephalon

[image]

Term
Which portion of the Pituitary is associated as the Adenohypophysis?
Definition

 Anterior Pituitary

 

Term
What are the Derivatives of the Oral Ectoderm?
Definition

Pars Distalis (Anterior Pituitary)

Pars Tuberalis (Surrounds Neural Stalk)

Pars Intermedia (Vestigial)

Term
What are the derivatives of the Diencephalon?
Definition

Neural Stalk (Infundibulum)

Pars Nervosa (Posterior Pituitary)

Term
The superior and inferior hypophysial arteries arise from which artery?
Definition
Internal Cartoid Artery
Term
What is the Primary Capillary Plexus?
Definition
In the median eminence (derived from the superior hypophysial arteries) and serves to absorb and deliver inhibiting/releasing hormones to the pars distalis.
Term
What do Long Portal Veins ultimately give rise to in the anterior pituitary?
Definition
The seconday capillary plexus
Term
How do hormones synthesized in the pars distalis enter the general circulation?
Definition
They enter via the secondary capillary plexus.
Term
Plexus within the pars nervosa (posterior pituitary) carries products of ________ and _________ nuclei to the general circulation.
Definition
supraoptic, paraventricular
Term
What are the 3 sites for production of polypeptide, neuroendocrine hormones?
Definition

1. Supraoptic and Paraventricular Nuclei (Transported along axons to the neurohypophysis)

2. Hypothalamus (Released in the Median Eminence and transported to the anterior pituitary via capillary portal system)

3. Pars Distalis

Term
What are MA characteristics of the Pars Distalis?
Definition

1. Cords of glandular cells surrounded by capillaries

2. Chromophobes and Chromophils (Acidophils & Basophils)

3. Hormones include: Somatotrophin (GH), Prolactin, FSH, LH, MSH, TSH, ACTH

Term
What are MA characteristics of the Pars Intermedia?
Definition

1. Rudimentary region in humans

2. Weakly basophilic cells

Term
What are MA characteristics of Pars Tuberalis?
Definition

1. Cells arranged in cords along blood vessels - surrounds the neural stalk

2. Most of these cells secrete FSH or LH

Term
Hormones that are produced from the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei are released from which portion of the pituitary?
Definition
Posterior
Term
What are Herring Bodies?
Definition
These are storage granules within the pars nervosa associated with hormones synthesized from the paraventricular and supraoptic neurons.
Term
What is Neurophysin?
Definition
A carrier protein associated with Herring Bodies.
Term
What comprises of 25% of the volume of the neurohypophysis?
Definition
Pituicytes, which are highly branched glial cells
Term

1. What are the hormones of the Neurohypoohysis?

2. How are they released from storage?

Definition

1. Oxytocin, Vasopressin

2. Via neuronal impulses from the hypothalamus

 

Term
Where are the adrenal glands located?
Definition
At the superior poles of the kidneys
Term
What are the 2 sources that the adrenal glands derive from embryologically?
Definition
Coelomic Epithelium and Neural Crest
Term

1. What regulates the metabolic activity of the adrenal cortex?

2. What regulates the metabolic and secretory activity of the adrenal medulla?

Definition

1. ACTH, from the anterior pituitary

2. Preganglionic Sympathetic Nerve Fibers

Term
What are hormonal targets for epinephrine and norepinephrine?
Definition
Glandular Epithelial Cells, Cardiac Cells, Smooth Muscle of Blood Cells and Viscera
Term
What are the three groups of adrenal arteries?
Definition

Capsular Arteries - Provide extensive subcapsular network

Cortical Arteries - Irrigate the Cortex

Medullary Arteries - Pass through the cortex to the medulla

Term
Cortical and medullary arteries originate as branches of __________ arteries.
Definition
capsular
Term
Capillaries of the cortical and medullary arterioles form a single _________.
Definition
suprarenal vein
Term
What are the 3 concentric zones in the Adrenal Cortex and what are their physiological functions?
Definition

Zona Glomerulosa (Salt - Aldosterone)

Zona Fasiculata (Sugar - Cortisol)

Zona Reticularis (Sex Hormones)

Term
What are the characteristics of the Zona Glomerulosa?
Definition

1. Thin outer zone adjacent to the capsule

2. Small columnar or pyramidal cells arranged in  clusters

3. Continuous with cords of cells in subjacent region

Term
What are the characteristics of the Zona Fasculata?
Definition

1. Large polyhedral cells arranged in parallel columns with lipid droplets.

2. Columns of spongyocytes separated by cortical sinusoids

Term
What are characteristics of the Zona Reticularis?
Definition

1. Innermost layer of cortex

2. Lipofuchsin granules present

Term
What are the MA characteristics of the Adrenal Medulla?
Definition

Composed of polyhedral cells in cords with a surrounding network of capillaries.

 

Cells of the medulla are considered to be postgangionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system. Referred to as chromaffin cells.

Term
What are the functional units of the Endocrine Pancreas?
Definition
Islets of Langerhans
Term
What are the MA characteristics of the Islets of Langerhans?
Definition

1. Spherical configuration of islets

2. Composed of rounded/polygonal cells

3. Fenestrated capillary network

4. Separated from exocrine tissue by reticular fibers

5. 10% of cells innervated by autonomic nerve fibers

Term
What are the islet cells types, abundance, and function?
Definition

A cells - 20% - Synthesize Glucagon

B cells - 70% - Synthesize Insulin

D cells - 5% - Synthesize Somatostatin

F cells - Rare - Pancreatic Polypeptide

Term
Where is the location of the thyroid gland?
Definition
It is located anterior to the larynx
Term
From what does the thyroid gland derive from?
Definition
Derives from the endoderm of the primitive gut.
Term
What hormones does the thyroid synthesize?
Definition
T3 and T4, what are important from growth, differentiation, and control of metabolic rate
Term
The thyroid gland is composed of ___________, that are lined by simple epithelium.
Definition
20-30 million follices
Term
What is the colloid in the thyroid gland?
Definition
It is the gelatinous matrix that stores the extracellular hormone precursor, thyroglobulin.
Term
What are the MA characteristics of the thyroid gland?
Definition

1. Loose connective tissue capsule with septae

2. Highly vascular organ

3. Fenestrated capillaries

4. Follicles

5. Colloid

Term
What is the effect of TSH on the thyroid?
Definition

1. Stimulates thyroid hormone synthesis

2. Increases height of follicular epithelium

3. Decreases quantity of colloid as well as follicle diameter

Term
T/F: Larger diameter follicles are associated with hypoactive thyroid.
Definition
True
Term
What are the characteristics of Smaller Diameter thyroid follicles?
Definition

Less Colloid

Simple Columnar Epithelium

Associated with higher metabolic activity

Term
What are characteristics of Parafollicular or C-Cells?
Definition

1. May form as part of follicular epithelium

2. May exist as isolated clusters between follices

3. Larger and less intensely stained compared to follicular cells

4. Arise from neural crest cells

Term
What is the endocrine function of Parafollicular or C-Cells?
Definition
Secrete Calcitonin, which decreases blood calcium levels by inhibiting bone loss.
Term
How many parathyroid glands are there and where are they located?
Definition
There are 4 which are located behind the thyroid gland at each upper and lower pole. Usually found in the capsule that covers the lobes of the thyroid, but can be found embedded in the thyroid parenchyma.
Term
What are the two types of parathyoid parenchyma cells?
Definition
Chief Cells, Oxyphil Cells
Term
What do chief cells secrete and what is its effect?
Definition
Parathyroid Hormone. Works to increase blood calcium levels.
Term
With increasing age, what comes to replace the secretory cells in the Parathyroid glands?
Definition
Adipose Tissue
Term
What are the general effects of Parathyroid Hormones?
Definition

1. Increases blood calcium levels

2. Reduces blood phosphate levels

3. Promotes calcium absorbtion in the gut

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