Histology
Anatomy
Hypothalamus
Pituitary
Cells & Hormones
100
These 3 cell types within the anterior pituitary can be easily differentiated via H&E staining.
What are acidophils, basophils, and chromophobes?
Source: Hypophysis. In: Mai J, Paulnos G. eds. The Human Nervous System. Elsevier; Accessed December 06, 2020. https://www-clinicalkey-com.ezproxylr.med.und.edu/#!/content/book/3-s2.0-B9780123742360100173?scrollTo=%23top
100
The pituitary gland lies within this fossa of the sphenoid bone.
What is the sella turcica?
100
Through the production of these hormones, the hypothalamus can promote the secretion of related hormones in the anterior pituitary.
What are releasing hormones?
100
This lobe of the pituitary gland synthesizes and stores FSH, TSH, LH, ACTH, GH, and prolactin.
What is the anterior pituitary (pars distalis)?
100
These basophilic cells secrete FSH and LH in the pars distalis and pars tuberalis.
What are gonadotrophs?
200
Cysts within the intermediate lobe are thought to be remnants of this embryonic structure.
What is Rathke's pouch?
200
This structure directly attaches the posterior pituitary to the hypothalamus.
What is the Infundibular stalk?
200
This region of the hypothalamus is primarily responsible for parasympathetic responses, thermoregulation, biologic rhythms, and reproductive behaviors
What is the preoptic region (preoptic area and suprachiasmatic nucleus)?
200
These two hormones are released in the posterior pituitary.
What are oxytocin and vasopressin/ADH?
200
This hormone is secreted by corticotrophs in the anterior pituitary
What is adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)?
300
These structures represent large neurosecretory granules forming axon dilations within the neurohypophysis.
What are Herring bodies?
300
The hypothalamus can be divided into these 4 principle divisions.
What are the preoptic, supraoptic, tuberal, and mammillary regions?
Source: Diencephalon. In: Felton DL, O'Banion MK, and Maida MS. Eds. Netter's Atlas of Neuroscience, 3e. Elsevier; Accessed December 06, 2020. https://www-clinicalkey-com.ezproxylr.med.und.edu/#!/content/book/3-s2.0-B9780323265119000126
300
This region of the hypothalamus is primarily involved in the regulation of thermoregulation, affective behavior, sympathetic type responses, learning, and memory.
What is the mammillary region (posterior and mamillary nuclei)?
300
These are the 3 main divisions of the pituitary gland.
What are the anterior pituitary (pars distalis), intermediate pituitary (pars intermedia), and the posterior pituitary (pars nervosa)?
Source: Hypophysis. In: Mai J, Paulnos G. eds. The Human Nervous System. Elsevier; Accessed December 06, 2020. https://www-clinicalkey-com.ezproxylr.med.und.edu/#!/content/book/3-s2.0-B9780123742360100173?scrollTo=%23top
300
These star-shaped, GFAP-positive cells provide support to surrounding cells in the anterior pituitary and secrete IL-6.
What are folliculostellate cells?
Source: Hypophysis. In: Mai J, Paulnos G. eds. The Human Nervous System. Elsevier; Accessed December 06, 2020. https://www-clinicalkey-com.ezproxylr.med.und.edu/#!/content/book/3-s2.0-B9780123742360100173?scrollTo=%23top
400
These cells, when identified under H&E staining can represent gonadotrophs, corticotrophs, thyrotrophs, or melanotrophs.
What are basophils?
Basophils stain with hematoxylin and respond positively to the PAS reaction, making them appear purple under H&E staining.
400
This shallow groove can be used to distinguish the hypothalamus from the thalamus.
What is the hypothalamic sulcus?
400
These two nuclei are responsible for producing vasopressin and oxytocin.
What are the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei?
400
These veins are responsible for connecting the primary capillary plexus and the secondary capillary plexus within the pituitary gland.
What are hypophyseal portal veins (long portal veins)?
Releasing hormones from the hypothalamus are released into the primary plexus, where they are then transported to the secondary plexus via the hypophyseal portal veins.
400
This cell type within the thyroid gland is the primary target of thyroid stimulating hormone, which is produced by basophilic thyrotrophs within the anterior pituitary.
What are thyroid follicular cells?
500
These two hormone-secreting cell types within the adenohypophysis are both considered to be acidophils
What are somatotrophs and mammotrophs?
Acidophils stain intensely with eosin but respond negatively to the PAS reaction, which makes them appear a pinkish color under H&E staining.
500
This structure is located immediately adjacent to the hypothalamus and was likely impacted by the adenoma in the case, as our patient experienced difficulty focusing his eyes.
What is the optic chiasm?
500
This nucleus of the hypothalamus produces and secretes LHRH, GHRH, and dopamine.
What is the arcuate nucleus?
500
This hormone is primarily produced in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary.
What is Melanocyte Stimulating hormone?
500
This hormone is produced by the arcuate nucleus to inhibit prolactin release from acidophilic mammotrophs.
What is dopamine?