Summary Harrison's Endocrinology, 3E

A snapshot of the summary - Harrison's Endocrinology, 3E Author: J Jameson ISBN: 9780071814874

• 2 Disorders of Anterior Pituitary and Hypothalamus

• What makes the treatment of hormone-excess syndromes caused by malfunction of the anterior pituitary elusive?

  The differences in clinical manifestation of the diseases are usually fairly subtle.

• 2.1.1 Anatomy

• What makes the major artery from the hypothalamus to the pituitary suitable in terms of transmission?

  The hypothalamic-pituitary portal plexus allows reliable transmission of peptide hormones to the pituitary without systemic dilution of the peptides.
• By which atery is the Neurohypophysis supplied?

  By the inferior hypophyseal arteries.
• What makes intrasellar pathological processes exceptionally dangerous?

  They have a big chance of inflicting vascular and neural damage to the brain.
• Where is the pituitary located?

  In the sella turcica (just below the hypothalamus)
• What is the main difference in innervation by the hypothalamus between the Anterior pituitary and the Neurohypophysis?

  The Anterior pituitary is innervated by the hypothalamic-pituitary portal plexus by which it receives hypothalamic hormones. In contrast, the Neurohypophysis is Directly innervated by the hypothalamus.
• Which part of the pituitary is more sensitive to damage of the pituitary stalk?

  The Neurohypophysis, as this part of the pituitary is directly innervated by the hypothalamus through the stalk.

• 2.1.2 Pituitary Development

• What makes Pit-1 an important transcription factor in the development of the pituitary?

  Pit-1 determines cell-specific expression of GH, PRL and TSH

• 2.2 Hypothalamic and anterior pituitary insufficiency

• How is Hypopituitarism acquired?

  • inherited disorder
  • inflammation
  • tumors
  • vascular damage to the pituitary arteries

• 2.2.1.1 pituitary dysplasia

• Which disorders may result from pituitary dysplasia?

  midline craniofacial disorders