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20-21 The Endocrine System

I. Overview

II. Pituitary

III. Adrenals

IV. Pancreas

V. Thyroid

VI. Parathyroids

General structure: fenestrated capillaries

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/7157.html

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I. Pituitary

A. Development

1. neurohypophysis (post. Lobe) (20.1)

a. develops as outgrowth of diencephalon

b. forms:

1) pars nervosa (posterior lobe – note error in 20.1)

2) infundibulum

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I. Pituitary

A. Development

2. adenohypophysis ( ant. Lobe) (20.1)

a. develops from Rathke’s pouch

1) oral ectoderm

b. forms:

1) pars distalis (anterior lobe)

2) (pars tuberalis & pars intermedia)

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I. Pituitary

B. Hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system (20.2)

1. primary capillary plexus

a. base of infundibulum / hypothalamus

2. veins to anterior lobe

3. secondary capillary plexus

4. transports neurohormones

a. releasing hormones

b. inhibiting hormones

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I. Pituitary

C. Pars distalis 20.6

1. Chromophobes & chromophils

2. basophils

a. gonadotrophic cells

1) FSH

2) LH

b. thyrotropic cells

1) TSH

c. corticotrophic cells

1) ACTH

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I. Pituitary

C. Pars distalis

3. acidophils

a. somatotropic cells

1) GH

b. mammotropic cells

1) PRL

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I. Pituitary

D. Neurohypophysis (20.3)

1. pituicytes

2. neurosecretory cells

3. ~100,000 unmyelinated axons from hypothalamus

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I. Pituitary

D. Neurohypophysis 20-9

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I. Pituitary

D. Neurohypophysis 20.7

4. vasopressin / ADH

a. contraction of smooth muscle in arteries

b. increase reabsorption of H2O in collecting tubules

5. oxytocin

a. contraction in pregnant uterus

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III. Adrenals

A. Overview (21.2)

1. adrenal cortex

a. steroids

2. adrenal medulla

a. E & NE

3. stroma

a. capsule

b. trabeculae

c. reticular fibers

4. extensive capillary plexuses

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III. Adrenals

B. Adrenal cortex (21.2)

1. zona glomerulosa (21.3)

a. 15% of adrenal cortex

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III. Adrenals

B. Adrenal cortex

1. zona glomerulosa

b. clusters of cells (21.3)

c. mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)

1) increase DCT absorption of Na+

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III. Adrenals

B. Adrenal cortex

2. zona fasciculata (21.3)

a. 65% of adrenal cortex

b. cells in cords (21.3)

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III. Adrenals

B. Adrenal cortex

2. zona fasciculata

c. many lipid droplets in cytoplasm (21.3)

d. glucocorticoids (cortisol & corticosterone)

1) influence CHO metabolism

2) suppress immune response

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III. Adrenals

B. Adrenal cortex

3. zona reticularis (21.3)

a. 7% of adrenal cortex

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III. Adrenals

B. Adrenal cortex

3. zona reticularis

b. irregular cords in network (21.5)

c. lipofuscin granules

d. androgens

e. little effect vs. testicular hormones

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III. Adrenals

C. Adrenal medulla (21.3)

1. cells in cords

2. secrete E & NE

3. innervated by preganglionic sympathetic (myelinated) axons

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III. Adrenals

Adrenal medulla

Look for:

  • Preganglioni sympathetic fibers
  • Blood vessels

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IV. Pancreas (Islets of Langerhans)

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/dictionary/P-T.htm

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IV. Pancreas (Islets of Langerhans)

A. Cluster of cells in cords (21.9)

1. network of fenestrated capillaries

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IV. Pancreas (Islets of Langerhans)

A. Cluster of cells in cords

2. A cells: glucagon, incr. blood sugar (21.11)

[immunohistochemistry for glucagon cells]

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IV. Pancreas (Islets of Langerhans)

A. Cluster of cells in cords

3. B cells: insulin, decr. blood sugar (21.12)

4. D cells: somatostatin: inhibits A & B cells

5. E cells: unknown function

[immunohistochemistry for insulin]

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V. Thyroid

A. Gross Anatomy (21.15)

1. anterior to larynx

2. two lobes connected by isthmus

3. well vascularized

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V. Thyroid

B. Follicles (21.16,21.17)

1. squamous to columnar epithelium

a. squamous = inactive

b. columnar = active

2. colloid

a. thyroxine / T4

b. triiodothyronine / T3

3. stimulates rate of metabolism

4. Influenced by TSH

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V. Thyroid

C. Parafollicular cells (21.18)

1. calcitonin

a. decr. blood Ca++

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VI. Parathyroid glands

A. Gross anatomy (21.22)

1. four small glands

2. located on posterior of thyroid gland

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VI. Parathyroid glands

Microscopic anatomy 21.16

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VI. Parathyroid glands

B. Parenchyma

1. oxyphil cells (21.24)

a. larger, polygonal cells

b. unknown function

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VI. Parathyroid glands

2. chief cells 21.23

a. pale, acidophilic cytoplasm� b. secretes parathyroid hormone� c. incr. blood Ca++ levels�