Morfo 2 Medicina – Endocrine Practice Exam Review

Flashcards covering the anatomical and functional details of the endocrine system, including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, and pancreas, based on the Morfo 2 exam draft.

Infundibulum

Anatomic structure that connects the hypothalamus directly to the pituitary gland.

Sella turca

Part of the middle cranial fossa where the pituitary gland is located.

Hypophyseal portal system

Vascular structure that functionally communicates the hypothalamus with the adenohypophysis.

Adenohypophysis

Portion of the pituitary that synthesizes and secretes $TSH$, $GH$, $ACTH$, $FSH$, $LH$, and prolactin.

Neurohypophysis (Pars nervosa)

Portion of the pituitary that stores and releases hormones ($ADH$ and oxytocin) synthesized by the hypothalamus.

Isthmus

The structure that unites the two lobes of the thyroid gland anteriorly, usually in front of the second and third tracheal rings.

Parathyroid glands

Four small glands located on the posterior face of the thyroid lobes, usually within or near the thyroid capsule.

Suprarrenal (Adrenal) glands

Glands located superomedially to the kidneys on their superior poles.

Islets of Langerhans

The endocrine portion of the pancreas responsible for hormone secretion.

Superior hypophyseal arteries

Arteries originating from the supraclinoid segment of the internal carotid artery that primarily supply the adenohypophysis.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Nerve that ascends in the tracheoesophageal groove near the inferior thyroid artery; its preservation is critical during thyroidectomy to avoid dysphonia.

Thyroid ima artery ($Arteria tiroidea media$)

An inconstant arterial variant that most frequently originates from the brachiocephalic trunk or the aortic arch.

Splenic artery

The vessel that provides the majority of the blood supply to the body and tail of the pancreas.

Hepatic portal vein

Vein formed posterior to the neck of the pancreas by the union of the splenic vein and the superior mesenteric vein.

Uncinate process

Portion of the pancreas located posterior to the superior mesenteric artery.

Optic chiasm

Structure situated superior to the pituitary and sella turca that is compressed by a pituitary macroadenoma, leading to bitemporal visual field loss.

Endocrine glands

Glands characterized by being ductless ($carecer de conductos$) and releasing secretions directly into the bloodstream via fenestrated capillaries.

$$25\,g$$

The approximate weight of an adult thyroid gland.

Bolsa de Rathke (Rathke's pouch)

Oral ectoderm derivative from which the adenohypophysis originates.

$PTH$ (Parathyroid hormone)

Hormone that primarily acts to increase blood calcium levels.

Medulla suprarrenal

Inner portion of the adrenal gland that secretes adrenaline.

Arterial supply of the hypothalamus

Branches from the anterior cerebral, anterior communicating, posterior communicating, and posterior cerebral arteries.

$$HCG$$

Hormone primarily affected and measured in cases of $mola hidatiforme$.

Right suprarrenal vein

Vein that drains the right adrenal gland directly into the inferior vena cava ($Vena cava inferior$).

Left suprarrenal vein

Vein that drains the left adrenal gland into the left renal vein ($Vena renal izquierda$).

Adrenal cortex layers

The three layers from surface to medulla: $Zona glomerulosa$, $Zona fasciculata$, and $Zona reticular$.

$$L1-L2$$

The vertebral level where the pancreas is mainly located.

Mixed gland

Classification of the pancreas because it has both exocrine (acini producing enzymes) and endocrine (islets producing hormones) functions.

Hypothalamic amenorrhea

Absence of menstruation caused by decreased hypothalamic release of $GnRH$, thereby reducing $FSH$ and $LH$.

Suprachiasmatic nucleus

Hypothalamic nucleus that regulates the circadian cycle.

Pineal gland

Gland in the epithalamus that secretes melatonin in response to darkness.

Somatostatin

A hypothalamic hormone that exerts an inhibitory function.

Estrogen

Hormone that stimulates the growth of lactotroph cells and contributes to the enlargement of the pituitary during pregnancy.

Right adrenal shape

Pyramidal.

Left adrenal shape

Semilunar.