Week 1 (8/25) - Endocrine System

pituitary gland/hypophysis

“dot” coming from a funnel under the hypothalamus that serves partially as a neural communicator and partially as an endocrine communicator

sella turcica

landmark on the sphenoid bone where the pituitary gland sits

sphenoid bone

skull bone visible in the eye cavity and under the zygomatic process, contains the sella turcica landmark

posterior pituitary/neurohypophysis

side of the pituitary gland which contains more neurons and is whiter in color from myelin coating

internal carotid artery

branch of the common carotid artery that runs under/into the brain

inferior hypophyseal artery

inferior artery on the top of the posterior pituitary gland

posterior hypophyseal veins

veins “below” the inferior hypophyseal artery on the posterior pituitary gland

internal jugular vein

vein of the neck that is on the inside, near the internal carotid artery, and thicker than the external one

hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract

bundle of axons in the infundibulum that run down from the hypothalamus tissue

anterior pituitary/adenohypophysis

outer side of the pituitary gland that is pink and more glandular

portal system

2 capillary plexuses (beds) connected by veins

hypophyseal portal system

superior hypophyseal artery > primary capillary plexus > hypophyseal portal vein > secondary capillary plexus > anterior hypophyseal veins

superior hypophyseal artery

1st in hypophyseal portal sys, supplies anterior pituitary, located at the very top where the lobe connects (higher than inferior one)

primary capillary plexus

2nd in hypophyseal portal sys, part of anterior pituitary, located at the top of where superior hypophyseal artery connects to lower veins

hypophyseal portal vein

3rd in hypophyseal portal sys, part of anterior pituitary, located between primary and secondary capillary plexuses

secondary capillary plexus

4th in hypophyseal portal sys, part of anterior pituitary, located in bulk of the anterior lobe

anterior hypophyseal veins

last in hypophyseal portal sys, part of anterior pituitary, pop out the end of the lobe

thyroid gland

butterfly shaped gland in the neck on the trachea, right below the larynx

right and left lateral lobes

either side of the thyroid gland

isthmus

region connecting lobes of the thyroid gland

trachea

windpipe under and continuing on below the thyroid gland

larynx

voicebox just superior to the thyroid gland

external carotid artery

branch of the common carotid artery on the side of the face that branches to the left, does not supply into the brain, enters top of thyroid gland

parathyroid glands

4 amber colored dots on the back view of the thyroid gland

adrenal glands

located over top of the kidneys

kidneys

bean shaped organs in the back of the abdomen, under adrenal glands

suprarenal arteries

branches off abdominal aorta that branch into the adrenal glands

suprarenal vein

veins that stick into the adrenal glands

adrenal medulla

the inner part of the adrenal gland that is mostly a knot of nervous tissue

adrenal cortex

the yellow, fatty outer part of the adrenal glands with 3 zones

zona glomerulosa

outer part of the adrenal cortex, producing mineralcorticoids

zona fasciculata

middle zone of adrenal cortex, making glucocorticoids

zona reticularis

outer zone of the adrenal cortex, making gonadocorticoids

pancreas

tadpole shaped organ near the liver, yellow and fatty

duodenum

top of the small intestine, encircles the head of the pancreas

head of pancreas

part of pancreas that is thicker and near the duodenum

tail of pancreas

thinner part of the pancreas, bordering the spleen

celiac trunk/axis

trunk or diverging point on the abdominal aorta, near the pancreas/duodenum interssection

hepatic portal vein

vein that diverges out like a v from the liver

gonads

refers to sex endocrine organs

ovarian artery

gonadal artery in females that descends form the abdominal aorta and supplies the ovary from the top, under suspensory ligaments

testicular artery

gonadal artery in males that descends from the abdominal aorta and supplies the testicle from the side/top

ovarian vein

vein that descends from near the kidneys and enters the top of the ovaries

testicular vein

vein that descends from near the kidneys and enters the top of the testes

ovaries

female gonads, producing ova and hormones

true pelvis

portion of pelvis inferior to the pelvic brim

uterine tubes

tubes over top of the ovaries

uterus

triangle shaped cavity where the uterine tubes come together

testes

male gonads, located in scrotum sack under the penis

scrotum

skin pouch surrounding the testes

vas deferens

sperm cord connecting to testes

penis

male sex organ over top of the testicles

spermatic cord

cord connecting to the testes, surrounds the vas deferens

pineal gland

pinecone shaped gland hanging from the roof of the third ventricle in the diencephalon

epithalamus

brain region that contains choroid plexus & the pineal gland

third ventricle

“middle part” of the brain’s ventricular system, containing a “hole” in the middle

superior colliculus

smaller, more superior bump in the diencephalon, under the two big ovals (or just under the pineal gland in a side view)