Question 1

The anterior pituitary&#10;A) Has a blood-brain barrier generated by pituicytes&#10;B) Is composed of basophils, acidophils, and chromophobe cells&#10;C) Is made up of the pars nervosa and the infundibulum&#10;D) Receives blood from the inferior hypophyseal artery&#10;E) Secretes hormones when directed to do so by a nervous signal from the hypothalamus

Accepted Answer

The anterior pituitary is composed of basophils (which secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and thyroid-stimulating hormone), acidophils (which secrete growth hormone and prolactin), and chromophobe cells (which are undifferentiated cells).

Answer: D
 The inferior hypophyseal artery supplies blood to the posterior pituitary, while the superior hypophyseal artery supplies blood to the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary.

Answer: E
 The hypothalamus regulates the release of hormones from the anterior pituitary by producing and releasing certain "releasing hormones" and "inhibiting hormones" into the bloodstream. These hormones then travel to the anterior pituitary and bind to specific receptors on the cells that produce the appropriate hormones. This directs the cells to either release or inhibit the production of the hormones.

Question 2

Which endocrine structure is composed of several cell types, including chromophobe cells, acidophils, and basophils?&#10;A) Adrenal gland&#10;B) Anterior pituitary&#10;C) Parathyroid gland&#10;D) Pineal gland&#10;E) Posterior pituitary

Accepted Answer

The anterior pituitary gland is composed of several cell types, including chromophobe cells (which do not stain well), acidophils (which secrete growth hormone and prolactin), and basophils (which secrete ACTH, TSH, LH, and FSH). The other options do not have this particular cell composition.

Question 3

Melatonin&#10;A) Is secreted by the neurohypophysis&#10;B) Is secreted immediately following synthesis by acidophils&#10;C) Is transported along pinealocyte axons&#10;D) Production is stimulated by sunlight&#10;E) Stimulates growth hormone secretion

Accepted Answer

Melatonin is synthesized and secreted by pinealocytes in the pineal gland. It is transported along axons of the pinealocytes and released into the bloodstream.

Answer: D
 Production of melatonin is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by sunlight. Sunlight exposure during the day signals the suppression of melatonin production while darkness at night signals its release.

Question 4

Which endocrine structure does not directly synthesize any hormones but instead stores hormones and secretes them following a nervous signal from the hypothalamus?&#10;A) Adrenal cortex&#10;B) Adrenal medulla&#10;C) Anterior pituitary&#10;D) Posterior pituitary&#10;E) Thyroid gland

Accepted Answer

The posterior pituitary gland does not directly synthesize any hormones but stores hormones synthesized by the hypothalamus and releases them upon receiving nervous signals from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus secretes two hormones, oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which are then stored and released by the posterior pituitary gland. The adrenal cortex synthesizes hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone, and sex hormones. The adrenal medulla produces and releases hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline. The anterior pituitary gland synthesizes and releases several hormones, including growth hormone, prolactin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. The thyroid gland synthesizes and releases thyroid hormones, including thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

Question 5

The hormone that stimulates insulin-like growth factor-1 production in the hepatocytes is secreted by&#10;A) Acidophils&#10;B) Basophils&#10;C) Chromophobe cells&#10;D) Herring bodies&#10;E) Pituicytes

Accepted Answer

Acidophils in the anterior pituitary gland secrete growth hormone (GH), which stimulates the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).

Question 6

Prolactin secretion is _____ by _____.&#10;A) Inhibited &#8230; dopamine&#10;B) Inhibited &#8230; somatostatin&#10;C) Stimulated &#8230; dopamine&#10;D) Stimulated &#8230; growth hormone-releasing hormone&#10;E) Stimulated &#8230; nerve impulse from the hypothalamus

Accepted Answer

Prolactin secretion is inhibited by dopamine.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about the neurohypophysis is not true?&#10;A) Contains glial-like cells called pituicytes&#10;B) It synthesizes, stores, and secretes antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin&#10;C) Its axons derive from the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei&#10;D) Secretion of its hormones is controlled by nerve impulses from the hypothalamus&#10;E) The hypothalamohypophyseal tract runs through the infundibulum

Accepted Answer

The neurohypophysis does not synthesize ADH and oxytocin, but rather stores and releases these hormones that are synthesized by the hypothalamus.

Deck 18: Neuroendocrine System