Pituitary physiology

Functional anatomy

  • Anatomical location of the pituitary and its location on skull x-rays and cerebral CT scans
  • Its subdivision into adeno- and neuro- hypophyses and their broad functions
  • A simple understanding of the close relationship between hypothalamus and pituitary
  • Appreciation of the roles of hypothalamic releasing hormones CRH, TRH, dopamine
  • Anterior pituitary as the source of ACTH & TSH, Posterior pituitary as the source of ADH: Ant vs post pituitary

Effect of disordered function

  • The clinical implications of disordered secretion of the hormones listed above
  • Physiological basis of diabetes insipidus and SIADH