Endocrinology - Pituitary Disorders Questions and Answers (100 %Score) Latest Updated 2026

Endocrinology - Pituitary Disorders


1. Where is the pituitary gland located?: - in the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone


2. How is the pituitary gland linked to the hypothalamus?: - through the pituitary (hy-


pophysial) stalk


3. What is the function of the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) and what is


it composed of?: - composed of glandular tissue


- produces and secretes several key hormones (ACTH, TSH, GH, LH, FSH, prolactin)


4. What is the function of the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis) and what is


it composed of?: - composed of neural tissue


- stores and releases hormones produced by the hypothalamus (ADH, oxytocin)

5. What is the pars intermedia?: - thin, relatively avascular zone between the anterior and posterior


lobes

- poorly developed in humans



,6. What does TRH stimulate the release of?: - stimulates the release of TSH from the anterior


pituitary

7. What does CRH stimulate the release of?: - stimulates release of ACTH from the anterior pituitary


8. What does GHRH stimulate the release of?: - stimulates the release of GH from the anterior


pituitary

9. What does GHIH/Somatostatin stimulate the release of?: - inhibits the release of GH


AND Prolactin from the anterior pituitary

10. What does GnRH stimulate the release of?: - stimulates the release of LH and FSH from the


anterior pituitary


11. What does prolactin inhibitory hormone (PIH)/Dopamine stimulate the re-


lease of?: - inhibits the secretion of Prolactin


12. What are the only 2 hormones that directly target the end organ?: - GH and


Prolactin




, 13. How is hypopituitarism classified as?: Isolated pituitary deficiency


- defiicency of a single pituitary hormone


Multiple pituitary hormone deficiency
- deficiency of two or more pitutiary hormones