Syllabus · Current · V5 (2025) · Endocrine System
L1 · Endocrine Physiology
L1.iii · Hypothalamus & Pituitary
Outline the endocrine secretions of the pituitary and hypothalamus including their regulation and function.
Written examination
SAQ history
Pituitary & Hypothalamus — Anterior Pituitary
2 exam appearances
(a) List the hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary gland (10% of marks). (b) For each hormone listed, briefly outline the following: (i) the effects on their target organs (50% of marks). (ii) the positive and negative control and/or feedback mechanisms (40% of marks).
60%
List the cell types in the anterior pituitary gland. Outline their secretions, control and target organ effects.
40%
Pituitary & Hypothalamus — Hypothalamus
2 exam appearances
Pituitary & Hypothalamus — Pituitary Hormones
1 exam appearance
List the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. (30% marks) Outline the physiological factors that control secretion of hormones from the posterior pituitary. (70% marks)
44%
Vasopressin & Analogues
2 exam appearances
Describe the pharmacology of vasopressin (70% of marks) and its analogues (30% of marks).
28%
Describe the actions of endogenous vasopressin. (60% of marks) List the vasopressin analogues and their uses. (40% of marks)
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Oral examination
VIVA history
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2024A · Day 1 · VIVA 8
This VIVA will examine adrenal physiology and pharmacology. How is ACTH secretion controlled?
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2011B · VIVA 7
This Viva will test your knowledge of the endocrinology of the thyroid gland. Q 1 What is a hormone? How is it defined? Subsequent questions asked about chemical types of hormones, hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary, the principal biological role of the thyroid hormones, production of thyroid hormones, advantages of thyroxine for thyroid replacement in comparison to triiodothyronine, and mechanism of action of propylthiouracil.
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2010A · VIVA 5
This Viva will examine knowledge of intravenous fluids, colligative properties What is in a bag of Normal Saline? Areas of knowledge that candidates were tested on included concepts of osmolality, osmolarity, anion gap, mannitol, and colligative properties of fluid. In addition this viva tested knowledge of the pituatary gland, specifically anatomy, hormones secreted and in particular, Anti Diuretic Hormone.
Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.