12.4 The Endocrine System

Question 1

What is the primary connection between the nervous system and the endocrine system?

Answer 1

hypothalamic-pituitary axis

Question 2

What is a hormone?

Answer 2

molecule that is secreted into the bloodstream by an endocrine gland that has its effects upon distant target cells that possess the appropriate receptor

Question 3

What is an endocrine gland?

Answer 3

ductless gland whose secretory products are picked up by capillaries supplying blood to the region

Question 4

What are exocrine glands?

Answer 4

glands that secrete their products into the external environment by way of ducts

Question 5

What is a hormone receptor?

Answer 5

polypeptide that possesses ligand-specific binding site

Question 6

What is autocrine activity?

Answer 6

signaling molecules that modify the activity of the cell which secreted them

Question 7

What are the two classes of hormones?

Answer 7

peptide and amino acid derivatives
steroids

Question 8

What is the structure of peptide/steroid hormones?

Answer 8

hydrophilic/hydrophobic

Question 9

What is the site of synthesis for peptide/steroid hormones?

Answer 9

rough ER/smooth ER

Question 10

What is the regulation of release for peptide/steroid hormones?

Answer 10

stored in vesicles until signal for secretion is released/synthesized when needed and used immediately

Question 11

How are peptide/steroid hormones transported?

Answer 11

free/protein carrier

Question 12

What is the mechanism of effect for peptide/steroid hormones?

Answer 12

second messengers for modification of enzyme activity/bind to cytoplasmic receptors that regulate transcription

Question 13

What is the timing of effect for peptide/steroid hormones?

Answer 13

rapid and short lived; slow and long lived

Question 14

How is the endocrine system generally regulated?

Answer 14

feedback

Question 15

What are tropic hormones?

Answer 15

hormones that regulate other hormones

Question 16

What mostly controls the endocrine system?

Answer 16

hypothalamus

Question 17

What is the hypothalamic-pituitary axis?

Answer 17

hypothalamus controls the anterior pituitary which controls most of the endocrine system

Question 18

What is the hypothalamic-pituitary portal system?

Answer 18

special miniature circulatory system provided for efficient transport of hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting factors to the anterior pituitary

Question 19

What is the anterior pituitary?

Answer 19

normal endocrine gland that is controlled by hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting factors

Question 20

What is the posterior pituitary?

Answer 20

composed of axons which descend from the hypothalamus

Question 21

What are neuroendocrine cells?

Answer 21

neurons which secrete hormones into the blood stream