2 - Endocrine Glands Flashcards
Give three examples of endocrine glands
- the thyroid/parathyroid glands
- gonads
- pancreas
What does the pancreas secrete?
Insulin
What do the gonads secrete?
Males - testosterone / Females - oestrogen and progesterone
What des the thyroid & parathyroid produce?
The thyroid produces thyroid hormones & the parathyroid produces parathyroid hormones
What are the principle endocrine glands in both females and males?
- the principle endocrine glands in males and females are the same
- we have the endocrine glands associated with the brain
- for example, the pineal gland, the hypothalamus, and pituitary glands at the base of the brain
- in the throat we have a thyroid gland and four associated parathyroid glands
What happens in the pancreas?
The pancreas secretes insulin, but also the hormone glucagon, which counteracts insulin actions on blood glucose
How are the kidneys involved?
Attached to the kidney are adrenal glands, which produce a range of steroid hormones that can regulate salt and water balance
Role of the gonads?
- the gonads are different between males and females
- in the female, there are ovaries which secrete oestrogen throughout the menstrual cycle and progesterone during pregnancy
- in males are the testes which produce testosterone
What hormones are produced by the thyroid?
- thyroxine
- calcitonin
What is the function of thyroxine and calcitonin?
Thyroxine - regulates metabolism
Calcitonin - Inhibit release of calcium from the bones
What is the function of the parathyroid hormone?
Stimulates the release of calcium from the bones
What hormones do islet cells (in the pancreas) produce?
- insulin
- glucagon
What is the function of insulin and glucagon?
Insulin - decreases blood sugar by promoting uptake of glucose by cells
Glucagon - increases blood sugar by stimulating breakdown of glycogen in the liver
What is the function of testosterone?
Regulates sperm cell production and secondary sex characteristics
What Is the function of oestrogen and progesterone?
Oestrogen - stimulates egg maturation, controls secondary sex characteristics
Progesterone - prepares the uterus to receive a fertilised egg
What hormone does the adrenal cortex produce?
Epinephrine
What is the function of epinephrine?
“fight or flight”
What hormones does the adrenal medulla produce?
- glucocorticoids
- aldosterone
- testosterone (in both sexes)
What are the functions of glucocorticoids (1), aldosterone (2), and testosterone (3)?
- part of stress response, increase blood glucose levels and decrease immune response
- regulates sodium content in the blood
- adult body form (greater muscle mass), libido
What hormone does the pineal gland produce?
Melatonin
What is the function of melatonin?
Sleep cycles, reproductive cycles in many mammals
What does the hypothalamus do?
The hypothalamus receives information from the nervous system and initiates responses through the endocrine system