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Green > 5.1.4: Hormonal communication > Flashcards

5.1.4: Hormonal communication Flashcards

1
Q

What are the key features of endocrine communication ?

A

Endocrine glands secrete hormones into blood which transports them to target cells/tissues

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2
Q

What are general features of hormones and their effect on cells?

A

-Have a specific target cell to act on and are detected by receptors/glycoproteins which initiate a response
-Chemical messengers
-Widespread and long lasting

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3
Q

What are steroid hormones ?

A

Lipid soluble so diffuse across plasma membrane into target cells and bind to a receptor, acting as a transcription factor

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4
Q

Give an example of a steroid hormone

A

Oestrogen

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5
Q

What are non- steroid hormones ?

A

Non lipid soluble so insoluble in plasma membrane so bind to complementary shaped receptors on target cells causing cascade of reactions within cell initiating a response, acting as a secondary messenger

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6
Q

Give differences in the components of the exocrine system compared to the endocrine system

A

Don’t produce hormones but secrete substances via ducts (instead of glands) straight to target cells on epithelial layers

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7
Q

Give 3 examples of exocrine components within an organism

A

1) Mammary gland secretes milk onto surface of breast
2) Gastric gland secretes gastric fluid onto stomach lining
3) Salivary gland secretes amylase

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8
Q

What are the adrenal glands an example of ?

A

Endocrine glands

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9
Q

Where are adrenal glands located?

A

One sit on top of each kidney

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10
Q

What makes up the adrenal gland ?

A

Adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla

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11
Q

What is the adrenal cortex and what is it controlled by ?

A

Outer region of glands controlled by hormones secreted from pituitary gland

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12
Q

What hormones are secreted from the adrenal medulla ?

A

-Glucocorticoids
-Mineralocorticoids
-Androgens

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13
Q

What are functions of glucocorticoids ?

A

-Regulate metabolism and blood pressure

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14
Q

Give an example of glucocorticoids and what are they controlled by ?

A

Cortisol and they are controlled by the hypothalamus

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15
Q

What are the functions of mineralocorticoids ? What are they controlled by ?

A

-Controls blood pressure by balancing salt and water concentrations in blood
-Controlled by signals sent from kidney

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16
Q

What are the functions of androgens ?

A

-Regulate sexual characteristics and growth by secreting small amounts of female and male sex hormones

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17
Q

What is the adrenal medulla ?

A

Inner region of glands which secrete non-essential hormones

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18
Q

What hormones are secreted from the adrenal medulla ?

A

-Adrenaline
-Noradrenaline

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19
Q

What is the function of adrenaline ?

A

-Increases heart rate to send blood quickly to aerobically respiring muscles
-Raises blood glucose concentrations by converting glycogen to glucose in liver

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20
Q

What is the function of noradrenaline ?

A

-Increases heart rate
-Widens pupils
-Increases blood pressure by narrowing blood vessels to restrict blood flow to non-essential organs

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21
Q

What is the pancreas and where is it located ?

A

Gland with exocrine and endocrine functions located behind the stomach

22
Q

Is the pancreas mostly exocrine or endocrine tissue ?

A

Exocrine

23
Q

What is the purpose of the pancreas

A

Secrete hormones to control blood glucose levels via a negative feedback loop

24
Q

Explain the pancreas as an exocrine gland

A

Secretes enzymes for digestion into ducts and small intestine

Amylase: starch to simple sugars
Protease: Proteins to amino acids
Lipase: lipids to fatty acids and glycerol

25
Q

What are small regions of endocrine gland in the pancreas called ?

A

Islets of langerhans

26
Q

What makes up the islets of langerhans ?And what are their function ?

A

Alpha and beta cells which detect changes in blood glucose concentration

27
Q

What is secreted from alpha cells ?

A

Glucagon

28
Q

What is secreted from beta cells ?

A

Insulin

29
Q

What is hyperglycaemia ?

A

Where blood glucose conc is too high so water potential of blood is lowered

30
Q

What are 2 symptoms of hyperglycaemia ?

A

-Thirst
-Frequent urination

31
Q

What is hypoglycaemia ?

A

Where blood glucose conc is too low

32
Q

What are 2 symptoms of hypoglycaemia ?

A

-Nausea
-Lack of concentration

33
Q

How does blood glucose concentration decrease ?

A

Respiration uses glucose to release energy for muscle contraction during exercise

34
Q

What is the only body cell which doesn’t have an insulin receptor ?

A

Red blood cell

35
Q

How does insulin decrease blood glucose concentration

A
  • Binds to glycoproteins causing a shape change of tertiary structure of channel transport proteins allowing more glucose to enter cell by facilitated diffusion
  • Insulin activates enzymes within cell to convert glucose to glycogen in liver
    -Increases rate of glycogenesis
    -Inhibits release of glucagon from alpha cells
    -Increases rate of glucose absorption by skeletal muscles
    -Increases respiratory rate of cells so higher uptake of glucose from blood
    -Increases rate of glucose —> fat conversion
36
Q

Explain the role of the liver in decreasing blood glucose concentration

A

Glycogenesis - Production of glycogen by taking in excess glucose, converting to glycogen and storing in liver when blood glucose concentration is too high

37
Q

What can affect/cause an increase in blood glucose concentration ?

A

Affected by diet when carbohydrate rich and sweet foods are broken down releasing glucose

38
Q

How does glucagon cause an increase in blood glucose concentration ?

A
  • Increasing rate of glycogenolysis
  • Reducing amount of glucose absorbed by liver cells
  • Increasing gluconeogenesis
  • Activates enzymes so glycerol and amino acids form glucose
  • Attach to receptors on surface of target liver cells causing a protein to be activated into adenyl cyclase which converts ATP to cAMP which activates an enzyme to hydrolyse glycogen to glucose
39
Q

Which cells have glucagon receptors ?

A

Liver and fat cells only

40
Q

What is the role of the liver in increasing blood glucose concentration ?

A

Glycogenolysis - glycogen stored in liver and muscle cells are broken down into glucose and released into bloodstream

Gluconeogenesis - production of glucose from non carbohydrate sources and released into bloodstream (e.g. from glycerol or amino acids)

41
Q

Which type of cells is glycogen stored in ?

A

Liver and muscle

42
Q

Explain the steps in the control of insulin secretion

A

1) K+ channels in plasma membrane of Beta cells are open at normal blood glucose concentrations allowing k+ ions to diffuse out cell (inside cell = -70mv potential)
2) When blood glucose concentration rises glucose enters cell by glucose transporter proteins through glycolysis pathway
3) Glucose is metabolised to produce ATP in mitochondrion
4) ATP binds to ATP sensitive potassium channels closing them
5) Potential inside cell decreases to -30mv causing depolarisation - K+ ions can no longer diffuse out of cell
6) Depolarisation causes voltage gated calcium channels to open
7) Calcium ions enter and cause secretory vesicles to release insulin they contain by exocytosis

43
Q

Explain the steps in which insulin increases permeability of cells to glucose

A

1) Insulin binds to receptor on plasma membrane of muscle/liver cells
2) Receptor signals to cell causing vesicles carrying glucose transporter proteins to merge with plasma membrane
3) Glucose can enter cell by diffusion down concentration gradient

44
Q

Explain the interaction between insulin and glucagon

A
  • Both maintain blood glucose concentration
  • Antagonistic hormones as they work against eachother
  • Self regulating system by glucose which determines their quantities
  • Negative feedback causing concentrations to fluctuate
45
Q

What is the full name for diabetes ?

A

Diabetes Mellitus

46
Q

What is type 1 diabetes and give 2 causes ?

A

Body is unable to produce insulin. Caused by genetics or autoimmune diseases which attacks Beta cells

47
Q

What is treatment for type 1 diabetes ?

A

Injections of insulin

48
Q

What is type 2 diabetes and give 3 causes

A

Where receptors on target cells can no longer respond to insulin. Caused by poor diet, lack of exercise and obesity.

49
Q

Give 2 treatments for type 2 diabetes

A

Regulating intake of carbohydrates and regular exercise

50
Q

Evaluate the use of insulin produced by GM bacteria to treat diabetes

A

For:
- Cheap production costs
- Overcomes religious/ethical concerns of using animals products in humans
- Produces insulin in high quantities
- Pure form of insulin so less likely to cause allergic reaction

Against:
- GM bacteria could experience mutations which cause side effects in humans

51
Q

Evaluate the use of stem cell treatment to treat diabetes

A

For:
- Don’t have to wait for pancreas donor availability
- Less likely to be rejected (compared to organ transplant)
- Don’t have to inject themselves with insulin

Against:
- Difficult to control differentiation so could lead to tumour formation if there is uncontrolled division and growth

52
Q

How does stem cell treatment work to treat diabetes ?

A

Totipotent embryonic stem cells are used to produce then replace faulty Beta cells which don’t produce enough insulin in type 1 diabetes

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