6.3: The influence of neurochemistry on behaviour: The function of the endocrine system

Question 1

Endocrine system

Answer 1

The endocrine system is one of the body’s major information systems that instructs glands to release hormones throughout the body, directly into the bloodstream and via other bodily fluids

Question 2

The endocrine system is one of the body’s major information systems that instructs glands to release hormones throughout the body, directly into the bloodstream and via other bodily fluids.
What happens to these hormones?

Answer 2

These hormones are carried towards target organs in the body

Question 3

The endocrine system is one of the body’s major information systems that instructs glands to release hormones throughout the body, directly into the bloodstream and via other bodily fluids.
These hormones are carried towards target organs in the body.
What does this do?

Answer 3

This communicates messages to the organs of the body

Question 4

The endocrine system is one of the body’s major information systems that instructs glands to release hormones throughout the body, directly into the bloodstream and via other bodily fluids.
These hormones are carried towards target organs in the body.
This communicates messages to the organs of the body, much like the what do?

Answer 4

This communicates messages to the organs of the body, much like the neurons do

Question 5

The endocrine system works alongside what?

Answer 5

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system

Question 6

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to do what?

Answer 6

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body

Question 7

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body.
How does the endocrine system act compared to the nervous system?

Answer 7

The endocrine system acts much more slowly than the nervous system, but has very widespread and powerful effects

Question 8

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body.
The endocrine system acts much more slowly than the nervous system, but has very widespread and powerful effects.
What do various glands in the body do?

Answer 8

Various glands in the body produce hormones

Question 9

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body.
The endocrine system acts much more slowly than the nervous system, but has very widespread and powerful effects.
Various glands in the body, such as what, produce hormones?

Answer 9

Various glands in the body, such as the thyroid gland, produce hormones

Question 10

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body.
The endocrine system acts much more slowly than the nervous system, but has very widespread and powerful effects.
Various glands in the body, such as the thyroid gland, produce hormones.
Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and affect which cells?

Answer 10

Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone

Question 11

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body.
The endocrine system acts much more slowly than the nervous system, but has very widespread and powerful effects.
Various glands in the body, such as the thyroid gland, produce hormones.
Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone.
What do most hormones affect?

Answer 11

Most hormones affect cells in several organs or throughout the entire body

Question 12

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body.
The endocrine system acts much more slowly than the nervous system, but has very widespread and powerful effects.
Various glands in the body, such as the thyroid gland, produce hormones.
Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone.
Most hormones affect cells in several organs or throughout the entire body, leading to what?

Answer 12

Most hormones affect cells in several organs or throughout the entire body, leading to many diverse and powerful responses

Question 13

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body.
The endocrine system acts much more slowly than the nervous system, but has very widespread and powerful effects.
Various glands in the body, such as the thyroid gland, produce hormones.
Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone.
Most hormones affect cells in several organs or throughout the entire body, leading to many diverse and powerful responses.
Example

Answer 13

For example, the thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine

Question 14

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body.
The endocrine system acts much more slowly than the nervous system, but has very widespread and powerful effects.
Various glands in the body, such as the thyroid gland, produce hormones.
Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone.
Most hormones affect cells in several organs or throughout the entire body, leading to many diverse and powerful responses.
For example, the thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine.
What does this hormone do?

Answer 14

This hormone affects cells in the heart (increases heart rate)

Question 15

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body.
The endocrine system acts much more slowly than the nervous system, but has very widespread and powerful effects.
Various glands in the body, such as the thyroid gland, produce hormones.
Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone.
Most hormones affect cells in several organs or throughout the entire body, leading to many diverse and powerful responses.
For example, the thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine.
This hormone affects cells in the heart (increases heart rate).
What does thyroxine also do?

Answer 15

Thyroxine also affects cells throughout the body, increasing metabolic rates (the chemical processes taking place in the cells)

Question 16

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body.
The endocrine system acts much more slowly than the nervous system, but has very widespread and powerful effects.
Various glands in the body, such as the thyroid gland, produce hormones.
Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone.
Most hormones affect cells in several organs or throughout the entire body, leading to many diverse and powerful responses.
For example, the thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine.
This hormone affects cells in the heart (increases heart rate).
Thyroxine also affects cells throughout the body, increasing metabolic rates (the chemical processes taking place in the cells).
What does this in turn do?

Answer 16

This in turn affects growth rates

Question 17

What is the major endocrine gland?

Answer 17

The major endocrine is the pituitary gland

Question 18

The major endocrine is the pituitary gland, located where?

Answer 18

The major endocrine is the pituitary gland, located in the brain

Question 19

The major endocrine is the pituitary gland, located in the brain.
Why is it often called the ‘master gland?’

Answer 19

It is often called the ‘master gland,’ because it controls the release of hormones from all the other endocrine glands in the body

Question 20

Gland

Answer 20

A gland is an organ in the body that synthesises substances such as hormones

Question 21

Hormones

Answer 21

Hormones are chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs

Question 22

Hormones are chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs.
How are they produced?

Answer 22

They are produced in large quantities

Question 23

Hormones are chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs.
They are produced in large quantities, but what?

Answer 23

They are produced in large quantities, but disappear quickly

Question 24

Hormones are chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs.
They are produced in large quantities, but disappear quickly.
Their effects are very what?

Answer 24

Their effects are very powerful

Question 25

What is the function of the adrenal gland?

Answer 25

The function of the adrenal gland is that it is an important part of the fight-or-flight response, as it facilitates the release of adrenaline

Question 26

What is the function of the testes?

Answer 26

The function of the testes is that they facilitate the release of testosterone (the male hormone)

Question 27

What is the function of the ovaries?

Answer 27

The function of the ovaries is that they facilitate the release of oestrogen and progesterone (female hormones)

Question 28

Behaviour is thought to be influenced by hormones and each hormone is thought to do what?

Answer 28

Behaviour is thought to be influenced by hormones and each hormone is thought to affect behaviour in a different way

Question 29

The hormone oxytocin, released by the pituitary gland, is thought to be particularly important for reproductive behaviour.
It is released following orgasm, which aids conception and elicits a feeling of relaxation and calm.
Research by Kosfeld et al. (2005) also found that high levels of oxytocin encourages strong bonding between couples.
This is also the case for mother/child bonding (Feldman et al, 2007).
Therefore, it can be seen that hormonal levels can affect behaviour to some extent.
Another example of a behavioural effect from a hormone, adrenaline, is in the fight-or-flight response

Answer 29

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Question 30

What does the pineal gland in the brain do?

Answer 30

The pineal gland in the brain releases melatonin

Question 31

The pineal gland in the brain releases melatonin.

What is the pineal gland responsible for?

Answer 31

The pineal gland is responsible for important biological rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle

Question 32

What does the thyroid gland do?

Answer 32

The thyroid gland releases thyroxine

Question 33

The thyroid gland releases thyroxine.

What is the thyroid gland responsible for?

Answer 33

The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating metabolism

Question 34

What does the hypothalamus do?

Answer 34

The hypothalamus stimulates and controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland and also the flight-or-fight response

Question 35

What does the pituitary gland release to speak to the adrenal gland?

Answer 35

The pituitary gland releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to speak to the adrenal gland

Question 36

The adrenal gland (medulla) releases adrenaline and noradrenaline.
What does the adrenal gland (cortex) release?

Answer 36

The adrenal gland (cortex) releases cortisol

Question 37

The adrenal gland (medulla) releases adrenaline and noradrenaline.
The adrenal gland (cortex) releases cortisol.
What does cortisol do?

Answer 37

Cortisol stimulates the release of glucose (mobilises blood sugar) to provide the body with energy, while reducing inflammation and suppressing the immune system