B11 Hormonal Coordination Flashcards
What does the endocrine system do?
Coordinates the body’s organs so that they work together.
What is the endocrine system based on?
The production of chemical messangers called hormones.
What are hormones produced by?
Glands (endocrine glands) in different parts of the body. These chemical messangers are produced in very small quantities and are transported in the blood.
What do hormones do?
- Control body processes that require several organs of the body to interact for a combined effect.
- Travel slower than nervous impulses but can cause longer lasting effects.
- They are delivered to all parts of the body but can have local effects.
What are hormones used for?
To stabilize the body’s internal environment through homeostasis and also coordinate longer-term processes such as growth and sexual development.
What can under or over activity of some endocrine glands cause?
Functional disorders like diabetes
What is the role of the pituitary?
- Controls growth in children
- Stimulates the thyroid gland to make thyroxine to control the rate of metabolism.
- In women- stimulates the ovaries to produce and release eggs and make the female sex hormone oestrogen.
- In men- stimulates the testes to make sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone
What does thyroid do?
Controls the metabolic rate of the body.
What does the insulin do?
Controls the concentration of glucose in the blood
What does the adrenal do?
Prepares the body for stressful situations- fight or flight response.
What do the ovaries do?
Controls the development of the female secondary sexual charcteristics and is involved in the menstrual cycle.
What do the testes do?
Controls the development of the male secondary sexual characteristics and is involved in the production of sperm.
When the glucose levels are too high…
The pancreas detects a high blood glucose level.
The pancreas releases more insulin into the blood,
The absorbtion of glucose by the cells increases. The liver also converts glucose to glycogen and stores it.
The amount of glucose in the blood returns to normal level.
When the glucose levels are too low…
The pancreas detect a low blood glucose level.
The pancreas releases glucogen into the blood
Glucogen converts the glycogen stored in the liver to glucose which is released into the blood restoring the glucose levels to normal.
What is the cause of type 1 diabetes?
If your pancreas doesn’t create enough (or any) insulin, your blood glucose concentration is not controlled. You have type 1 diabetes.
What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?
Blood glucose levels get very high after you eat. Eventually your kidneys exrete glucose in your urine. You produce lots of urine and feel thirsty all the time. Without insulin, glucose cannot get into the cells of your body so you lack energy and feel tired.
What is the cause of type 2 diabetes?
It common as people get older and is linked with obesity, lack of excercise or both.
What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
Increased thirst Frequent urination Increased hunger Fatigue Blurred vision
What is the link to ethnic groups for type 2 diabetes?
Black African
African Caribbean
South Asian
What is the link to ethnic group for type 1 diabetes?
Caucasion
What is testosterone?
Produced by the testes – is the main male reproductive hormone and it stimulates sperm production.
What is oestrogen?
Produced by the ovaries – is the main female reproductive hormone.
What is the function of the ovary?
The eggs mature here
What is the function of the cervix?
Entrance to uterus
What is the function of the uterus (womb)?
The fetus develops here
What is the function of the vagina?
Receives sperm during sexual intercourse.
What is the function of the fallopian tube (oviduct)?
Where the egg travels to the uterus and may be fertilised.
What is the function of the scrotum?
Keeps the testes outside the body for maximum sperm production.
What is the function of the penis?
Places sperm into the vagina
What is the function of the sperm duct?
Carries sperm to the urethra
What is the menstrual cycle?
It involves the preparation of the uterus lining so that it is able to receive a fertilised egg.
What is the menstrual cycle controlled by?
A number of different sex hormones.
How do chemical methods work?
Chemicals kill or disable sperm, these are known as spermicides.
What are the advantages of chemical methods?
They are readily available
What are the disadvantages of chemical methods?
Not very effective at preventing pregnancy
How do intrauterine devices work?
Small structures inserted into the uterus by a doctor. Some contain copper and prevent any early embryos implanting in the line of the uterus. Others contain progesterone, releasing it slowly to prevent the build up of the uterus lining and to thicken to mucus of the cervix.
What are the advantages of intrauterine devices?
They are very effective
What are disadvantages if intrauterine devices?
Could cause period problems or infections.
What is the method of infertility treatments?
- Hormones are given to stimulate the ovaries to make lots of eggs mature at the same time.
- Eggs are removed from the ovaries through suction of surgery.
- Sperm is collected from the male.
- Eggs and sperm are combined to allow fertilization.
- 2-4 fertilised eggs are inserted into the uterus.
What are the cons of infertility treatments (IVF)?
- Some Religions feel that it is wrong for humans to excercise control over their fertility.
- Some people feel IVF is wrong, as some of the embryos made are not allowed to develop into people.
- Some people think that infertile couples should adopt instead, as there are many orphaned children without homes.
- Expensive and success rates are not high
- Very emotionally and physically stressful.
What are the pros of infertility treatment (IVF)?
- Get a baby. Helping people who usually can’t have children improves their life.
- The embryo can be tested for any genetic disorders before being implanted
- People can limit the size of their family.
- People can choose when to have children.
What is FOLP?
F. Fhs. Matures egg. Stimulates/starts oestrogen production.
O. Oestrogen. Stops/inhibits FHS. Stimulates/starts LH.
L. Lh. Ovulation. Stops/inhibits oestrogen. Stimulates/starts progesterone.
P. Progesterone. Increases lining of the womb. Stops/inhibits LH.
