B11 Hormonal coordination Flashcards
What is a hormone?
A large molecule/chemical produced in endocrine gland that provides body’s chemical coordination, carried around the body in the blood to target organs where it produces an effect.
What is an endocrine gland?
A gland that produces hormones and secretes them directly into the blood
What is the endocrine system?
The glands that produce hormones that control many aspects of the development and metabolism of the body
How is blood glucose concentration monitored and controlled by the body?
- Controlled by the pancreas
- BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRATION RISES: The pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which allows glucose to move from the blood into the cells and to be stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles
- BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRATION FALLS: The pancreas produces glucagon, which allows glycogen to be converted back into glucose and released into the blood
Key differences between nervous control and hormonal control
Nerves:
- very fast action
- act for a very short time
- act on a very precise area
Hormones:
- slower action
- act for a long time
- act in a more general way
Rapid response hormones - examples
Insulin and adrenaline
Slow response hormones - examples
Growth and sex hormones
The main endocrine glands in the body
Pituitary gland, Thyroid gland, Adrenal gland, Pancreas, Ovary gland (female), Testis gland (male)
Pituitary gland - role of hormones
- 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
Thyroid gland - role of hormones
Controls the metabolic rate of the body
Pancreas - role of hormones
Control the levels of glucose in the blood
Adrenal gland - role of hormones
Prepares the body for stressful situations - ‘fight or flight’ response
Ovaries - role of hormones
Controls the development of the female secondary sexual characteristics and is involved in the menstrual cycle
Testes - role of hormones
Controls the development of the male secondary sexual characteristics and is involved in the production of sperm
Which gland secretes adrenaline?
Adrenal gland
Which gland secretes FSH?
Pituitary gland
What does the thyroid control?
Metabolic rate
What does the pancreas control?
Blood glucose concentration
Where is testosterone secreted from?
Testes
Where is progesterone and oestrogen secreted from?
Ovaries
What happens when you get scared?
Adrenal glands (located at the top of your kidneys) secrete lots of adrenaline that is carried rapidly around the body, in the blood, affecting lots of organs.
Adrenaline causes:
- Increase in heart and breathing rate
- Stored glycogen in the liver converted to glucose for respiration
- Pupils dilate to let in more light
- Mental awareness to increase
- Blood to be diverted away from digestive system to the big muscles of the limbs, boosts delivery of oxygen in preparation for fight or flight
Which two hormones do Thyroxine inhibit?
TSH and TRH
What is sugar used for in the body?
Respiration
Thyroxine and negative feedback
- If thyroxine levels rise, TSH levels fall, so thyroxine levels return to normal
- If thyroxine levels fall, TSH levels rise, so thyroxine levels return to normal
The pancreas - endocrine and exocrine
Endocrine = secretes hormones into the bloodstream
Exocrine = secretes enzymes through pancreatic duct
Which enzymes does the exocrine system secrete?
Amylase, protease, lipase
Endocrine and exocrine system - the pancreas cross-section
Endocrine
- α cells secrete glucagon
- β cells secrete insulin
Exocrine
- cells that secrete enzymes
Function of insulin and glucagon
Insulin
- Causes cells in the body to take in glucose
- Causes cells in the liver to convert glucose into glycogen, for storage
Glucagon
- Causes cells in the liver to convert glycogen into glucose
What is the benefit of blood being diverted away from your digestive system and towards your muscles when adrenaline is secreted?
More glucose and oxygen is supplied to muscles, which allows more aerobic respiration in preparation for fight or flight