B5 The Endocrine System (page 62) Flashcards
Apart from along nerves, what other way is there to send information around the body?
by using hormones.
What are Hormones?
Hormones are chemical molecules released directly into the blood.
How are hormones carried?
they are carried in the blood to other arts of the body, but only affect particular cells in particular organs (called target organs).
What do Hormone do?
they control things in organs and cells that need constant adjustment.
How are Hormones produced?
Hormones are produced in (and secreted by) various glands, call endorcrine glands.
What are endorcrine glands?
these glands make up your endocrine system.
Give some examples of Glands?
The Pituitary Gland
Thyroid
Overies (female only)
Adrenal Gland
Testes (male only)
The Pancreas
What is the Pituitary Gland?
The Pituitary Gland produces many hormones that regulate body conditions. It is located in the brain (see diagram on page 62
What other name do the Pituitary Gland sometimes get called and why?
The Master Gland, because these horemones act on other glands, directing them to release hormones that bring about change.
What is the Thyroid Gland?
This produces Thyroxine, which is involved in regulating things lke the rate of matabolism, heart rate and temperature. It is located in the neck area (see page 62).
What is the Overies gland?
The is in females only, and produces oestrogen, which is involved in the menstrual cycle (see page 64). It is located either side of the uterus.
What is the Adreanal Gland?
This produces adrenaline, which is used to prepare the body for a ‘fight or flight’ response (see page 67). There are 2 glands, and they are located on to of each kidney - just below the rib cage, just below each side of your spine.
What is the Testes Gland?
This is in males only, they Produce testosterone, which controls puberty and sperm production in males (see page 64).
What is the Pancreas Gland?
This produces insulin, which is used to regulate the blood glucose level (see page 63). it is located across the back of the belly behind the stomach.
Explain what response Nerves have?
They are very fast action, act for a very short time and act on a very precise area.
Explain What response Hormones have?
They are slower action, Act for a long time, and act in a more general way.
If a response is really quick it usually would be nerves or hormones and why?
if the response is really quick, it’s probably nervous.
(some information needs to be passed to effectors really quickly (e.g. pain signals, or information from your eyes telling you about the lion heading your way, so it’s no good using hormones to carry the message - they are too slow).
If a response lasts for a long time, would it be nerves or hormonal and why?
If the response lasts for a long time, it’s probably hormonal. For example, when you get a shock, a hormone called adrenaline is released into the body causing the fight or flight response, where your body is hyped up ready for action. You can tell it’s a hormonal response even though it kicks in pretty quickly because you feel a bit wobbly for a while afterwards.
Hormones control various organs and cells in the body, though they tend to control things like what?
things that aren’t immediately life-threatening (so things like sexual development, blood sugar level, water content, etc).
Why is the Pituitary Gland referred to as the ‘master gland’? (1 mark)
Because it produces many hormones that act on other glands to regulate body conditions (1 mark)
