B5 The Endocrine System (page 62)

Question 1

Apart from along nerves, what other way is there to send information around the body?

Answer 1

by using hormones.

Question 2

What are Hormones?

Answer 2

Hormones are chemical molecules released directly into the blood.

Question 3

How are hormones carried?

Answer 3

they are carried in the blood to other arts of the body, but only affect particular cells in particular organs (called target organs).

Question 4

What do Hormone do?

Answer 4

they control things in organs and cells that need constant adjustment.

Question 5

How are Hormones produced?

Answer 5

Hormones are produced in (and secreted by) various glands, call endorcrine glands.

Question 6

What are endorcrine glands?

Answer 6

these glands make up your endocrine system.

Question 7

Give some examples of Glands?

Answer 7

The Pituitary Gland
Thyroid
Overies (female only)
Adrenal Gland
Testes (male only)
The Pancreas

Question 8

What is the Pituitary Gland?

Answer 8

The Pituitary Gland produces many hormones that regulate body conditions. It is located in the brain (see diagram on page 62

Question 9

What other name do the Pituitary Gland sometimes get called and why?

Answer 9

The Master Gland, because these horemones act on other glands, directing them to release hormones that bring about change.

Question 10

What is the Thyroid Gland?

Answer 10

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).

Question 11

What is the Overies gland?

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

What is the Adreanal Gland?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

What is the Testes Gland?

Answer 13

This is in males only, they Produce testosterone, which controls puberty and sperm production in males (see page 64).

Question 14

What is the Pancreas Gland?

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Explain what response Nerves have?

Answer 15

They are very fast action, act for a very short time and act on a very precise area.

Question 16

Explain What response Hormones have?

Answer 16

They are slower action, Act for a long time, and act in a more general way.

Question 17

If a response is really quick it usually would be nerves or hormones and why?

Answer 17

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).

Question 18

If a response lasts for a long time, would it be nerves or hormonal and why?

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Hormones control various organs and cells in the body, though they tend to control things like what?

Answer 19

things that aren’t immediately life-threatening (so things like sexual development, blood sugar level, water content, etc).

Question 20

Why is the Pituitary Gland referred to as the ‘master gland’? (1 mark)

Answer 20

Because it produces many hormones that act on other glands to regulate body conditions (1 mark)