Biopsychology - 03 The Endocrine System Flashcards
What does the endocrine system regulate?
The activity of cells and organs in the body
What is the endocrine system?
A network of glands across the body that secrete chemical messages called hormones
What does the endocrine system use to deliver hormones to their target sites in the body?
blood vessels
Compared to the nervous system what are the effects of hormone like?
Slower but act for longer
What is the main function of the endocrine system?
maintain homeostasis
What are endocrine glands?
Groups of cells that produce and secrete hormones
What are hormones?
Chemical messengers which affect mood and behaviour
How does a physiological reaction get produced in a target cell?
When enough receptor sites are stimulated by hormones
What are the 4 glands studied in this topic?
1-Pituitary gland
2-Adrenal gland
3-Thyroid gland
4-Testes
Where is the pituitary gland found?
In the brain
What does the pituitary gland do?
the hormones released by the pituitary gland control and stimulate the release of hormones from other glands in the endocrine system
What is the pituitary gland controlled by?
The hypothalamus
What is the pituitary gland separated into?
The anterior (front)
The posterior (back)
What does the anterior pituitary do?
Releases adrenocortical trophic hormone (ACTH), stimulates the adrenal cortex and the release of cortisol during the stress response
What does the posterior pituitary do?
Releases oxytocin, which stimulates contractions of the uterus during childbirth, and is important for mother-infant bonding
Where is the adrenal gland found?
On top of the kidneys
What is the adrenal gland separated into?
1-Adrenal medulla (inner)
2-Adrenal cortex (outer)
What does the adrenal medulla do?
responsible for releasing adrenaline and noradrenaline, which plays a key role in the fight or flight response
What does the adrenal cortex do?
releases cortisol (in response to stress), which stimulates the release of glucose to provide the body with energy while suppressing the immune system
What does the thyroid gland do?
releases the hormone thyroxine which is responsible for metabolism and it also affects the cells in the heart
What do the testes do?
release androgens which include the hormone testosterone
What is testosterone responsible for?
the development of male sex characteristics during puberty
What is testosterone controlled by?
The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
the hypothalamus instructs the pituitary gland on how much testosterone to produce and the pituitary gland sends this message to the testes
