Ch. 49 Chemical Signals in Animals Flashcards
endocrine system
gland & tissues that produce/secrete hormones into the bloodstream
hormone
any of many different signaling molecules that circulate throughout the plant or animal body
- can trigger characteristic responses in distant target cells @ very low concentrations
- controlled
- big size
- specific function
- result in longer response than the action potential of the CNS
- long lasting effect
- chemical signal
animal chemical signals
1) present in extremely low concentrations
2) have enormous effects on their target cells
properties of electrical impulses
1) short-term effect
2) fast response
major categories of chemical signals
- grouped based on effect produced on cell/organ
1) autocrine signals
2) paracrine signals
3) endocrine signals
4) neural signals
5) neuroendocrine signals
autocrine signal
a chemical signal that affects the same cell that produced/released it
(ie) cytokines
cytokine
(autocrine) any of a diverse group of signaling proteins
- secreted largely by cells of the immune system
- stimulates leukocyte production
- recruits cells to site of infection, tissue repair & fever
- FCN: regulate the type, intensity & duration of an immune response
- amplify the response of a cell to a stimulus
paracrine signal
a chemical signal that diffuse locally& affects neighboring cells
(ie) insulin, glucagon & somatostatin
insulin
a peptide hormone produced in pancreas in response to HIGH levels of GLUCOSE in blood
- enables cells to absorb glucose
- coordinates synthesis of fats, proteins & glycogen
- paracrine signal
- produced by islets of Langerhan
glucagon
a peptide hormone produced by the pancreas in response to LOW blood GLUCOSE
- raises blood glucose by triggering breakdown of glycogen & stimulating gluconeogenesis
- paracrine signal
- produced by islets of Langerhan
somatostatin
a hormone secreted by the pancreas & hypothalamus that inhibits the release of several other hormones
- paracrine signal
- produced by islets of Langerhan
islets of Langerhans
cells in the pancreas that produces insulin, glucagon & somatostatin
endocrine signal
a chemical signal (hormone) that is released into the bloodstream by a producing cell (gland)
- acts on a distant target cell
- most common
- most effective
neural signal
neurotransmitters that diffus a short distance from presynaptic cell to a postsynaptic cell, where it binds to a membrane receptor & results in a change in the membrane potential
- very fast
- short-lived
*synapse
neuroendocrine signal
nerve cells (neurons) that release hormones into the blood or to hormones themselves
- considered hormones
- carried by blood & otro body fluids
- act on distant cells
- do not act on/at synapse
(ie) antidiuretic hormone
(aka) neurohormone
“nerve inside separated”
antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
a peptide hormone, secreted from the posterior pituitary gland
- stimulates water retention by the kidney
(aka) vasopressin
hormone signaling pathways
1) endocrine pathway
2) neuroendocrine pathway
3) CNS-to-endocrine pathway
endocrine pathway
sends hormones directly from endocrine cells to effector cells
signal -> endocrine cell -> effector cell
neuroendocrine pathway
releases neuroendocrine signals that act directly on effector cells
signal -> sensor cell -> CNS -> effector cell
hormones in insects regulate _____.
molting & metamorphosis
CNS-to-endocrine pathway
neuroendocrine signals stimulate cells in the endocrine system, which respond by producing an endocrine signal that acts on effector cells
stimulus -> receptor cell -> endocrine cell -> effector cell
steps to shutting down a hormone
1) hormones produced by effector cells feed back to endocrine cells, lowering hormone production
2) effector hormone also feeds back to neuroendocrine & neuroendocrine-to-endocrine pathways
3) endocrine signals are released in response to electrical signals, which modulate the signal from the nervous system
endocrine gland
a gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream or interstitial fluid instead of into ducts
hormones in insectes regulate _____.
molting & metamorphosis
major human endocrine glands
1) pituitary gland
2) thyroid gland
3) parathyroid gland
4) kidney
5) adrenal gland
6) pancreas
pituitary gland
a small gland located directly under the brain
- physically/functionally connected to hypothalamus
- produces/secretes hormones that affect many other glands & organs
- regions: anterior & posterior
thyroid gland
a gland in the neck that releases thyroid hormone (increases metabolic rate) and calcitonin (lowers blood calcium)
parathyroid gland
a part of the thyroid gland
- controls calcium levels (calcitonin)
polypeptide
a chain of 50+ amino acids linked juntos by peptide bonds
- nonsoluble lipids
- need receptor
- acts @ cell surface
amino acid derivative
- not lipid soluble
- bind to receptors located in the membranes of target cells
- acts @ cell surface
steroid
a class of lipid w/ a characteristic 4-ring hydrocarbon structure
- large molecule
- lipid soluble
- acts inside cell
kidney
one of a paired organ situated @ back of abdominal cavity
- filters blood
- produces urine
- secretes several hormones
- attached to adrenal glands
adrenal glands
endocrine glands
- sit on top of kidneys
- cortex secretes steroid hormones
- medulla secretes epinephrine & norepinephrine
major human endocrine glands
1) pituitary gland
2) thyroid gland
3) parathyroid gland
4) kidney
5) adrenal gland
6) pancreas
7) ovary
8) testes
pancreas
a large gland in vertebrates that has both exocrine & endocrine functions
- secretes digestive enzymes into a duct connected to the intestine
- secretes several hormones (insulin & glucagon) into the bloodstream
a single hormone can
exert a variety of effects
ovary
egg-producing organ of a female animal
seed-producing structure in female part of a flower
testis
sperm-producing organ of a male animal
exocrine gland
a gland that secretes some substance through a duct into a space other than the circulatory system
- major role in puberty acne
(ie) digestive tract or skin surface
chemical families
1) polypeptides
2) amino acid derivatives
3) steroids
secretin
a peptide hormone produced by cells in the small intesting in response to the arrival of food from the stomach
- stimulates secretion of bicarbonate (HCO3) from the pancreas
epinephrine
a catecholamine hormone produced & secreted by adrenal medulla
- triggers rapid responses related to fight-or-flight response
(aka) adrenaline
thyroxin (T4)
a lipid-soluble hormone derived from the amino acid tyrosine
- produced/secreted by thyroid gland
- regulates cellular metabolism
- (humans) converted to active triiodothyronine (T3) in the liver
- lipid soluble
thyroxin (T4)
a lipid-soluble hormone derived from the amino acid tyrosine
- produced/secreted by thyroid gland
- regulates cellular metabolism
- (humans) converted to active triiodothyronine (T3) in the liver
- lipid soluble
to affect a target cell, all polypeptides & most amino acids derivatives
bind to receptor on the cell surface
lipid-soluble hormone (steroids) can diffuse
through the plasma membraane & bind to receptors inside the cell
growth hormone (GH)
a peptide hormone produced/secreted by anterior pituitary
- promotes lengtheing of long bones in children and muscle growth, tissue repair & lactation in adults
- stimulates mitosis & growth
- determines how fast to grow
(aka) somatotropin
what happens when the pituitary gland of an animal is removed?
animal stops growing
single hormone can
exert a variety of effects
several hormones may
affect the same aspect of physiology