Chapter 14: The Endocrine System Flashcards
What is the primary function of the endocrine system?
To produce hormones that directly enter the bloodstream and travel to specific organs or tissues of the body called targets to maintain homeostasis.
What are hormones?
Specialized chemicals released by the body.
Define antagonistic:
Acting in opposition, mutually opposing.
Define electrolytes:
Salts and minerals that conduct electrical impulses in the body. These control fluid balance in the body and are important in muscle contraction, energy generation, and almost every biochemical reaction in the body.
Define glucagon:
Hormone produced by pancreatic alpha cells that stimulates the liver to change stored glycogen to glucose. Glucagon is antagonistic to insulin, and is used to reverse hypoglycemic reactions in insulin shock.
Define glucose:
Simple sugar that is the end product of carbohydrate digestion; major source of energy for living organisms.
Define sympathomimetic:
Agent that mimics the effects of the sympathetic nervous system. Ex: epinephrine or norepinephrine.
What are some other names for the pituitary gland?
Hypophysis or master gland
What is the function of the pituitary gland?
Pea-sized organ located at the base of the brain that regulates many body activities and stimulates other organs to secrete their own specific hormones.
What are the 2 distinct lobes of the pituitary gland?
Adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis
What is the adenohypophysis?
Anterior lobe of the pituitary gland; produces at least 6 hormones triggered by the action of the hypothalamus.
What is the neurohypophysis?
Posterior lobe of the pituitary gland; secretes 2 hormones produced by the hypothalamus.
Tell me about the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH):
Secreted by the adenohypophysis; affects the adrenal cortex by promoting the secretion of corticosteroids, specifically cortisol. Hyposecretion is rare; hypersecretion causes Cushing disease.
Tell me about the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH):
Secreted by the adenohypophysis; affects the ovaries/testes and stimulates production of their respective gametes. Hyposecretion causes failure of sexual maturation and hypersecretion has no known significant effects.
Tell me about growth hormone (GH), otherwise known as somatotropin:
Secreted by the adenohypophysis; regulates growth of bone, muscle, and other body tissues, and increases use of fats for energy. Hyposecretion during childhood may cause pituitary dwarfism, hypersecretion during childhood causes gigantism, and hypersecretion in adulthood causes acromegaly.
Tell me about luteinizing hormone (LH):
Secreted by the adenohypophysis; promotes ovulation and stimulates production of estrogen/progesterone in the ovaries or testosterone in the testes. Hyposecretion in nursing mothers causes poor lactation, hyposecretion causes failure of sexual maturation, and hypersecretion has no known significant effects.
Tell me about prolactin (PRL):
Secreted by the adenohypophysis; promotes lactation in breast tissue in conjunction with other hormones. Hypersecretion in nursing mothers can cause excessive lactation (galactorrhea).
Tell me about the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), otherwise known as thyrotropin:
Secreted by the adenohypophysis; stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete thyroid hormones. Hyposecretion in infants causes cretinism, hyposecretion in adults causes myxedema, and hypersecretion causes Graves disease.
Tell me about the antidiuretic hormone (ADH):
Secreted by the neurohypophysis; stimulates the kidneys to increase water reabsorption. Hyposecretion causes diabetes insipidus (DI), and hypersecretion causes syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH).
Tell me about oxytocin:
Secreted by the neurohypophysis; stimulates the uterus to contract and initiate labor, and stimulates the mammary glands to secrete milk.
Tell me about the thyroid gland:
H-shaped organ that lies in the neck just below the larynx; largest gland of the endocrine system. Composed of 2 lobes separated by a strip of tissue called the isthmus.
What hormones does the thyroid secrete?
The thyroid hormone (TH) is the body’s major metabolic hormone as it increases the rate of O2 consumption. The 2 iodine-containing hormones secreted by the thyroid are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
Tell me about calcitonin:
Secreted by the thyroid; regulates calcium levels in the blood in conjunction with parathyroid hormones.
Tell me about thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3):
Increases energy production from all food types, and increases the rate of protein synthesis.
Tell me about the parathyroid glands:
Consists of at least 4 separate glands on the surface of the thyroid. These secrete that parathyroid hormone (PTH), which targets the bones (reabsorption of calcium from the bones to the blood), the kidneys (increases calcium absorption and phosphate excretion), and the small intestine (increases absorption of calcium and phosphate).
Tell me about the adrenal glands:
Also known as suprarenal glands; paired organs covering the superior surface of the kidneys. These are divided into the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla.
Tell me about the adrenal cortex:
Outer portion of the adrenal gland that secretes 3 distinct hormones: mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and sex hormones.
Tell me about mineralocorticoids:
Secreted by the adrenal cortex; main one is aldosterone, which is essential to life. These act on the kidneys and cause them to conserve Na+ and K+ to conserve electrolyte balance and reduce water output.
Tell me about glucocorticoids:
Secreted by the adrenal cortex; main one is cortisol, which influences the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. These help regulate the concentration of glucose in the blood. It also stimulates the breakdown of fats to release fatty acids in the blood to reduce use of glucose to maintain blood sugar between meals.
Tell me about sex hormones:
Secreted by the adrenal cortex; these are androgens, estrogens, and progestins that help maintain secondary sex characteristics.
Tell me about the adrenal medulla:
Inner portion of the adrenal gland, and secretes 2 closely related hormones, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Both of these are considered sympathomimetic agents that are released when the body experiences crisis.
Tell me about the pancreas:
Lies inferior to the stomach and functions as an endocrine and exocrine gland. Exocrine function is it secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine via the large pancreatic duct. The endocrine role is secretion of 2 hormones through the islets of Langerhans, glucagon and insulin.
Tell me about glucagon and insulin:
Glucagon is produced by the alpha cells of the pancreas and functions to turn glucose into glycogen to be used by the body. Insulin is produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, and clears glucose from the blood to prevent hyperglycemia. These 2 hormones function antagonistically.
Tell me about the pineal gland:
Small, pinecone-shaped organ located deep in the brain just behind the thalamus. Exact function of this gland is unknown, but there are signs it secretes melatonin.
Tell me about the thymus:
Butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck formed mostly of lymphatic tissue. This functions as part of both the immune and endocrine systems.
adren/o
adrenal/o
Adrenaline glands
calc/o
calcium
crin/o
secrete
gluc/o
glyc/o
glycos/o
sugar; sweetness
home/o
same; alike
kal/i
potassium
pancreat/o
pancreas
parathyroid/o
parathyroid glands
thym/o
thymus gland
thyr/o
thyroid/o
thyroid gland
toxic/o
poison
-crine
secrete
-dipsia
thirst
-gen
forming, producing, origin
-toxic
pertaining to poison
-uria
urine
eu-
good
exo-
outside
poly-
many, much
Define hypersecretion:
Overproduction of a hormone.
Define hyposecretion:
Underproduction of a hormone.
How is hyposecretion of a hormone usually treated?
With drug therapy