Chapter 16: The Endocrine System Flashcards
What are some differences between endocrine and exocrine glands
Exocrine - has ducts, caries secretion to a surface or organ cavity
Endocrine - No ducts, capillary networks which allow hormones to be taken into the bloodstream, intracellular effects like altering target cell metabolism
The endocrine system uses ___________ while the nervous system uses ________.
Hormones and neurotransmitters
What do cells need to to in order to maintain homeostasis?
Communicate with eachother
What is a very specialized cell that looks/acts like a neuron but secretes hormones into the bloodstream called?
Neuroendocrine cells
What are the 3 principal mechanisms of communication between cells divided into?
Autocrine, paracrine and endocrine
What is the endocrine system composed of?
Glands, tissues and cells that secrete hormones
What’s are hormones?
Chemical messengers that are transported by the bloodstream and stimulate physiological responses in cells of another tissue or organ, often a considerable distance away.
Why do target cells respond to hormones?
When they have the specific receptor for that hormone and when they express specific enzymes that activate otherwise inactive versions of hormones
What is the most importantly part of the endocrine system?
Hypothalamus
Where are and what are the functions carried out by the hypothalamus?
Many of the functions are carried out in the pituitary gland and they regulate functions like water balance, thermoregulation, sex drive, childbirth etc
What is tropic hormone?
A hormone that stimulates secretion of another hormone by another endocrine gland
How many hormones are produced in the hypothalamus?
8
How many releasing and inhibiting hormones are there that stimulate or inhibit the anterior pituitary and what are they called?
There’s 6 of them and they are TSH, PRL, ACTCH, FSH, LH and GH
What does PIH inhibit the secretion of?
Prolactin
What does somatostatin inhibit the secretion of and how?
The growth hormone (GH) and the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) by the anterior pituitary
What are the other hypothalamic hormones that are both stored and released by the posterior pituitary?
Oxytocin and anti diuretic hormone (ADH)
What is oxytocin produced by?
The paraventricular nuclei
What is ADH produced by?
The supraoptic nuclei
What is adenohypophysis known and how much is there?
Anterior (3/4 of the pituitary)
What is the neurohypophysis known as?
Posterior (1/4 of the pituitary)
Where does the anterior pituitary arise from?
Hypophyseal pouch
Where does the posterior pituitary arise form?
The brain (extension of hypothalamus)
What are the 2 gonadotropin hormones that target gonads?
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
What is the function of TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)
Stimulates secretion of thyroid hormone
ACTH
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
What does ACTH do?
It stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete glucocorticoids
What does prolactin do?
It stimulates mammary glands to produce milk
What does growth hormone do?
Stimulates mitosis and cellular differentiation
ADH and oxytocin are produced in the ___________ and transported to the ________
Hypothalamus and posterior lobe of the pituitary
What does ADH do?
Increases water retention, reducing urine volume and preventing dehydration
What is ADH also called and why?
Vasopressin because it can cause vasoconstriction
What are some functions of oxytocin?
Stimulates labor contractions during childbirth, lactation (breast milk release), promotes feelings of sexual satisfaction and emotional bonding between partners
When is GH mainly secreted?
At night
When does LH peak?
In the middle of menstrual cycle
When does oxytocin surge?
During labor and breast feeding
All hormones have ______.
Half-life
What is half-life?
Time required for 50% of hormone to be cleared from the blood
GH has a half-life of ____ while IFGs are about _____.
6 - 20 minutes and 20 hours
What sparring effects does GH have?
Glucose sparing and protein sparing
What stimulates and what suppresses GH synthesis?
Stimulants - Stress, hypoglycemia, trauma, high-protein meals, ghrelin
Suppress - High carb diets
What is ghrelin?
Stomach hormone mediating hunger
What is the second most important part of the endocrine system?
Pineal gland