chapter 18: endocrine sytem Flashcards
why fo the nervous and endocrine system work together?
to coordinate the functions of all body systems
difference between how nervous system acts and how the endocrine system acts
Nervous system acts through the action of
neurons, and neurotransmitters they
secrete
◦ The endocrine system acts through hormones
produced by cells or endocrine glands
true or false some mediators can act as both neurotransmitters and hormones
true, ex: norepinephrine.
but each is controlled by different mechanisms
what are examples of hormones controlling different processes
Regulation of different processes:
◦ Composition and amount of interstitial fluid
◦ metabolism
◦ biological clock
◦ contraction of cardiac & smooth muscle
◦ glandular secretion
◦ some immune functions
◦ growth & development
◦ reproduction
exocrine glands bs endocrine glands. Give examples
Exocrine glands
◦ secrete products onto an epithelial surface (into body cavity, or body surface);
may or may not use a duct
◦ sweat, oil, salivary glands, pancreas…
Endocrine glands
◦ secrete hormones into interstitial fluid, and normally ends up in the bloodstream
◦ pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal
which organs secrete hormones as secondary function?
◦ Some organs secrete hormones as a 2ndary function
◦ hypothalamus, thymus, pancreas, ovaries, testes, kidneys, stomach, liver, small
intestine, skin, heart & placenta
what are the 3 different forms of endocrine signalling
- endocrine cells sends hormones through blood to distant target cells, which then land on hormone receptor
- a paracrine cell sends paracrines (hormones) to a nearby target cell. the paracrines bind to paracrine receptors
an autocrine cell signals itself. The hormones attach to the autocrine receptor
What is a hormone?
a) a molecule found in the cytoplasm of a cell
b) a molecule found in the nucleus of a cell
c) a molecule released by a cell
d) a molecule released by a neuron specifically
c) a molecule released by the cell
How does a hormone reach its target cell?
a) It usually travels through blood
b) It usually travels through lymph vessels
c) It travels through the nervous system
d) All the above
A
How does a hormone “know” what cell to
influence?
a) It only uses blood vessels that get to the target organ
b) It binds to hormone receptors found on target cells
c) It binds to all cells, but only target cells respond to the binding
d) All mechanisms above are possible
b) it binds to hormone receptors found on target cells
what needs to happen for a cell to be activated by hormones
To activate a cell, a hormone needs to bind to its receptor noncovalently
(reversibly; non permanently)
what are 3 factors that determine the level of activation of a target cell?
◦ Blood levels of hormones
◦ Number of receptors on target cell (if don’t receive a lot of hormones will grow more receptors. The opposite is also true)
◦ Affinity of receptor for its hormone
how do target cells change the number of receptors present
Hormone receptors are continually being synthesized and destroyed
1. ◦ Down-regulation
◦ cell responds to excess hormone by decreasing number of receptors
◦ surface receptors undergo endocytosis and are degraded
◦ decreases sensitivity of target cell to hormone
◦2. Up-regulation
◦ cell responds to deficiency of hormone by increasing number of receptors
◦ target tissue more sensitive to the hormone
what is the general mechanism of action for hormones
- Hormone binds to receptor
◦ receptor located on plasma membrane or in cytoplasm depending on type of
hormone - Binding of hormone to receptor triggers a response in the target cell
◦ synthesize new molecules
◦ let substances in or out of cell
◦ alter metabolism (speed up or slow down reactions)
what are the 2 chemical classes of hormones
- Lipid soluble hormones
- water-soluble hormones
how would you administer lipid soluble hormones vs water soluble hormones?
lipid soluble you would take through pills and water soluble you would take intravenously
what are examples of lipid-soluble hormones?
Steroids (e.g., estrogens, testosterone, glucocorticoids)
◦ Derived from cholesterol
Thyroid hormones (T3, T4)
◦ Iodination of tyrosine
Nitric oxide – NO (gas)
what are examples of water-soluble hormones?
epinephrine, serotonin, histamine, oxytocin, ADH, prostaglandins
how are lipid soluble proteins transported in the blood
◦ Lipid-soluble hormones are hydrophobic – cannot travel in blood easily (plasma = water)
◦ Lipid-soluble hormones are generally bound to a transport protein (e.g., albumin)
◦ Transport protein is amphipathic
◦ prevents clumping and increases molecule size, so less likely to be filtered out by kidneys
◦ Hormone dissociates from transport protein as it approaches tissues, and
diffuses into cells
describe the action of lipid-soluble hormones
once they get to the cell
- lipid-soluble hormones diffuses into cell
- hormones binds to receptor in cytoplasm or nucleus which alters gene expression
- newly formed mRNA direct synthesis of specific proteins on ribosomes. The cell’s activities change because of the new proteins
what are amine hormones and what are some examples? are they water soluble or lipids soluble?
Amine hormones = modified amino acids (small)
◦ e.g., epinephrine from tyrosine; histamine made from histidine; serotonin
from tryptophan
They are water soluble
peptide/ protein hormones examples? Are they water or lipid-soluble?
◦ Peptide (3-49aa): antidiuretic hormone (ADH), oxytocin
◦ Protein (50-200aa): human growth hormone (hGH), insulin
water-soluble
what are eicosanoid hormones and what are some examples? ARe they water or lipid soluble?
water soluble
Eicosanoid hormones = made from fatty acids (oxygenation makes it polar)
◦ e.g., prostaglandins
how are water-soluble hormones transported in the blood
since they are hydrophilic they travel freely in blood
what are the steps in the action of water-soluble hormones?
- binding of hormone (first messenger) to its receptor activates G protein which activates adenylate cyclase
- Activated adenylate cyclase
converts ATP to cAMP, which
serves as a second messenger
to activate protein kinases - Activated protein
kinases phosphorylate
cellular proteins - Millions of phosphorylated
proteins cause reactions that
produce physiological responses
A major difference between lipid-soluble
hormones and water-soluble hormones is
a) Lipid-soluble hormones bind to receptors; water-soluble
hormones don’t
b) Water-soluble hormones bind to receptors; lipid-soluble
hormones don’t
c) Lipid-soluble hormones increase metabolism; water-soluble
hormones decrease metabolism
d) Lipid-soluble hormones enter the cell; water-soluble hormones
don’t
D
Which chemical class of hormones is NOT
matched correctly?
a) Nitric oxide – lipid soluble
b) Steroids – lipid soluble
c) T3 and T4 – water soluble
d) Catecholamines – water soluble
C
Which gland or organ is not strictly classified
as an endocrine gland?
a) Thyroid gland
b) Adrenal gland
c) Pancreas
d) Pineal gland
c) pancreas
what things can trigger the release of hormones from glands
(it’s usually other hormones)
- Humoral stimuli
- Hormone is released in direct response to changing levels of certain chemicals
in blood or body fluids - Neural stimuli
◦ Nerve impulses can trigger the release of hormones from certain glands - Hormonal stimuli
◦ Hormones can be released in response to other hormones
describe the regulation of hormones secretion? (feedback systems)
Most hormonal regulatory systems work
via negative feedback, but a few operate
via positive feedback
describe hormone secretion
how often released
Release of most hormones occurs in short bursts, with little/no secretion
between bursts.
When stimulated, an endocrine gland will release its hormone in more frequent
bursts, increasing its concentration in the blood
what happens in the absence of stimulation?
hormones
The blood level of the hormone decreases
Which of the following is NOT true?
a) Secretion of hormones occurs in short bursts
b) Signals from the nervous system regulate hormone secretion
c) Chemical changes in the blood may determine concentration of
hormone release
d) Most hormone systems function under a positive feedback
system
D)
hat does the hypothalamus regulate?
endocrine system
The hypothalamus is part of the brain
The hypothalamus regulates the autonomic nervous system, body temperature,
thirst, hunger, sexual behaviour, fear, anger
what does the hypothalamus link and what gland does it control?
The hypothalamus links the
nervous and endocrine
systems
It controls the pituitary gland
through the production of 9 (or
more) different hormones
how does the hypothalamus know when to produce hormones?
Hypothalamus receives signals from different parts of brain
It then sends signals to the pituitary gland, which produces several hormones
that regulate many body functions
what is the function of the infundibulum?
The infundibulum
attaches the pituitary
gland to the
hypothalamus
describe the structure of the pituitary gland
The pituitary gland attaches to
the hypothalamus and has two
anatomically and functionally
separate lobes
what are the steps of activating the anterior pituitary gland
- The hypothalamus secretes
hormones to activate the
anterior pituitary gland - The anterior pituitary gland (adenohypophysis) secretes
hormones in response to hypothalamic hormones
how are hypothalamic hormones delivred to the pituitary gland?
what are the two steps?
Hypothalamic hormones are
delivered to the anterior
pituitary gland via the
hypophyseal portal system -
A portal system connects two
capillary beds together
- Neurosecretory cells
release hormones into the
primary plexus of the
hypophyseal portal system - Hormones go from the
primary plexus to the
secondary plexus of the
hypophyseal portal system
describe the relation between human growth hormone and insulin-like growth factors
what happens when there is hypersecretion of hGH before closing of the epiphyseal plates (in childhood)
Hypersecretion of hGH before closing of epiphyseal plates
(in childhood) causes gigantism. Abnormally tall, but well
proportioned