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Human Biology Unit 3 > Chapter 2- Chemical Messengers > Flashcards

Chapter 2- Chemical Messengers Flashcards

1
Q

What is an exocrine gland?

A

A gland that secretes into a duct that carries the secretion to the surface or to one of the body cavities.

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2
Q

What is an endocrine gland?

A

A gland that secretes hormones directly into adjacent tissue; also called a ductless gland.

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3
Q

What is a hormone?

A

A chemical that is secreted by an endocrine gland and that affects the functioning of a cell or organ; often carried in the blood.

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4
Q

What is a target cell?

A

A cell whose activity is affected by a particular hormone.

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5
Q

What is a target organ?

A

An organ whose activity is affected by a particular hormone.

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6
Q

What is enzyme amplification?

A

A series of chemical reactions in which the product of one step is an enzyme that produces an even greater number of product molecules at the next step.

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7
Q

What is a releasing factor?

A

A hormone whose purpose is to control the release of another hormone.

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8
Q

What is an inhibiting factor?

A

A hormone that slows down the release of another hormone.

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9
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A

The part of the brain lying just below the thalamus; controls many homeostatic mechanisms, such as body temperature, water balance and heart rate.

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10
Q

What is the pituitary gland?

A

An endocrine gland located below the brain; joined to the hypothalamus by a stalk called the infundibulum.

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11
Q

What is the infundibulum?

A

The stalk-like structure joining the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus.

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12
Q

What are gonadotropin?

A

The hormones that affect the sex organs.

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13
Q

What is follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)?

A

A hormone that stimulates the development of follicles in the ovaries in females and that stimulates the production and maturation of sperm in males.

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14
Q

What is luteinising hormone (LH)?

A

The hormone that brings about ovulation in females, as well as the formation of the corpus luteum. In the male, LH stimulates the interstitial cells in the testes to secrete male sex hormones.

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15
Q

What is growth hormone (GH)?

A

A hormone that stimulates body cells to grow and multiply, especially the skeleton and skeletal muscles, by increasing the rate at which amino acids are taken up by the cells.

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16
Q

What is thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)?

A

A hormone that stimulates the production and release of hormones from the thyroid; also known as thyrotropin.

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17
Q

What is adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)?

A

A hormone which controls the production and release of some of the hormones from the cortex of the adrenal glands.

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18
Q

What is prolactin (PRL)?

A

A hormone that promotes milk production in females.

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19
Q

What hormones are secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary?

A

Gonadotropins, including FSH and LH, growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone and prolactin.

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20
Q

What is oxytocin?

A

The hormone that stimulates the contraction of the uterus during childbirth and the release of milk during breastfeeding.

21
Q

What is antidiuretic hormone (ADH)?

A

Also called vasopressin, a hormone that promotes the reabsorption of water in the kidneys. It can also cause the constriction of arterioles.

22
Q

What hormones are released by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland?

A

Oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone.

23
Q

What is the pineal gland?

A

A small gland, about the size of a pea in children, found deep within the brain; in adults it is just a tiny lump of fibrous tissue; the functions of the hormones it secretes have still not been identified. It reduces in size after puberty.

24
Q

What is melatonin?

A

A hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland and is involved in regulation of sleep patterns.

25
Q

What is the thyroid gland?

A

An endocrine gland, consisting of two lobes, located in the neck just below the larynx; secretes the hormones thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine.

26
Q

What is thyroxine?

A

A hormone secreted by the thyroid gland that regulates metabolism, growth and development.

27
Q

What is a parathyroid gland?

A

One of usually four small gland about the size of a small pea embedded in he rear surface of the thyroid gland; secretes parathormone (PTH).

28
Q

What is parathormone?

A

Also parathyroid hormone; a hormone that controls calcium and phosphate levels in the blood.

29
Q

What is the thymus?

A

An endocrine gland located in the chest, just above the heart and behind the sternum; secretes a group of hormones called thymosins.

30
Q

What are thymosins?

A

A group of hormones secreted by the thymus that stimulate the immune system by helping the maturation of T-cells.

31
Q

What are the adrenal glands?

A

Two endocrine glands that sit immediately above each kidney; each consist of an inner adrenal medulla and an outer adrenal cortex.

32
Q

What is the adrenal medulla?

A

The inner portion of an adrenal gland; secretes the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline.

33
Q

What is the adrenal cortex?

A

The outer portion of an adrenal gland; secretes the hormones cortisol and aldosterone.

34
Q

What is adrenaline?

A

A hormone secreted from the adrenal medulla that prepares the body for the fight-or-flight responses; also called epinephrine.

35
Q

What is noradrenaline?

A

A hormone secreted from the adrenal medulla that has effects similar to those of adrenaline; in particular, it increases the rate and force of the heartbeat; also called norepinephrine.

36
Q

What are corticosteroids?

A

A group of more than 20 hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex; the two main hormones are aldosterone and cortisol.

37
Q

What is aldosterone?

A

A hormone that acts on the kidney to reduce the amount of sodium in the urine and increase the amount of potassium.

38
Q

What is cortisol?

A

A hormone that, along with related hormones, promotes normal metabolism.

39
Q

What is the pancreas?

A

A gland that lies just below the stomach; both an endocrine and exocrine gland; secretes digestive enzymes from the exocrine cells and the hormones insulin and glucagon from endocrine cells.

40
Q

What are islets of Langerhans?

A

Clusters of endocrine cells in the pancreas; secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon.

41
Q

What is insulin?

A

A hormone, secreted by the pancreas, that decreases blood sugar levels.

42
Q

What is glucagon?

A

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that increases blood sugar levels.

43
Q

What are the gonads.

A

The testes and the ovaries.

44
Q

What is an androgen?

A

Any of the male sex hormones produced by he tested; responsible for the development and maintenance of the male sex characteristics.

45
Q

What is oestrogen?

A

A female sex hormone; develops or maintains female reproductive structures and regulates menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

46
Q

What is progesterone?

A

A female sex hormone produced by the ovaries; helps prepare the uterine lining for a fertilised egg; also prepares mammary glands for milk secretion.

47
Q

What is erythropoietin (EPO)?

A

A hormone that stimulates production of red blood cells by the bone marrow.

48
Q

What are some other tissues that secrete hormones?

A

The stomach, small intestine, kidneys, heart and the placenta.

Human Biology Unit 3 (2 decks)

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