Chapter 2.2 - Hypothalamus and Pituitary gland ✓ Flashcards
What glands are considered as the command centre of the body?
The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
What two systems are connected via the hypothalamus?
The nervous and endocrine system
What does the hypothalamus regulate?
Basic functions of the body like regulating body temperature, water balance and heart rate.
Where is the hypothalamus located?
Its located at the base of the brain, below the thalamus and and above the pituitary gland. (size of an almond)
What gland carries out most of the hypothalamus functions?
The pituitary gland
Define releasing factor
A hormone whose purpose is to control the release of another hormone.
Define inhibiting factor
A hormone that slows the release of another hormone.
Which gland is the inhibiting and releasing factors secreted from?
The hypothalamus
How do hormones travel around in the body?
In the blood stream
Where do the inhibiting and releasing factors go after being produced/secreted and why?
They travel through blood vessels to the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland because they regulate the secretion of its hormones
Which pathway do hypothalamic hormones take to reach the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and why do they go to the posterior lobe?
Hypothalamic hormones travel along nerve fibres to the posterior lobe where the hormones are stored and later released into the bloodstream.
What does the infundibulum connect and what does it contain?
Its connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland and it contains both blood vessels and nerve fibres.
What does the pituitary gland consist of?
The anterior and posterior lobe
What hormones are secreted from the anterior gland?
-Gonadotropins
-Growth hormone (GH)
-Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
-Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
-Prolactin (PRL)
Why is the posterior lobe not considered a endocrine gland?
Because it dose not secrete hormones, instead it stores and releases hormones.
What controls the secretions of the anterior lobe?
The inhibiting and releasing factors secreted by the hypothalamus
What affects does the Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) have on the body of both males and females?
In males, FSH stimulates the production and maturation of sperm in the testes.
In females, FSH stimulates development of the follicles that contain eggs in the ovary.
What affects does the Luteinising hormone (LH) have on the body of both males and females?
In males, LH stimulates interstitial cells in the testes to secrete male sex hormones e.g. testosterone.
In females, LH works to bring about ovulation and to form the corpus luteum after ovulation.
What affects does Growth Hormone (GH) have on the body?
It stimulates both growth, particularly growth of the skeleton
What affects does Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) have on the body?
It stimulates production and release of hormones from the thyroid gland
What affects does Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) have on the body?
It controls production and release of some of the hormones from the cortex of the adrenal gland
What affects does Prolactin (PRL) have on the body?
It works with other hormones to initiate and maintain milk production in females.
Label the diagram of the hypothalamus (look at the tab)
Check textbook pg 33 for answers
What hormones does the posterior lobe release and what are their functions?
-Oxytocin (OT): Two functions, stimulates contraction of the uterus during labour and also stimulates release of milk by contracting the cells in the mammary glands. (target organs: Uterus and Mammary glands)
-Antidiuretic hormone (ADH): It causes the kidney to remove water from the urine that is forming it so it helps retain fluid within the body.
