Endocrine Flashcards
Pituitary Gland
A. Anterior Pituitary Gland
B. Posterior Pituitary Gland
Uses chemical messages (hormones) that are
released into the blood
Endocrine System
Amino acid-based hormones
Proteins
Peptides
Amines
made from cholesterol
Steroids
made from highly active lipids
Prostaglandins
- Diffuse through the plasma membrane of target cells
- Enter the nucleus
- Bind to a specific protein within the nucleus
- Bind to specific sites on the cell’s DNA
- Activate genes that result in synthesis of new proteins
Steroid Hormone Action
Non-steroid Hormone Action
1. Hormone binds to a membrane receptor
2. Hormone does not enter the cell
3. Sets off a series of reactions that activates an enzyme
4. Catalyzes a reaction that produces a second messenger molecule
5. Oversees additional intracellular changes to promote a specific response
Non-steroid Hormone Action
Hormone levels in the blood are
maintained by
negative feedback
low hormone levels in the blood triggers the release of
more hormone
A stimulus
release stops once an appropriate level in the blood is
reached
Hormone
- Endocrine glands are activated by other
hormones
Hormonal Stimuli of Endocrine Glands
- Nerve impulses stimulate hormone release
- Most are under control of the sympathetic
nervous system
Neural Stimuli of Endocrine Glands
- Changing blood levels of certain ions
stimulate hormone release
Humoral Stimuli of Endocrine Glands
- Pea-sized
- Hangs by a stalk from the hypothalamus
- Surrounded by the sella turcica (“Turk’s saddle”) of the sphenoid bone
Pituitary Gland
– glandular tissue
Anterior pituitary
nervous tissue
Posterior pituitary
- General metabolic hormone
- Major effects are directed to growth of skeletal muscles and long bones
Growth Hormone (GH)
- Stimulates and maintains milk production following childbirth
- Function in males is unknown
Prolactin (PRL)
➢ Regulate hormonal activity of the gonads
Gonadotropic Hormones
Stimulates follicle development (ovaries)and sperm development (testes)
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Triggers ovulation (females) and testosterone production (males)
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Regulates endocrine activity of the adrenal cortex
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Influences growth and activity of the thyroid
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Release of hormones is controlled by
releasing and inhibiting hormones produced
by the hypothalamus
Pituitary - Hypothalamus Relationship
produces two hormones that
are transported to neurosecretory cells of
the posterior pituitary
Hypothalamus
- Stimulates contractions of the uterus during
labor - Causes milk ejection
Oxytocin
- Can inhibit urine production
- In large amounts, causes vasoconstriction
leading to increased blood pressure
(vasopressin)
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)