Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

MCAT Prep > Endocrine and Nervous Systems > Flashcards

Endocrine and Nervous Systems Flashcards

1
Q

What are the key things the endocrine system regulates?

A

metabolism and fluid retention

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

tropic hormones

A

cause other hormones to be released

allows for careful control of a system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

hypothalamus and location

A

bridges the nervous system’s signals to the endocrine system’s hormones

located below the thamalus and above the pituitary gland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

anterior pituitary

A

receives hormonal signals from hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

posterior pituitary

A

receives neuronal signals from hypothalamus

releases ADH to regulate fluid balance and oxytocin for labor contractions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

thyroid

A

releases thyroid hormones which affect metabolism and behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Where are the adrenal glands located?

A

kidneys

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

two regions of adrenal glands and what they secrete

A

adrenal cortex: cortisol (long-term stress)

adrenal medulla: epinephrine and norepinephrine (acute stress)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

GnRH

A

tropic hormone released from hypothalamus

eventually affects reproduction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

when can testosterone increase?

A

after winning a competition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

oxytocin

A

promotes uterine contractions during labor

great example of positive feedback

more oxytocin means more contractions which means more oxytocin

has psychological effects for bonding - “cuddle” hormone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what releases oxytocin?

A

posterior pituitary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what psychological effects does oxytocin have?

A

bonding and affection

considered the “cuddle” hormone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

prolactin

A

promotes lactation and moderates stress and anxiety

secreted by anterior pituitary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what can low levels of prolactin lead to psychologically?

A

PPD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

melatonin

A

induces sleep with circadian rhythms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

leptin

A

reduces hunger

released by adipose cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

ghrelin

A

promotes hunger

released by stomach cells

stomach “growling” is ghrelin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Where do leptin and ghrelin act?

A

on the hypothalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

NPY

A

stimulates appetite and increases food intake

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

cortisol

A

secreted by the adrenal cortex

increases blood sugar levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

thyroid hormones

A

promote metabolism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what can hypothyroidism lead to?

A

fatigue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

where are neurotransmitters recieved?

A

at dendrites of neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
where are neurotransmitters stored and released from?
axon terminal of neurons
26
what is the resting potential and polarization needed to fire a neuron?
resting potential: -70mV firing threshold: -55 mV
27
Neuromuscular junction
synapse between motor neuron and muscle used in reflexes
28
acetylcholine
tells muscles to contract sent across neuromuscular junction
29
excitatory neurotransmitters
depolarize the electric potential of target neuron less negative, and more likely to send signal
30
does a neuron fire if it gets more polarized or depolarized?
depolarized (less negative) will fire
31
inhibitory neurotransmitters
hyper-polarize the electric potential of target neuron more negative, and less likely to send signal
32
what else does acetylcholine do besides muscle contraction?
communicates between central nervous system and autonomic nervous system sends signals in parasympathetic system
33
glutamate and GABA
glutamate: excitatory neurotransmitter GABA: inhibitory neurotransmitter
34
dopamine
involved in reward pathways (can lead to drug addiction) mediates motor function
35
seratonin
regulates mood, appetite, sleep, and intestinal movement
36
SSRIs
keep serotonin in synapses longer used to treat depression do not create more serotonin
37
endorphins
suppress pain and produce euphoria runner's high generates endorphins
38
agonist
compound that activates a certain receptor, causing a response might not be the primary ligand of a receptor
39
antagonist
bind a receptor but not not cause a response blocks agonists
40
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
41
peripheral nervous system
nerves that send and receives signals to and from central nervous system
42
somatic nervous system
controls voluntary activities and skeletal movement subdivision of PNS
43
autonomic nervous system
controls unconscious, automatic activities subdivision of PNS
44
parasympathetic nervous system
rest and digest system vasodilation of GI tract vasoconstriction of skeletal muscles pupils constrict
45
vasodilation
increases blood flow to an area
46
vasoconstriction
decreases blood flow to an area
47
sympathetic nervous system
flight or fight response vasodilation of skeletal muscles (can run or fight) vasoconstriction of GI tract pupils dillate epinephrine increases blood glucose levels heart rate increases
48
epinephrine
released from adrenal medulla on kidney increases blood glucose levels part of sympathetic nervous system and acute stress response
49
enteric nervous system
regulates gut subdivision of autonomic nervous system
50
what do efferent neurons secrete?
acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions to effect the muscle and cause contraction
51
nociceptors
also known as pain receptors are found in abundance in the skin
52
What types of hormones do the pituitary glands release?
peptide hormones
53
Thyroid hormone pathway
TRH from hypothalamus TSH from anterior pituitary T3 and T4 from thyroid
54
Reproductive hormone pathway
GnRH from hypothalamus LH + FSH from anterior pituitary Reproductive organs respond
55
Corticosteroid hormone pathway
CRH from hypothalamus ACTH from anterior pituitary Corticosterioids are produced from adrenal cortex
56
Growth hormone pathway
GHRH from hypothalamus | GH - growth hormone
57
What hormones does anterior pituitary produce independently of hypothalamus?
prolactin and endorphins
58
What do the parathyroid glands release?
parathyroid hormone (PTH) which raises calcium levels in the blood
59
What hormones does the thyroid release?
T3 and T4 | calcitonin
60
What does the adrenal cortex secrete?
1) cortisol 2) aldosterone 3) sex hormones
61
What does aldosterone do?
promotes fluid retention by increasing Na+ uptake in collecting duct and distal convoluted tubule
62
What does adrenal medulla secrete?
secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine
63
What type of hormones are epinephrine and norepinehpine?
amino acid derived hormones | specifically, catecholamines
64
Where is insulin secreted?
from the beta cells of the pancreas
65
Where is glucagon secreted?
from the alpha cells of the pancreas
66
Where is somatostatin secreted?
the delta cells of the pancreas
67
Somatostatin
slows down digestion
68
pineal gland
secretes melatonin found in the brain
69
ANP
produced by cardiac muscles decreases BP by promoting fluid loss
70
Hormones secreted by the digestive system
1) gastin 2) secretin 3) CCK
71
secretin
small intestine tells pancreas to secrete bicarbonate to neutralize the acidic chyme
72
CCK
stimulates the release of hydrolytic enzymes from pancreas and bile from liver
73
What does parathyroid hormone do?
raises Ca2+ levels tells osteoclasts to break down bone
74
What does calcitonin do?
lowers calcium levels
75
What does vitamin D do?
helps increase Ca2+ levels
76
ACE inhibitors
medication that stop aldosterone production to help lower high BP hypertension medication
77
How does aldosterone specifically work?
Increases Na+ concentration in nephron's collecting duct and distal conducting tube Water follows by osmosis into blood Na+ concentration is raises by increasing K+ secreted
78
What does ADH do? How?
increases BP/blood volume places more aquaporins in collecting duct
79
How does ANP work?
does the opposite of aldosterone and increases fluid loss lowers BP

MCAT Prep (22 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions