Endocrine Glands Flashcards
Name the endocrine glands in the body
- hypothalamus
- pituitary gland
- thyroid gland
- Islets of Langerhans (in pancreas)
- adrenal gland
What is the hypothalamus?
The hypothalamus is part of the brain, situated above the pituitary gland.
What does the hypothalamus do?
It secretes, amongst others, the hormone ADH (anti-diuretic hormone)
What does ADH stand for?
Anti-diuretic hormone
When is ADH released?
When the osmoreceptors in the blood vessels of the hypothalamus detect an increase in the osmolarity of the blood.
What is osmolarity?
Low water levels
What does ADH do?
ADH helps to conserve water if the body is dehydrated.
How does ADH conserve water?
By causing more water to be reabsorbed back into the blood from the collecting ducts of the kidney, so less water is lost in urine.
Where is the pituitary gland situated?
It is attached to the hypothalamus at the base of the brain by a short stalk.
What is another name for the pituitary?
The hypophysis
What does the pituitary gland do?
It acts as the chemical coordinator of most of the other endocrine glands and is therefore often called the ‘master gland’.
What is an endocrine gland?
A vascular, ductless gland that secretes hormones which are carried in the bloodstream to their target organs
What does vascular mean?
Richly supplied with blood vessels
