Endocrine & Immune

Question 1

6 stages of disease acc to Ayurveda?

Answer 1

1/ Accumulation (quantitative, imbalance, not doing enough of the opposite)
2/ Aggravation (qualitative)
3/ Dissemination
4/ Localization (tissue, disrupts function of tissue/organ)
5/ Manifestation (symptoms)
6/ Chronicity/disruption (body’s natural repair mechanisms cannot reverse it).

Question 2

Definition of endocrine system?

Answer 2

Series of ductless glands that produce & secrete hormones that the body uses for a wide range of functions, sent into bloodstream to the various tissues, which send signals to targeted tissues (receptors) to tell them what they are supposed to do.

Question 3

Name the 8 main endocrine glands + 4 other ones

Answer 3

Pineal, Pituitary, Thyroid, Thymus, Adrenal, Pancreas, Testes, Ovary.
Hypothalamus, Parathyroid, Kidney, Uterus.

Question 4

3 hormones produced by adrenal cortex?

Answer 4

Mineralocorticoids (salt & water levels), Glucocorticoids (cortisol), Testosterone.

Question 5

3 hormones produced by adrenal medulla?

Answer 5

Adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine.

Question 6

Particularity of hypothalamus?

Answer 6

Gate to other systems, link between nervous & endocrine systems.

Question 7

What is a gland?

Answer 7

Organ which produces & releases substances that perform a specific function in the body

Question 8

Similarities & differences between hormones & neurotransmitters?

Answer 8

Similarities = chemicals 
H = transmitted in bloodstream, large area, long time, whole body, slow (hrs weeks mo), variable concentration, long-distance communication
N = transmitted via NS, only synapses, in that moment, between neurons, quick (ms), all or nothing, neuron communication

Question 9

8 exocrine glands? Functioning?

Answer 9

Release their product through a duct, not part of endocrine system

Sweat
Salivary
Mammary (milk)
Seruminous (wax)
Lacrimal (tear)
Sebaceous (sebum)
Prostate (semen)
Mucous (nose…)

Question 10

9 organs that produce hormones?

Answer 10

1/ adipose tissue
2/ hypothalamus
3/ kidneys
4/ ovaries
5/ stomach
6/ intestines
7/ pancreas
8/ heart
9/ pancreas

Question 11

6 chemicals that can be hormone or neurotransmitter?

Answer 11

adrenaline
noradrenaline
oxytocin
vasopressin
serotonin
dopamine

Question 12

Define hormone

Answer 12

substance that instructs or sends signals to cells in any part of the body to regulate physiological behaviors

Question 13

Define placebo effect

Answer 13

cannot trick hypothalamus except when belief is so powerful that the physiology changes

Question 14

Define acute stress

Answer 14

extremely stressful event which demand immediate physical & physiological adaptations in order to survive (accidents, violent attacks, nature disaster)

Question 15

Define chronic stress & its 2 characteristics

Answer 15

regular experiences that become central events in our lives & which require long-term physical & psychological stamina.
1/ Stressor 1 = what knocks you out of your homeostatic balance 1st arrow = event
2/ Stressor 2 = thoughts of anticipation of what might happen. 2nd arrow we inflict ourselves = scenarios about future (what we tell ourselves)

Question 16

What is a stress response? 8 negative aspects of activation? 3 ex of long-term activation? 9 positive aspects of deactivation?

Answer 16

what your body do to re-establish homeostasis 
Activation:
* stress hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol)
* rapid mobilization of energy ready to use (glucose, AA, fatty acids)
* rapid delivery of these sources to critical muscles 
* heart rate up
* BP up
* breathing rate up
* senses sharper
* some aspects of memory improved
Long-term activation:
* stress dwarfism
* stress amenorrhea
* interrupted healing
Deactivation:
* digestion
* growth
* reproduction
* tissue repair
* sexual drive
* sensory receptors of pain
* some aspects of memory inhibited
* immunity
* insulin production
Impossible activation:
*

Question 17

What is a stress response? 8 negative aspects of activation? 3 ex of long-term activation? 9 positive aspects of deactivation?

Answer 17

-> what your body do to re-establish homeostasis => allostasis

Activation:

• stress hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol)
• rapid mobilization of energy ready to use (glucose, AA, fatty acids)
• rapid delivery of these sources to critical muscles
• heart rate up
• BP up
• breathing rate up
• senses sharper
• some aspects of memory improved

Long-term activation:

• stress dwarfism
• stress amenorrhea
• interrupted healing

Deactivation:

• digestion
• growth
• reproduction
• tissue repair
• sexual drive
• sensory receptors of pain
• some aspects of memory inhibited
• immunity
• insulin production

Impossible activation:

• Addison’s disease / Shy-Drager syndrome
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• auto-immune diseases
• some depressions
• PTSD

Question 18

Pineal gland: localization, specificities, 3 functions, YT

Answer 18

Localization : epithalamus
Specificities: contains high levels of calcium
Functions:
* melatonin -> circadian clock, changes throughout the day -> endocrine clock, sleep cycle
* digestive & sex hormones
* healing…
YT:
* no screen at night
* active practice in daylight, yoga nidra at night time

Question 19

Hypothalamus = 3 functions, 7 hormones released,

Answer 19

Localization:
Functions:
* real master gland??
* maintains homeostasis
* responds to signals from internal & external environments (body temperature, hunger, feelings of being full after eating, thirst, BP, levels of hormones in circulation, stress, controls daily bodily rhythms (melatonin) -> collects, combines info & put changes in place to correct imbalances
* LINK BETWEEN NERVOUS & ENDOCRINE SYSTEMS part of NS / brain, nerve cells produce hormones, sends them to pituitary which releases hormones in bloodstream > neurosecretion = storage, synthesis & release of hormones from neurons -> neurohormones, produced by neurosecretory cells, normally secreted from nerve cells in the brain that then circulate into the blood => non consensus if it is a gland

7 hormones:

• antidiuretic hormone
• oxytocyn
• thyroid control hormones
• adrenal cortex control hormones
• growth hormone
• corticotrophin-releasing hormone
• dopamine

7 causes of imbalance:
head trauma, brain tumor, infection, surgery, radiation, significant weight loss

4 signs of imbalance:
energy balance, thermoregulation, disorganized body rhythms (insomnia), diabetes insipidus (lack of anti-diuretic hormone -> kidneys unable to reabsorb water -> excessive P° of clear urine & very large amounts of drinking (no excessive blood sugar)

Question 20

In which order should we prioritize finding balance back in glands?

Answer 20

1/ hypothalamus 2/ pituitary 3/ targeted organs

Question 21

3 pituitaries / hypophisis: 8 functions, 3 imbalances

Answer 21

1/ anterior
* adrenocorticoid hormone -> stimulates adrenal glands to secret steroid hormones, mainly cortisol
* growth hormone -> regulates growth, metabolism & body composition
* luteinising hormone + FSH -> act on ovaries / testes to stimulate sex hormone P°, egg / sperm maturity
* prolactin -> milk P°
* TSH -> stimulates thyroid gland to secret thyroid hormones
2/ posterior
* anti-diuretic hormone (vasopressin) -> controls water balance & BP
* oxytocyn -> stimulates uterine contractions during labor & milk secretion for breastfeeding
3/ intermediate
* melanocyte-stimulating hormone (melanin)

Imbalances:

• overproduction (Cushing’s disease - cortisol, pituitary or adrenal tumor)
• underproduction (diabetes insipidus)
• conditions that alter size / shape of pituitary (inflammation, shrunken…)

Question 22

Adrenals: 2 parts’ 6 functions, specificity related to stress & diagnosis, 13 imbalances

Answer 22

1/ cortex
* mineralocorticoids (body’s salt & water levels which regulate BP, issues -> excessive sodium loss (very frequent urination) -> dehydration + low BP + glucose levels + immune system)
* glucocorticoids (cortisol -> response to illness & long-term stress, stimulates to make glucose for energy, anti-inflammatory effects)
* adrenal male sex hormone -> testosterone (on top of testes -> also in women -> libido, tone of voice, body strength…)
2/ medulla (center)
* adrenaline
* noradrenaline
* dopamine (small amounts)

Specificities

• dvped in fetus at 6 weeks -> has capacity to be stressed
• not an accepted medical diagnosis

13 imbalances:

• changes in BP
• headaches
• bloated face & body, water retention, obesity / excessive weight loss, thirst & dehydration
• diabetes, low blood sugar
• excessive facial hair, hair loss
• anxiety, depression
• loss of menstruation, infertility
• muscle weakness, growth failure in children
• inflammation, infections, inability to heal wounds
• fatigue
• abdominal pain
• changes in skin pigmentation
• nausea…

Question 23

How many medically recognized endocrine conditions?

Answer 23

75

Question 24

How many hormones circulating in the body?

Answer 24

50

Question 25

Role of inhibitor?

Answer 25

reduce or stop an action / stop the release of a hormone

Question 26

Name the 2 ES disorders reviewed in the course?

Answer 26

Arthritis (rheumatoid)
Diabetes Mellitus (type II)

Question 27

Name the 8 IS disorders reviewed in the course?

Answer 27

Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Systemic Lupus Erytematosus
Raynaud
Sjögren’s syndrome
Myasthenia gravis
Psoriasis
Vasculitis
IBD

Question 28

Difference osteoarthritis & RA ?

Answer 28

!!! can have both

OA

• degenerative disease, cause -> wear & tear of joints
• asymmetrical
• not systemic
• starts w/ hands, knees, hips, spine
• pain during mvt

RA

• AI disease, cause -> antibodies attacking inner linings of joint
• symmetrical
• systemic
• starts w/ smaller joints (fingers, toes)
• pain during rest (night)

Question 29

How many types of arthritis? 4 most common?

Answer 29

100.

• osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis)
• RA (autoimmune) ++ female
• gout ++ male, high levels of uric acid in blood curate crystals in joint
• psoriatic arthritis (autoimmune, skin + joints), about 1/3 of people w/ psoriasis will dvp it, swelling in fingers & toes

Question 30

Describe the main process & the 4 stages of RA?

Answer 30

White blood cells move into joints, release cytokines which attack synovial membrane (synovium) -> synovial pannus (membrane grows & invades cartilage), build up in joint (swelling) -> joint space narrows -> ankylosis (joint fusion)

Stages of RA
1/ body mistakenly attacks its own joint tissue
2/ body makes antibodies & joints start swelling up
3/ joints start becoming bent & deformed, can cause nerve pain
4/ fused joint = mobility can be very irritating

Question 31

What joints & organs are concerned w/ RA?

Answer 31

Joints: wrists, hands, knees, ankles & feet
Organs: eyes, skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, NS, digestive tract

Question 32

Describe the 7 RA signs.

Answer 32

• pain, ache, swollen joints
• joint stiffness (++ morning, inactivity)
• tenderness, swelling, redness in joints
• loss of appetite, weight loss
• fever
• fatigue, tiredness
• weakness

Question 33

Describe the RA treatments.

Answer 33

• medication to slow down joint damage = NDAIDs non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, standards Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs DMARDs, biologic DMARDs
• physical therapy, low impact exercise
• surgery: arthroplasty, arthrodesis (joint fusion), synovectomy (synovial membrane removed), joint replacement

Question 34

What is a systemic disease?

Answer 34

can affect whole body (heart, lungs, muscles, cartilage, ligaments)