Endocrine & Nervous System Health

Question 1

What are the organs & glands of the endocrine system

Answer 1

Pituitary gland, hypothalamus, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, adrenal glands, pancreas, gonads, pineal gland, gastrointestinal tract

Question 2

Explain the pituitary gland

Answer 2

It’s at the base of the brain and is called the “master gland” bc it regulates other endocrine glands including thyroid, adrenal glands, and gonads. It’s divided into anterior and posterior sections and produces growth hormones, prolactin, and oxytocin

Question 3

Explain the hypothalumus

Answer 3

The hypothalamus links the nervous system and endocrine system and produces releasing and inhibiting hormones. It controls the pituitary gland’s secretion and regulates body temp, hunger, and thirst

Question 4

Explain the thyroid gland

Answer 4

It’s located in the neck and shaped like a butterfly. It produces hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). It regulates metabolism, supports energy production and facilitates growth

Question 5

Explain the parathyroid glands

Answer 5

Parathyroid glands are small glands on the thyroid gland. They produce the parathyroid hormone (PTH), regulate calcium levels in the blood, and support bone metabolism.

Question 6

Explain the adrenal glands

Answer 6

The adrenal glands are positioned atop the kidneys. They produce cortisol (stress response), aldosterone (regulates blood pressure), and epinephrine (adrenaline - fight or flight response)

Question 6

Explain the pancreas

Answer 6

The pancreas endocrine produces hormones that regulate blood sugar levels (insulin lowers blood sugar; glucagon raises blood sugar). Pancreas exocrine involves digestive enzyme production

Question 6

What is the hormone gastrin

Answer 6

Gastrin stimulates acid production in the stomach

Question 6

Explain the gonads

Answer 6

The gonads in the ovaries produce sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone. The gonads in the testes produce testosterone

Question 6

Explain the pineal gland

Answer 6

The pineal gland is a small gland located in the brain that secretes melatonin which is a hormone that regulate sleep-wake cycles and influences circadian rhythms.

Question 7

Explain the GI Tract

Answer 7

Not traditionally considered an endocrine gland but produces hormones and signaling molecules. Key hormones include: gastrin, cholecystokinin, secretin, ghrelin, leptin

Question 7

What is the hormone cholecystokinin

Answer 7

Cholecystokinin stimulates bile release and digestion of fats

Question 7

What is the hormone ghrelin

Answer 7

Ghrelin stimulates hunger and food intake

Question 7

What is the hormone secretin

Answer 7

Secretin stimulates the release of bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid

Question 8

What is the hormone leptin

Answer 8

Leptin regulates energy balance and suppresses appetite

Question 9

What are feedback loops

Answer 9

Feedback loops are how endocrine glands “talk” to each other and there are two primary types: negative & positive

Question 10

What is negative feedback

Answer 10

Negative feedback is a regulatory mechanism that helps maintain homeostasis in the body. It counteracts changes in a variable to bring it back to a set point or normal range

Question 11

What is positive feedback

Answer 11

Positive feedback is a physiological mechanism that amplifies a change or response in the body. It moves the body further away from its starting state rather than maintaining homeostasis. It enhances & accelerates a process. Often leads to a definitive outcome such as childbirth or blood clotting

Question 12

Components of positive & negative feedback loops

Answer 12

Stimulus, sensor/receptor, control center, effector, response

Question 13

Hormonal interactions: syngerstic example

Answer 13

Insulin & glucagon work together to maintain glucose homeostasis

Question 14

Hormonal interactions: antagonistic example

Answer 14

Cortisol and insulin have opposing effects on glucose metabolism

Question 15

Acetylchloline (ACh) Central nervous system functions

Answer 15

Memory, aids in learning, regulates attention, arousal, reward pathways

Question 16

Acetylchloline (ACh) Peripheral nervous system functions

Answer 16

Essential for muscle contraction and regulates autonomic functions like heart rate and digestion

Question 17

Dopamine Central nervous system functions

Answer 17

Regulates mood, involved in reward & pleasure, aids motor control, plays a role in motivation and reinforcement

Question 18

Dopamine Peripheral nervous system functions

Answer 18

Influences hormone release and regulates movement & coordination

Question 19

Serotonin Central nervous system functions

Answer 19

Affects mood, regulates anxiety & happiness, plays a role in sleep regulation, influences appetite and digestion

Question 20

Serotonin Peripheral nervous system functions

Answer 20

Regulates gastro functions, involved in cardio & immune system function

Question 21

Norepinephrine/Epinephrine (Noradrenaline/Adrenaline) CNS Function

Answer 21

Attention & focus, stress response, mood regulation, norephinephrine is the main hormone released from the locus coeruleus (pons of the brainstem)

Question 22

Norepinephrine/Epinephrine (Noradrenaline/Adrenaline) PNS Function

Answer 22

Increases heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar; prepares body for “fight or flight”, epinephrine is the main hormone released from the medulla of the adrenal glands

Question 23

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) CNS Function

Answer 23

Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, reduces neuronal excitability, helps regulate anxiety & stress

Question 24

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) PNS Function

Answer 24

Influences muscle tone, plays a role in various physiological processes

Question 25

Glutamate CNS Function

Answer 25

Main excitatory neurotransmitter, crucial for synaptic plasticity, involved in learning & memory

Question 26

Endorphins CNS Function

Answer 26

Act as natural pain relievers, involved in feelings of pleasure & euphoria

Question 27

Endorphins PNS Function

Answer 27

Regulates pain, influence stress responses, play a role in immune function

Question 28

Histamine CNS Function

Answer 28

Regulates sleep-wake cycles, involved in arousal and cognitive functions

Question 29

Histamine PNS Function

Answer 29

Plays a role in the immune system, involved in gastric acid secretion

Question 30

What is glycolysis

Answer 30

Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and converts glucose into pyruvate through 10 enzyme-catalyzed reactions

Question 31

What is Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

Answer 31

Citric acid cycle is when pyruvate from glycolysis is converted into acetyl-CoA and enters the mitochondria. The cycle generates NADH & FADH2, ATP, and releases carbon dioxide as a waste product

Question 32

What is oxidative phosphorylation

Answer 32

NADH & FADH2 feed into the electron transport chain, ATP is produced through oxidative phosphorylation, oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor which forms water

Question 33

What is glycogensis

Answer 33

When insulin promotes the conversion of glucose into glycogen for storage in the liver and muscle. Key enzyme is glycogen synthase which catalyzes the addition of glucose units to a growing glycogen chain using UDP-glucose as the substrate

Question 34

What is lipogenesis

Answer 34

Excess glucose is converted into fatty
acids in the liver when glycogen
stores are full
Key Enzyme: Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase: Converts
acetyl-CoA into malonyl-CoA,
initiating fatty acid synthesis