Endocrine System Flashcards
What do the endocrine and nervous systems cooperate together to do?
regulate different functions of other organ systems
Describe the speed of nervous system activation.
usually brief and fast
Describe the speed of endocrine system activation.
much broader and targets virtually all organ systems
What are hormones?
secretions of endocrine glands directly released into bloodstream, and circulate throughout body
What does the endocrine system consist of? (5)
major glands including pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, pineal, and adrenal glands that produce a wide variety of hormones
What are the organs that are not considered as glands, but contain cells that produce hormones? (11)
heart, liver, pancreas, stomach, intestine, thymus, ovaries, testes, skin, hypothalamus, and placenta
Pituitary Gland (Hypophysis)
What is the pituitary gland?
oval-shaped structure located in hypophyseal fossa of sphenoid bone in middle cranial fossa
Pituitary Gland (Hypophysis)
What does it attach to?
attaches to hypothalamus by (infundibulum) connecting stalk
Pituitary Gland (Hypophysis)
What does it do?
regulates secretions of most of the other glands
Pituitary Gland (Hypophysis)
What is it controlled by?
hormones of hypothalamus
Pituitary Gland (Hypophysis)
What does it consist of?
2 separates lobes:
- anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis)
- posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis)
Pituitary Gland (Hypophysis)
What is it supplied by?
arterial circle of Willis
Pituitary Gland (Hypophysis)
What is its function regulated by?
primarily regulated by hormonal feedbacks through hypothalamus
Pineal Gland (Epiphysis Cerebri)
What is the pineal gland?
small, red, cone-shaped structure that attaches to posterior wall of third cerebral ventricle
Pineal Gland (Epiphysis Cerebri)
What does it do?
its secretions control circadian rhythm, and distribution of melanin pigments in skin
Pineal Gland (Epiphysis Cerebri)
What happens to this gland in elderly people?
calcified
Pineal Gland (Epiphysis Cerebri)
What is it supplied by?
posterior cerebral artery
Pineal Gland (Epiphysis Cerebri)
What is its function controlled by?
hormonal feedbacks
Thyroid Gland
What is the thyroid gland?
butterfly-shaped thyroid gland is situated in neck, anterior to trachea, and inferior to larynx
Thyroid Gland
What does it consist of?
2 lateral lobes connected together by isthmus
Thyroid Gland
What is the isthmus?
slender connection anterior to trachea at level of 2nd or 3rd cartilage rings of trachea
Thyroid Gland
What is the pyramidal lobe?
small third lobe immediately superior to isthmus, in 50% of individuals
Thyroid Gland
What do the 2 lateral lobes relate to?
- thyroid and cricoid cartilages medially
- common carotid arteries laterally
lobes extend superiorly to inferior border of thyroid cartilage of larynx
Thyroid Gland
What do thyroid hormones do?
regulate either metabolic rate of body, or blood calcium level