Endocrine System Flashcards
Define homeostasis?
The presence of a stable internal environment
The normal range of a given variable is specific to…
each individual
Is the population reference range tending to be wider or thinner than an individual’s range?
Wider
Can an individual’s normal range move out of the population range?
Yes
True or False?
An individual cannot experience symptoms if outside of the population reference range.
False
What is the synaptic (or neural) system?
involves endocrine gland cells that secrete hormones that are carried in the bloodstream to act on target cells.
Is the synaptic system slow or fast?
Slow but produces long responses that are widespread.
What are hormones?
chemical messengers that are produced in one location and travel to the target cell via the bloodstream to cause a repsonse.
What can hormones act upon?
cells that have specific receptors to the hormone either in the target cell membrane or inside the target cell.
What is the chemical classification of water-soluble hormones?
Peptides (75%) and catecholamines
What is the chemical classification of lipid-soluble hormones?
Steroids, thyroid hormones
What is the storage for water-soluble hormones?
Stored until required
What is the storage for lipid-soluble hormones?
Made when required
What is the transport system for water-soluble hormones?
Dissolved in the blood
What is the transport system for lipid-soluble hormones?
Bound to a carrier protein in the blood.
Where is the receptor location for water-soluble hormones?
Cell membrane
Where is the receptor location for lipid-soluble hormones?
Intracellular – in cytoplasm or nucleus
What is the response speed for water-soluble hormones?
Rapid
What is the response speed for lipid-soluble hormones?
Slow
What is the mechanism of action for water-soluble hormones?
- Hormone binds to a receptor on the target cell membrane, activating an associated G-protein.
- The G-protein either activates/inhibits adenylyl cyclase or increases intracellular Ca2+.
- A 2nd messenger is produced or reduced.
- Downstream proteins/pathways are either activated or deactivated.
What is the mechanism of action for water-soluble hormones?
Before acting, lipid-soluble hormones must dissociate from a carrier protein.
- Hormone diffuses across the cell membrane and binds to an intracellular receptor.
- hormone-receptor complex acts as a transcription factor.
- A target gene is activated and transcribed to make mRNA.
- mRNA is translated to make a new protein.
- This protein mediates a cell-specific response.
What does the amount of hormone in the blood depend on?
Hormone secretion and the rate of removal from the blood
What leads to endocrine disorders?
if hormone levels are not controlled
What is negative feedback?
The maintenance of a function when it exceeds the normal range
What is the pancreas?
exocrine gland due to its pancreatic acini cells that secrete digestive enzymes and is also an endocrine gland due to its pancreatic islets
What are pancreatic islets?
contains beta cells and alpha cells
What do beta cells secrete?
insulin
What do alpha cells secrete?
glucagon
What should blood glucose concentration be?
between 70 and 110 mg dL-1
What are the 2 metabolic states that individuals move between?
Fed state and fasting state
What is the fed state?
cellular uptake of nutrients, anabolic metabolism – glycogen, protein and fat synthesis.
What is the fasting state?
mobilisation of nutrients, catabolic metabolism – glycogen, protein and fat breakdown.
What is the function of insulin?
Increase fuel storage
What is the function of glucagon?
Increase fuel release
What is Secreted in response to insulin?
Increased blood glucose concentration
What is Secreted in response to glucagon?
Decreased blood glucose concentration
What is secreted by insulin?
Pancreatic islet beta cells
What is secreted by glucagon?
Pancreatic islet alpha cells
What influence does insulin have on the liver?
Glucose output stops, increased net glucose uptake
Glycogen and fat synthesis
What influence does glucagon have on the liver?
Increased breakdown of glycogen
Increase glucose and ketone synthesis
What effect does insulin have on muscles cells?
Increased glucose uptake
Increased amino acid uptake, glycogen and protein synthesis
What effect does insulin have on adipose cells?
Increased glucose uptake and fat synthesis
What is the overal effect of insulin?
Decreased blood glucose concentration
What is the overall effect of glucagon?
Increased blood glucose concentration
Increased blood ketones concentration
What is the pituitary gland?
found attached to the hypothalamus, inferior to the brain, and has posterior and anterior lobes
What does the hypothalamus control?
pituitary secretion of hormones via neural and hormonal input
What are pituitary hormones?
act on target cells or stimulate secretion of further hormones by other glands.
What is the connection to the hypothalamus for the posterior pituitary?
Via neurons whose axons extend into the pituitary
What is the connection to the hypothalamus for the anterior pituitary?
Via blood vessels
What is the hormone synthesis posterior pituitary?
Made in neuron cell bodies in the hypothalamus
What is the hormone synthesis and storage for the posterior pituitary?
pituitary
What is the storage for the posterior pituitary?
stored in axon terminals in the pituitary
What is the storage for the anterior pituitary?
pituitary
What is the action of the hypothalamus on the gland for the posterior pituitary?
Neural communication to stimulate hormone release
What is the action of the hypothalamus on the gland for the anterior pituitary?
Endocrine communication using releasing hormones to stimulate or inhibit hormone release by binding to cell membrane receptors.
What is the travel of hormones for the posterior pituitary?
Blood vessels
What is the travel of hormones for the anterior pituitary?
Blood vessels
What is an example of a (peptide) hormone for the posterior pituitary?
Antidiuretic hormone (kidney water reabsorption) Oxytocin (uterine contraction, release of breast milk)
What is an example of a (peptide) hormone for the anterior pituitary?
Prolactin
Growth hormone
What is the anterior pituiatary?
releasing hormone stimulates pituitary hormones which stimulate another hormone
What is the growth hormone directly act on?
muscle, liver and fat cells
What does growth hormone stimulate?
protein synthesis
What does growth hormone inhibit?
glucose uptake in muscle cells, glucose synthesis in liver cells and triglyceride breakdown in fat (adipose) cells