endocrine system

Question 1

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 1

it is a network of glands throughout the body that manufacture and secrete hormones

Question 2

what is the adrenal cortex and what does it do?

Answer 2

• it is the outer part of the gland and it produces cortisol
• cortisol production is increased in response to stress
• cortisol regulates and supports a variety of important bodily functions such as cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory functions
• low cortisol = low blood pressure, poor immune function/ inability to deal with stress
• it also produces aldosterone which maintains blood volume/ pressure

Question 3

what does the adrenal medulla and what does it do?

Answer 3

• the inner part of the gland which releases noradrenaline and adrenaline
• these hormones prepare the body for the flight or fight response
• adrenaline helps the body in a stressful situation
• it increases blood flow and converts glycogen to glucose to energy
• noradrenaline restricts blood vessels causing blood pressure to increase

Question 4

What is the role of the ovaries in the endocrine system?

Answer 4

• responsible for the production of eggs, oestrogen and progesterone
• progesterone has also been found to be associated with heightened sensitivity to social cues that indicate the presence of social opportunity (recruiting allies or threats from outsiders)
• progesterone is linked to sensitivity and friendship (Miller and Manner 2014)

Question 5

What is the role of the testes?

Answer 5

• They produce testosterone
• Causes the development of male characteristics such as growth of facial hair, deepening of the voice and the growth spurt that takes place during puberty.
• Testosterone production is controlled by the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
• The hypothalamus instructs the pituitary gland on how much testosterone to produce
• the pituitary gland passes this message onto the testes.

Question 6

What is a hormone?

Answer 6

chemicals that circulate into the bloodstream and are carried to certain sites in the body
A given hormone only affects target cells.
The cells that do not have such a receptor cannot be influenced directly by that hormone
- when enough receptor sites are stimulated by hormones this results in a physiological reaction in the target cell.

Question 7

what does the endocrine gland do?

Answer 7

produce and secrete hormones

The major glands in this system include pituitary glands, adrenal glands ovaries and testes

Question 8

what does the pituitary gland do? (master gland)

Answer 8

• controlled by the hypothalamus
  Produces hormones whose primary function is to influence the release of hormones in other glands and in doing so regulates many of the bodily functions.