ENDOCRINE SYSTEM Flashcards
What constitutes the Endocrine system?
Endocrine glands and hormone-secreting cells
A molecule that is released in one part of the body but regulates the activity of cells in other parts of the body
Hormones
Hormones delivered to tissues throughout the body by the blood
Mediator molecules characteristic of endocrine
Far from site of release; binds to receptors on or in target cells
Site of Mediator action characteristic of endocrine
Secrete their products into ducts that carry the secretions into body cavities, into the lumen of an organ, or to the outer surface of the body.
Exocrine glands
Secrete their products into the interstitial fluid surrounding the secretory cells rather than into ducts
Endocrine glands
Science of the structure and function of the endocrine glands and the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the endocrine system
Endocrinology
Enumerate the endocrine glands
Pituitary gland
Thyroid gland
Parathyroid gland
Adrenal gland
Pineal gland
The effect when a hormone is present in excess, and the number of target-cell receptors decreases; target cell becomes less sensitive to a hormone
Down-regulation
The effect when a hormone is deficient, and the number of receptors increase; target cells become more sensitive to a hormone
Up-regulation
Pass from the secretory cells that make them and released into the interstitial fluid, and then into the blood
Circulating hormones
Act locally on neighboring cells or on the same cell that secreted them without entering the bloodstream
Local hormones
Local hormones that act on neighboring cells
Paracrines
Local hormones that act on the same cell that secreted them
Autocrines
Derived from cholesterol; each is unique due to the presence of different chemical groups attached to various sites on the 4 rings at the core of its structure
Steroid hormones
Synthesized by attaching iodine to the amino acid thyroxine. Has only 2 types: T3 and T4
Thyroid hormones
Most of these hormone molecules circulate in the blood/watery blood plasma in a “free” form
Water-soluble hormone
Most of these hormone molecules are bound to transport proteins
Lipid-soluble hormone
Synthesized by the cells in the liver. They make lipid soluble hormones temporarily water-soluble, thus increasing their solubility in blood
Transport proteins
A mechanism of hormone action wherein a free lipid-soluble hormone molecule diffuses from the blood, through the interstitial fluid, and through the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane, then into the cell.
Diffusion
A mechanism of hormone action wherein the activated receptor-hormone complex alters gene expression
Transcription
Types of water-soluble hormones
Amine Hormones
Peptide and protein hormones
Eicosanoid hormones
Integral transmembrane proteins in the plasma membrane
Receptors
A water-soluble hormone that binds to its receptor at the outer surface of the plasma membrane; it causes production of the second messenger inside the cell
First messenger
This is where specific hormone stimulated responses take place
Second messenger
Are the parathyroid glands posterior or anterior to the thyroid glands
Posterior
Are synthesized by decarboxylating and otherwise modifying certain amino acids
Amine hormones
Amino acid polymers
Peptide hormones and protein hormones
Protein hormones that have attached to carbohydrate groups
Glycoprotein hormones
Derived from arachidonic acid, a 20-carbon fatty acid.
Eicosanoid hormones
0.1-10% of the molecules of a lipid-soluble hormone that are not bound to a transport protein.
Free fraction
The hormone-receptor complex activates a membrane protein called?
G protein
The activated G protein activates what
Adenylyl cyclase
An enzyme that phosphorylates other cellular proteins
Protein kinase
An enzyme that inactivates cAMP(Cyclic adenosine monophosphate
Phosphodiesterase
A target cell responds more vigorously when the level of a hormone rises or when it has more receptors. In addition, the actions of some hormones on target cells require a simultaneous or recent exposure to a second hormone.
Permissive effect
When the effect of two hormones acting together is greater than the sum of their individual effects, the two hormones are said to have a
Synergistic effect
When one hormone opposes the actions of another hormone, the two hormones are said to have
Antagonistic effects
Was called the “master” endocrine gland because it secretes several hormones that control other endocrine glands
Pituitary gland
This small region of the brain below the thalamus is the major link between the nervous and endocrine systems
Hypothalamus
Secretes hormones that regulate a wide range of bodily activities, from growth to reproduction
Anterior pituitary(anterior lobe)
Larger portion of the anterior pituitary
Pars distalis
Forms a sheath around the infundibulum
Pars tuberalis
Does not synthesize hormones. Stores and releases two hormones. Consists of axons and axon terminals of more than 10000 hyopthalamic neurosecretory cells.
Posterior pituitary
Secrete growth hormone also known as human growth hormone
Somatotrophs
Secrete thyroid-stimulating hormone, also known as thryotropin
Thyrotrophs
In men, they stimulate the testes to produce sperm and to secrete testosterone. In women, they stimulate the ovaries to mature oocytes and to secrete estrogens and progesterone.
Gonadotrophs
Secrete prolactin which initiates milk production in the mammary glands
Lactotrophs
Secrete adrenocorticotropic hormones which stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete glucocorticoids such as cortisol
Corticotrophs
Also known as growth hormone-releasing hormone, stimulates secretion of growth hormone
Somatocrinin
Stimulates secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone
Stimulates secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone
Corticotropin-releasing hormone
Stimulates secretion of prolactin
Prolactin-releasing hormone
Stimulates secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
Also known as growth hormone-inhibiting hormone, suppresses secretion of growth hormone
Somatostatin
Prolactin-inhibiting hormone, suppresses secretion of prolactin
Dopamine
In this system, blood flows from capillaries in the hypothalamus into portal veins that carry blood to capillaries of the anterior pituitary.
Hypophyseal portal system
Branches of the internal carotid arteries, bring blood into the hypothalamus
Superior hypophyseal arteries
In the anterior pituitary, the hypophyseal portal veins divide again and form another capillary network
Secondary plexus of the hypophyseal portal system
Drain blood from the anterior pituitary
Hypophyseal veins
They synthesize the hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones in their cell bodies and package the hormones inside vesicles, which reach the axon terminals by fast axonal transport
Neurosecretory cells
Anterior pituitary hormones that act on other endocrine glands
Tropic hormones or tropin
Growth hormones exert their growth-promoting effects indirectly through small protein hormones called
Insulin-like growth factors or somatomedins
Increases skin pigmentation in amphibians by stimulating the dispersion of melanin granules in melanocytes
Melanocyte-stimulating hormone
In females, stimulates secretion of estrogens and progesterone, ovulation, and formation of corpus luteum. In males, stimulates testes to produce testosterone
Luteinizing hormone
Stimulates secretion of glucocorticoids by adrenal cortex
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
These cells have a supporting role similar to that of astrocytes
Pituicytes
Blood is supplied to the posterior pituitary by what arteries
The inferior hypophyseal arteries