Endocrine System

Question 1

What is the Endocrine System?

Answer 1

The endocrine system is a vast system comprised of multiple glands which release hormones and transmit them around the body through the bloodstream to regulate or achieve an outcome. The endocrine system is slow releasing and less precise than the nervous system however, the effects last longer

Question 2

What are the functions of the endocrine system?

Answer 2

Growth, Development, Reproduction, Metabolism, Homeostasis

Question 3

What are the two type of glands in the endocrine system?

Answer 3

Exocrine Glands
Endocrine Glands

Question 4

What are exocrine glands?
Give an example

Answer 4

Glands in the endocrine system which secrete substances into ducts and carry them to the bodies cavities or outer parts of the body.
Example:
Sweat glands, sebaceous glands, mucous glands and digestive glands

Question 5

What are endocrine glands?

Answer 5

Glands in the endocrine system that secrete substances into extracellular space around cells. They are transported by blood and called hormones.

Question 6

What glands does the endocrine system consist of?
There are 10

Answer 6

pituitary glands
pineal gland
thyroid gland
parathyroid gland
hypothalamus gland
thymus gland
adrenal gland
pancreas
ovaries
testes

Question 7

What are hormones and what is their function?

Answer 7

Hormones are the product of endocrine glands and act as chemical messengers that transmit messages from one part of the body to another.

Question 8

What is the journey of a hormonal message?

Answer 8

Hormonal messages are slow and travel around the body until they reach a specialised cell called target cells. These have receptor sites on their surface that recognise and bind the hormone molecule.

Question 9

What triggers the production of hormones?

Answer 9

There are many different reasons for the body to produce hormones they could be:
nervous impulses, chemical changes in your blood chemistry or the effect of another hormone

Question 10

What is the pituitary gland and where is it located?

Answer 10

The pituitary gland is also known as the master gland and is the size of a pea, it is situated in the midbrain behind the nose. It controls the activities of other glands and is connected to the hypothalamus.

Question 11

How many different hormones does the pituitary gland produce and where from?

Answer 11

The pituitary gland has 2 lobes and produces 6 hormones from the anterior lobe and 2 from the posterior lobe

Question 12

What does the Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) do?
(Produced in the pituitary gland)

Answer 12

it controls the production of another hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is made in the adrenal glands and responds to to stress.

Question 13

What does the Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) do?
(Produced in the pituitary gland)

Answer 13

This tells your thyroid how much thyroid hormone it needs to make in order to regulate metabolism.

Question 14

What does the Growth hormone do?
(Produced in the pituitary gland)

Answer 14

Fuels childhood growth and helps to maintain tissues and organs throughout life

Question 15

What does Prolactin do?
(Produced in the pituitary gland)

Answer 15

Causes breast to grow and develop and causes milk to be produced during pregnancy. As well as hundred of other actions required to maintain homeostasis

Question 16

What is homeostasis?

Answer 16

A state of balance between all of the body systems needed for the body to survive and function correctly

Question 17

What does the Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) do?
(Produced in the pituitary gland)

Answer 17

Protects the skin from UV rays, development of pigmentation and controls appetite.

Question 18

What does the Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) do?
(Produced in the pituitary gland)

Answer 18

Helps to control the menstrual cycle in women and stimulates the growth of the egg in ovaries

Question 19

What does the Luteinising hormone (LH) do?
(Produced in the pituitary gland)

Answer 19

Plays an important role in sexual development and functioning. In women, it helps to control the menstrual cycle and triggers the release of the egg

Question 20

What does the Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) do?
(Produced in the pituitary gland)

Answer 20

Causes the kidneys to release less water, decreasing the amount of urine produced. Water regulation

Question 21

What does Oxytocin do?
(Produced in the pituitary gland)

Answer 21

Stimulates uterine contractions in childbirth and lactation after childbirth. It is also known as the ‘love’ hormone as it plays a part in human interactions and the reproductive cells.

Question 22

What hormones are produced in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland?

Answer 22

Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH)
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Growth hormone
Prolactin
Melanocyte hormone (MSH)
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Luteinising hormone (LH)

Question 23

What hormones are produced in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland?

Answer 23

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Oxytocin

Question 24

What is the hypothalamus and what does it do?

Answer 24

Controls the pituitary gland and is involved in both the nervous and endocrine system. It is the gatekeeper for information going to the brain. It also plays a major role in emotions and hormonal cycles and sexuality, muscles, temperature, regulating food and water intake, controlling salt and water balance

Question 25

What is the Pineal Gland and what does it do? Where is it?

Answer 25

Situated in the brain, it secretes the hormone melatonin which controls the bodies clock. Sunlight affects the pineal gland and reduces the production of melatonin, low levels make us feel awake.
As it gets dark, more melatonin is produced therefore, we are more tired.

Question 26

What is the Thyroid Gland and what does it do? Where is it?

Answer 26

Made up of two lobes and found at the front of the throat. Produces thyroxine which controls the bodies metabolism (if large amounts are produced, the body burns more calories).

Question 27

What is the Parathyroid and what does it do? Where is it?

Answer 27

Made up of 4 tiny parathyroid glands and is located on the back of the thyroid gland. Produces parathormone which controls the level calcium in the blood stream.

Question 28

What is the Thymus and what does it do? Where is it?

Answer 28

Situated in the thorax behind the sternum and is made up of lymphoid tissue. It releases thymosin which helps with lymphocyte production.

Question 29

What is the Adrenal Gland and what does it do? Where is it?

Answer 29

Found on top of each kidney and have two layers (the cortex and the medulla). The adrenal gland’s main job is to produce adrenaline which prepares the body for fight or flight during stressful/frightening situations

Question 30

What does the Adrenal Cortex produce?

Answer 30

Sex corticoids, glucocorticoids and mineral corticoids.
These are all steroid hormones which help with metabolism, inflammation, immune functions, salt and water balance, development of sexual characteristics, and the ability to withstand injury and illness.

Question 31

What does the Adrenal Medulla produce?

Answer 31

Adrenaline and noradrenaline.
These together prepare you for the fight or flight response.

Question 32

What is Adrenaline and how do we produce it?

Answer 32

When you are in a situation of stress or fear, the hypothalamus sends a message to the adrenal medulla which results in the production of adrenaline to prepare the body for stress.

Question 33

What effects does Adrenaline have on the body?

Answer 33

Increases the heart rate which prepares the muscles
Constricts the arteries to the skin and internal organs to give more blood to the muscles
Increases the breakdown of glycogen reserves in the liver to release glucose in the bloodstream to ensure the muscles will not be short on energy.

Question 34

What is the Pancreas and what does it do? Where is it?

Answer 34

Found in the upper part of the abdominal cavity and helps the process of digestion. It contains cells called Islets of Langerhans which produce insulin and glucagon

Question 34

What is the Pancreas and what does it do? Where is it?

Answer 34

Found in the upper part of the abdominal cavity and helps the process of digestion. It contains cells called Islets of Langerhans which produce insulin and glucagon.

Question 35

What does Insulin do?

Answer 35

Helps to lower sugar levels in the blodd

Question 36

What does Glucagon do?

Answer 36

Helps to raise sugar levels in the blood

Question 37

What are the Ovaries and what do they do? Where are they?

Answer 37

Found in the female pelvis and produce oestrogen and progesterone. They are responsible for sexual characteristics such as breasts, body shape and egg production (the start of periods)

Question 38

What are the Testes and what do they do? Where are they?

Answer 38

Found in males groin are and they produce testosterone. They are responsible for body shape, body hair, male sexual behaviour and deep voices (voice breaks)