Endocrine System - 13.3

Question 1

How many adrenal glands does the body have and where are they located?

Answer 1

There are two - located on top of the kidney

Question 2

What is each gland composed of?

Answer 2

Inner area - adrenal medulla

Outer area - adrenal cortex

Question 3

What hormones does the adrenal medulla produce?

Answer 3

Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline)

Question 4

What do these hormones regulate?

Answer 4

A short term stress response (fight or flight)

Question 5

Why is the adrenal medulla considered to be a neuroendocrine structure?

Answer 5

It is formed from nervous system tissue

Question 6

What stimulates the adrenal medulla to secrete epinephrine and a bit of norepinephrine?

Answer 6

• in response to a stressor, neurons of the SNS - carry a signal from hypothalamus to adrenal medulla
• these neurons stimulate the adrenal medulla to secrete epinephrine and norepinephrine

Question 7

What effect does epinephrine and norepinephrine have?

Answer 7

• increases breathing rate
• increases heart rate
• increases blood pressure
• blood flow to heart and muscles
• glucose is released in the liver
• pupils dilate
  blood flow to extremities decrease

Question 8

Which lasts longer, hormonal control or nervous system control?

Answer 8

Hormonal control!

Question 9

What do the stress hormones produced by the adrenal cortex trigger?

Answer 9

The long term response

Question 10

What does glucocorticoids do?

Answer 10

Increase blood sugar levels

Question 11

What does mineralcoriticoids do?

Answer 11

Increase blood pressure

Question 12

What is cortisol synthesized from?

Answer 12

Cholesterol

Question 13

What is the process for cortisol to be released?

Answer 13

• Brain detects danger
• Directs hypothalamus to secrete releasing hormone
• Releasing hormone stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete ACTH
• ACTH targets the adrenal cortex
• Adrenal cortex secretes cortisol (stress hormone)

Question 14

Which is longer lasting, epinephrine or cortisol?

Answer 14

Cortisol

Question 15

What is the main function of cortisol?

Answer 15

To raise blood glucose levels

Question 16

How does cortisol raise blood glucose levels?

Answer 16

• Breaks down protein into amino acids
• Amino acids are taken out of the blood by liver
• In liver amino acids are used to make glucose
• Glucose is then released back into the blood

Question 17

What are the effects of sustained high levels of cortisol?

Answer 17

• impaired thinking
• damage to the heart
• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• susceptibility to infection
• early death

Question 18

Why does sustained high levels of cortisol make people more susceptible to inections?

Answer 18

Cortisol is an antiinflammatory

Question 19

Does cortisol inhibit the regeneration of connective tissue?

Answer 19

Yes

Question 20

What is the process of the effects of adolsterone?

Answer 20

• Stimulates the distal and collective tubules of the kidneys
• increases absorption of sodium into the blood stream
• draws more water from the nephrons (raising blood pressure)

Question 21

What happens if the adrenal cortex is damaged?

Answer 21

Addison’s disease - the body will secrete inadequate amounts of mineralocorticoids

Question 22

What are the symptoms of addisons disease?

Answer 22

• hyperglycemia (low blood sugar)
• sodium and potassium imbalances
• rapid weight loss
• general weakness

Question 23

What happens if there is low aldosterone in the blood?

Answer 23

A loss of sodium and water from the blood due to increased urine output (blood pressure drops)