Endocrine System Flashcards
What is the endocrine system composed of?
ductless glands that secrete chemical messengers called hormones into the blood stream.
What are hormones?
Chemical messengers produced by specialized cells that exert their effects on distant parts of the body.
What does a hormone do?
Regulate the rates of specific metabolic reactions - usually by regulation of enzyme activity.
What are some facts about Hormones?
- They are required in very small amounts
- May be excitatory or inhibitory
- Informational molecules that only work on cells that have the receptors to bind them
What glands are included in the normal endocrine system?
One pituitary gland
One thyroid gland
Four parathyroid glands
Two adrenal glands
One pancreas
One thymus
One pineal gland
Two gonads
What is the ‘Master Gland’ that controls other endocrine glands throughout the body?
The Pituitary Gland, which is controlled by the hypothalamus.
Where is the Pituitary gland located?
At the base of the brain just below the Hypothalamus.
What are the two lobes of the pituitary gland?
The Anterior and Posterior
What is the pituitary connected to?
Connected to the hypothalamus via a stalk; the infundibulum.
What does the anterior pituitary do?
Produces hormones
What does the Posterior Pituitary do?
- Responds to neurological stimulation
- Stores and secretes hormones produced by the hypothalamus
What are the hormones released by the posterior pituitary known as?
Direct-acting hormones because they produce the desired effect directly in the target tissue
True or False? The posterior pituitary produces hormones.
False. The posterior pituitary SECRETES and STORES hormones produced by the hypothalamus but does not create any of its own.
What are hormones secreted from the anterior pituitary called?
Indirect-acting hormones or Tropic hormones
What controls the release or cessation of hormones?
Positive and negative feedback control the levels of most hormones in the blood by secreting, releasing, or inhibiting factors that affect hormone release.
What hormones do the Anterior pituitary gland produce and secrete?
- TSH (Thyroid Stimulating hormone)
- ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone)
- FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone)
- LH (Luteinizing hormone)
- ICSH (Interstitial cell-stimulating hormone)
- Prolactin
- GH (growth hormone)
- MSH (Melanocyte-stimulating hormone)
Note: You will not be expected to memorize the complete name of the abbreviated hormones.
What hormones do the posterior pituitary gland store and secrete?
- ADH (Antidiuretic hormone)
- Oxytocin
Note: You will not be expected to memorize the complete name of the abbreviated hormones.
What is the Thyroid Gland?
It’s a butterfly-shaped gland located either side of the larynx.