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Endocrine system Flashcards

1
Q

general functions of hormones

A
  1. regulate:
    - chem comp/volume of internal fluids
    - metabolism
    - contraction of smooth/cardiac muscle fibres
    - glandular secretions
  2. control growth + development
  3. regulate operation of reproductive systems
  4. est. circadian rhythms
  5. mobilise body’s defense against stressors
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2
Q

3 cellular functions of hormones

A
  1. alter memb. permeability
    - change enzyme/memb. channel off or on by changing its shape/structure
  2. activating or inactivating key enzymes
    - increase or decrease rate of synthesis by changing rate of transcription/translation
  3. changing genetic activity
    - stim. synthesis of new enzymes by activating appropriate genes in the nucleus
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3
Q

structure + function of endocrine glands

A
  • ductless
  • well vascularised
  • secrete hormones into ECF

affect distant target cells

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4
Q

function of hormones + what determines their effect

A
  • move through bloodstream into ECF of tissues

biological activity of tissue determined by:
- conc. of hormone
- receptor + receptor affinity

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5
Q

causes + effects of acromegaly

A

increased production of growth hormone

  • growth of hands + feet
  • brow protrusion
  • soft tissue swelling
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6
Q

differentiate b/t the endocrine + nervous systems (4 things)

A

NS -
direct comm.
quick response
responds to physical + chem stimuli
capable of secreting

endocrine -
indirect comm.
slow acting, slow response
responds to chem. stimuli
capable of secreting

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7
Q

describe the amino acid derivative class of hormones

A
  • small + structurally related to amino acids
  • synthesised from amino acids
    eg. tyrosine + tryptophan -> thyroid hormone + melatonin respectively
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8
Q

describe the peptide class of hormone

A
  • chains of amino acids
  • synthesised as prohormones (inactive molecules converted to active ones before/after secretion)
  • 2 groups:
    glycoproteins eg. TSH, LH + FSH
    short polypeptide chains + small proteins eg. ADH + oxytocin, prolactin
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9
Q

describe the lipid derivative class of hormone

A

2 groups:

  1. eicosanoids- derived from arachidonic acid eg. prostaglandins
  2. steroid hormones - derived from cholesterol eg. androgens, estrogens, corticosteroids
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10
Q

differentiate b/t the 2 mechanisms of hormone transport + their features

A

free hormones:
- functional for less than an hour, inactive when diffuse out of bloodstream, are absorbed or broken down

thyroid + steroid hormones:
- remain in circulation much longer
- enter bloodstream -> bind to special transport proteins

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11
Q

describe the mechanism of action of water soluble hormones

A

cannot cross PM therefore act via second messengers
-> bind to extracellular proteins + have effect via secondary messengers eg. G protein

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12
Q

describe how cyclic AMP is synthesised + activated

A
  • hormone binds to membrane receptor (adenylate cyclase via G protein)
  • AC catalyses synthesis of cAMP
  • cAMP changes metabolism:
    -> activates enzymes
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13
Q

describe the mechanism of action of lipid based hormones

A
  • can diffuse across the PM
  • bind to + activate receptors in cytoplasm/nucleus
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14
Q

what 3 things regulate hormone secretion

A
  • CNS
  • chem. changes in blood
  • other hormones (tropins)
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15
Q

pineal gland function

A
  • secretes melatonin
  • set diurnal rhythms
  • inhibits reproductive functions
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16
Q

how do the heart, thymus + adipose tissue have endocrine functions

A

heart = secretes natriuretic peptide when cardiac muscle cells stretch

thymus = lymphoid tissue that produces thymosins -> development + maturation of T cells

adipose tissue = produce leptin

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17
Q

how do the digestive system, kidneys + gonads have endocrine function

A

digestive system = secretes hormones that control local function eg. gastrin, CCK

kidneys = release calcitriol, EPO + renin

gonads = testes produce androgens + inhibin, ovaries produce estrogens, progesterone + inhibin

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18
Q

function of hypothalamus

A

integrate activities of NS + ES together

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19
Q

function of infundibulum

A

helps w/ communication + control of processes b/t hypothalamus + pituitary gland

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20
Q

how does the hypothalamus integrate the ES + NS activities

A
  1. secretes regulatory hormones
  2. acts as endocrine organ
  3. contains autonomic centres
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21
Q

differentiate b/t releasing + inhibiting hormones

A

releasing = stimulate secretion of hormones from ant. pit

inhibiting = prevent synthesis + secretion of hormones from ant. pit

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22
Q
A
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23
Q

what response does the hypothalamus have direct neural control over

A

the stress response

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24
Q

describe the typical pathway of hypothalamic releasing hormones + effects

A

releasing hormone
hormone 1 (from pituitary)
endocrine target organ
hormone 2 (from endocrine target organ)

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25
describe the structure + function of the pituitary gland
- lies within sella turcica / hangs inferiorly to hypothalamus - divided into anterior + posterior lobes - releases 9 peptide hormones (7 from ant, 2 from post)
26
what is the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones controlled by
- neg feedback - releasing + inhibiting factors from hypothalamus
27
7 hormones secreted by anterior pituitary
1. growth hormone (somatotrophin) 2. thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) - gonadotrophins: 3. FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) 4. LH (luteinizing hormone) 5. prolactin 6. adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH/corticotropin) 7. melanotropin (MSH/melanocyte stimulating hormone)
28
2 hormones secreted by posterior pituitary
ADH oxytocin
29
what does oxytocin stimulate smooth muscle contraction in
mammary glands uterus prostate gland + sperm ducts
30
structure + location of thyroid gland
- anterior to thyroid cartilage of larynx - consists of 2 lobes -> connected by isthmus
31
name + describe the functional units of the thyroid gland
- follicles - synthesise + secrete thyroid hormones T3 + T4
32
function + action of thyroid hormones
regulate body's metabolic rate - increase energy consumption + heat production - degrade liver glycogen, fat stores + muscle protein
33
describe the steps to the -ve feedback loop involving thyroid hormone release
1. decreased levels of circulating thyroid hormone/lowered body temp 2. TRH released from hypothalamus 3. stimulates ant. pit to release TSH 4. TSH stimulates thyroid gland to release active T3 + T4 into bloodstream 5. T3 + T4 transported in blood bound to plasma proteins -> this increase in thyroid hormone returns body to homeostasis
34
describe the condition of goiter
enlargement of thyroid gland X associated w/ inflammation or cancer - can be due to iodine deficiency
35
describe the condition of cretinism
underproduction of thyroid hormone in an infant
36
describe the condition + symptoms of myxoedema
- hypothyroidism in adult - early symptoms = fatigue, forgetfulness, unexplained weight gain - progressive symptoms = decreased mental stability, puffy face, decreased cardiac output + HR
37
describe the condition of grave's disease + its symptoms
- hyperthyroidism - weight loss, nervousness + restlessness, fatigue + weakness, heat intolerance
38
function of c cells in thyroid gland
produce calcitonin - released in response to increasing Ca2+ conc.
39
what are the parathyroid glands
4 small glands embedded in the posterior surface of the thyroid gland
40
name + describe the function o0f the 2 cell types of the parathyroid glands
chief cells = secrete parathyroid hormone oxyphil cells = reserve capacity of PTH / largely unknown function
41
describe the function of parathyroid hormone
- important in calcium homeostasis - increases free Ca2+ in bone (by resorption of Ca2+ from bone) + kidneys (by reabsorbing filtered Ca2+ + activating vitamin D3)
42
function of vitamin D3 (calcitriol)
increase free Ca2+
43
function of calcitonin
decrease levels of free Ca2+ by stopping resorption from bones + increasing excretion at kidneys
44
what are the effects of Ca2+ imbalances
- increased = depresses neuromuscular activity - decreased = over excitability of neurons/muscles
45
name + describe disorder caused by too much/too little PTH of vit. D deficiency
hypocalcemia - decreased blood Ca2+ levels - increased excitability of neuromuscular tissue - tetany, twitching + spasms
46
describe hypercalcemia + its symptoms
- increased blood Ca2+ levels - depression of neuromuscular system - memory impairment, depression, mood swings - softening/deformity of bones
47
what is rickets
lack of vitamin D
48
location + subdivisions of adrenal glands
- lie along superior border of each kidney - divided into: adrenal cortex (superficial) adrenal medulla (inner)
49
function of adrenal cortex
manufactures steroid hormones from cholesterol + fatty acids - adrenocortical steroids (corticosteroids)
50
divisions of adrenal cortex + their functions
zona glomerulosa (outermost layer) - affect electrolyte composition of body fluids via mineralocorticoids - secrete aldosterone zona fasciculata (middle layer) - secrete glucocorticoids eg. cortisol - maintain blood sugar levels zona reticularis (inner layer) - secrete gonadocorticoids eg. androgens
51
describe aldosteronism + its effects
- hypersecretion of aldosterone - results in hypertension + edema from excess Na+ + H2O retention / accelerated secretion of K+ -> neuromuscular disorders + paralysis
52
describe cushings syndrome + its effects
- caused by increased ACTH from pituitary tumour - increase release of glucocorticoids - causes hyperglycaemia, loss of muscle tone + bone - moon face + buffalo hump appearance
53
what are the primary cells of the adrenal medulla + what are their functions
- chromaffin cells - produce catecholamines E + NE
54
what NS is the adrenal medulla under direct control of
- sympathetics NS -> innervated by preganglionic sym. fibres
55
functions of NE + E
- increased glycogen mobilisation in skeletal muscles -> increase ATP - increased release of stored fats for energy - increased Q - increased blood glucose by breaking down liver glycogen
56
pancreas function + location
- both endo + exocrine gland - located in curve of duodenum
57
differentiate b/t the clusters of acini + pancreatic islets
acini = 99% of exocrine cells in pancreas -> produce digestive enzymes pancreatic islets = endocrine cells
58
4 types of hormone secreting cells in pancreatic islets + their functions
- alpha cells = secrete glucagon - beta cells = secrete insulin - delta cells = secrete somatostatin (inhibit glucagon + insulin secretion) - F cells = secrete pancreatic polypeptide (inhibit gall bladder contraction/ regulates secretion of pancreatic digestive enzymes)
59
5 effects of insulin
- accelerates glucose uptake - accelerates glucose utilisation + enhanced ATP production - stimulates glycogen formation - stimulates amino acid absorption + protein synthesis - stimulates triglyceride formation in adipose tissue
60
3 effects of glucagon
- stimulates breakdown of glycogen in skeletal muscle + liver cells - stimulates breakdown of triglycerides in adipose tissue - stimulates production of glucose in the liver

Physiology 101 (8 decks)

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