Endocrine System Flashcards
What do endocrine glands secrete?
Hormones
What is the difference between endocrine glands and exocrine glands?
Endocrine glands secrete into the blood and are ductless
Exocrine glands secrete on the epithelial level and into the ductal system
What is a hormone?
It is a chemical messenger that is produced by a gland.
What do the hormones do?
They alter the activity of a targeted tissue
How do hormones alter activity do so?
They change the type, quantity, or activity of protein in tissues.
How are hormones distributed?
They are dumped into the blood stream
What are the 4 functions of the endocrine system?
Digestion/Metabolism of Nutrients
Water and Electrolyte balance
Growth and Development
Reproduction
How do the hormones affect the function of Digestion/Metabolism of nutrients
Modulate digestive processes
Control serum sugar concentrations
Modulate stress response via cortisol
How do hormones affect the water and electrolyte balance?
They modulate blood pressure
What is a steroid hormone derived from?
Cholesterol.
How is the steroid hormone derived?
Through several enzyme steps, converting cholesterol in gonad and adrenal glands.
Do steroids enter the cell?
Yes
What is the first step in steroid hormone mechanism
The steroid diffuses into the cells cytoplasm
What is the second step in steroid hormone mechanism
It will bind a receptor, causing the receptor to dimerize, and translocate to the nucleus
What is the 3rd step of steroid hormone mechanism
The receptor complex binds DNA at the hormone’s response element.
Whats the 4th, 5th, and 6th steps of steroid mechanism?
The receptor acts as a transcription factor, which triggers transcription and translation to synthesize proteins.
What are peptide/protein hormones
They are chains of amino acids
Do peptide/protein hormones enter the cell?
No
What is the step cycle for protein hormones
The hormone binds the receptor on the membrane of the target cell
It will activate the the g protein, releasing GDP and picking up GTP.
This will activate another enzyme, which will accumulated a 2nd messenger and with atp, will carry out certain tasks within the cell.
Why are hormones often carried in blood by transport porteins?
The decreased activity will decrease hormone breakdown, meaning it lasts longer in the blood. It also increases its solubility in water.
How are the endocrine and nervous system similar?
They both rely on chemical messengers, share chemical messengers, regulated by feedback loops, and maintain homeostasis.
How are the endocrine and nervous system different?
They use different chemical messengers, Time till effect, Duration of effects, and their pathways.
