Endocrine System Flashcards
Function of endocrine system
Used to communicate and control organs in the body
How does it communicate and control the organs in the body
It does this through special chemicals called hormones
What are endocrine glands
Release hormones into the bloodstream
Hypothalamus
This is small part of your brain that constantly monitors a number of the body parameters
Eg. Temperature, heart rate and blood pressure
Pituitary gland
This is often called the mater gland because it releases hormones that stimulate other glands in the body- adrenal, thyroid, ovaries and testes
Two parts of the pituitary gland
The anterior- front
Posterior - back
The anterior gland produces hormones such as
Adrenocortropic hormone
Thyroid stimulating hormone
FSH
LH
prolactin
FSH
Stimulates the growth of ovaries
Anti diuretic gland
This directly acts on kidneys and blood vessels, controlling the amount of water content in blood
Pancreas
This organ regulates the amount of glucose
How does the pancreas regulate glucose
Produces hormones called insulin and glucagon
Insulin
Allows glucose to be absorbed earthier by cells in the body or to be converted by glycogen and stored in the liver
Glucagon
Causes the glycogen in the liver to be realeased into the blood
Adrenal glands
produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions.
Adrenaline
The hormone acts on most tissues in the body and is responsible for “fight or flight” response to a stressful suition situation
There are two parts of the adrenal gland
Cortex - outer
Medulla- inner
The medulla produces
Adrenaline
The cortex produces
Cortisol
Aldosterone
Cortisol
The so called hormone that gives the body a boost of energy in times of stress by controlling the way in which the body processes nutrients
Aldosterone
This hormone instructs the kidney to remove or release certain salts from the blood. Regulates salts in the bloodstream
Thyroid glands
The thyroid glands are responsible for metabolism
Metabolism
How quickly chemical processes take place in the body which in turn determines how quickly boldly functions such as digestion take place.
Two thyroid gland secretes two hormones
T3 and t4
Which cause the body cells to work faster
The thyroid also produces another hormone
Calcitonin which acts in opposition to the para thyroid gland
Para thyroid
Regulates the levels of calcium in your body. Does this by producing a hormone called parathyroid hormone
Homeostasis
The process by which bodily conditions are maintained with certain range
The process of homeostasis make use of negative feedback loop. A negative feedback loop consists of the following three stages:
Measure
Compare
Change
Measure ( negative feedback loop )
The amount of glucose in the blood stream is constantly monitored by cells in the pancreas
Compare (negative feedback loop)
Cells called alpha cells detect when the glucose levels in blood is low
Change ( negative feedback loop)
Alpha cells cause glucagon to be release which acts to increase the glucose levels in blood
Why is it called a negative feed back loop
Because the process always tries to negate any measured changes in order to return to acceptable levels
Circulating hormones
Flow through the blood stream and different parts of the body
Local hormones
Are not released into the bloodstream there for do not circulate through the body
Describe the main stages of homeostasis of blood sugar levels
When a person’s blood sugar is too high, their pancreas secretes more insulin. When their blood sugar levels drop, their pancreas releases glucagon to raise them.
Name hormones released by pituitary gland
Adrenal
Thyroid
Ovaries
Testes
Explain the role of hormones and how they function
Role of hormones- help to control many functions such as growth, reproduction and repair
Function of hormones- the body chemicals messengers sending signals into the bloodstream and tissues
What’s the role of adrenal gland
Produces hormones that help regulate metabolism, blood pressure and immune system, response to stress and other essential functions
