Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

A Principles of Physiology > Endocrine System > Flashcards

Endocrine System Flashcards

1
Q

Diagram showing places in body that endocrine system is involved

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Chemical groupings of hormones

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Diagram showing how peptide hormones work

A
  • Peptides are made through transcription and translation and packaged in vesicles and then they get released
  • Usually, what comes out of transcription and translation is a longer peptide, along the way it gets cleaved into shorter segments, and eventually, you’ll get the activated peptide at the end (important in digestive enzymes)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Chemical structure of thyroid hormones

A
  • Tyrosine is the amino acid that’s the beginning point for a lot of important hormones like norepinephrine and epinephrine
  • It is also the source for T3 and T4 - the thyroid hormones. These have a profound impact on many cells throughout the body and adjust your basal metabolic rate.
  • T3 and T4 are lipophilic, meaning that they are freely permeable through cell membranes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Diagram showing how cholesterol is the basis for all steroid hormones

A
  • Cholesterol is lipid-soluble
  • Cholesterol is put through a series of enzymatic steps to come up with all different types of steroid hormones (e.g. aldosterone and cortisol)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Diagram showing what hormones come from cholesterol

A
  • Every arrow is an enzyme
  • It takes a number of enzymes to get to estradiol and testosterone, and there’s one enzyme that turns testosterone into estradiol
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Receptors for hormones can be in the ___ or ___

A

Cytosol or nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Diagram explaining how steroid hormones work

A
  1. Most hydrophobic steroids are bound to plasma protein carriers. Only unbound hormones can diffuse into the cell.
  2. Steroid hormone receptors are in the cytoplasm or nucleus.
  3. The receptor-hormone complex binds to DNA and activates or represses one or more genes.
  4. Activated genes create new mRNA that moves back to the cytoplasm.
  5. Translation produces new proteins for cell processes.
  6. Some steroid hormones also bind to membrane receptors that use second messenger systems to create rapid cellular responses.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Diagram of pituitary gland

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Posterior pituitary

A
  • There are neurons in the hypothalamus and the pituitary dangles from the hypothalamus.
  • Those axons come down and instead of releasing them into synapses, they release their chemical messengers into a capillary bed in the posterior pituitary, where it’s picked up and circulated throughout the body.
  • This small number of neurons releases a pretty small large number of signaling molecules because they’re going to be diluted in the total fluid compartment that is extracellular fluid- blood plasma, interstitial fluid.
  • So you need quite a few numbers of signaling molecules to reach an effecting concentration, (because extracellular fluid is in a high volume) such that receptors will find it, bind it, and cause a response.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Anterior pituitary

A
  • The hypothalamus releases tiny amounts of releasing factor (signaling molecules) that only have to increase the concentration of a very small volume of extracellular fluid in the anterior pituitary.
  • The releasing factors bind to receptors on the cells that are a true gland, and when they bind, the cells of the glands release large amounts of molecules that will go out and be diluted in all the extracellular fluid of the body, and reach a concentration that’s high enough so that receptors recognize that they’re there.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What hormones does the posterior pituitary release?

A

Oxytocin
- Stimulates contraction of uterus
- Stimulates milk let down
- Involved in maternal bonding with infant?

Vasopressin (ADH)
- Reabsorbtion of water in kidney
- Vasoconstriction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Diagram showing hormone released by the anterior pituitary

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Feedback loop showing the control of hormone secretion

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

HPA Axis (hypothalamic, pituitary, adrenal)

A

Cortisol typically peaks (morning) and troughs (evening) throughout the day. Chronic activation through chronic stress can lead to chronically high levels of Cortisol.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q
A
17
Q

Adrenal gland structure

A
18
Q

Thyroid hormone

A
  • actions throughout the body

  • binds nuclear receptors; acts as transcription factors

↑Basal Metabolic Rate
↑ Growth
↑ Heart rate, strength of contraction, blood pressure
↑Anxiety/nervousness

19
Q

Movement of T3 and T4 through the membrane in thyroid hormone- check

A
20
Q
A
21
Q
A
22
Q

Variation in colloid size seen in goiter

A
23
Q

How would hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism with other conditions affect whether or not a goiter will occur?

A
24
Q

What gland releases sex hormones?

A

Adrenal gland

Males have additional testosterone because they have additional gonads that also release it; females have extra levels of estrogen and progesterone for the same reason

25
Q

What happens when TSH binds to its receptor?

A
  • It triggers endocytosis, digestion of the covalent bond between T3 and T4, and the thyroglobulin, and release of T3 and T4
  • It also triggers an up-regulation of the number of transporters and an up-regulation in the synthesis and the release of all the enzymes needed to make T3 and T4 in the colloid
  • This synthesis of T3 and T4 is needed to replace the T3 and T4 that’s being released into the bloodstream
26
Q

What are the two functoins/effects of TSH?

A

Released release and synthesis of T3 and T4

27
Q

Would high T3 and T4 levels (caused by an immunoglobulin that mimics TSH) and low TSH levels cause a goiter or no goiter?

A

Goiter

28
Q

Would an abnormal hypothalamus or anterior pituitary that causes high TSH cause a goiter or no goiter?

A

Goiter, because it causes high TSH levels

29
Q

Would a hypersecreting thyroid tumor cause a goiter or no goiter? And how would it affect T3, T4, and TSH levels?

A

No goiter, high T3 and T4, low TSH

Tumor cells do not secrete anything into the colloid space. They just synthesize T3 and T4 outside of the regulated pathway. T3 and T4 can’t be stored, so as soon as they’re synthesized, they go out into the bloodstream

Low TSH levels because of negative feedback of T3 and T4

30
Q

How would hypothyroidism caused by a primary failure of the thyroid or low iodine affect T3 and T4 levels, TSH levels, and goiter/no goiter

A
  • High TSH
  • Low T3 and T4 (hypothyroidism)
  • Goiter
31
Q

How would hypothyroidism caused by primary problem in the hypothalamus or pituitary affect T3 and T4 levels, TSH levels, and goiter/no goiter?

A
  • Low TSH (hypothalamus/pit release TSH)
  • Low T3 and T4
  • No goiter

A Principles of Physiology (25 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions