Endocrine system Flashcards
Function of the endocrine system and terminology
Functions to regulate and coordinate body activities
Terminology
-Tropin- to make something happen or stimulate an effect
The endocrine system is one of 2 control systems of the body – the other is the nervous system.
It is the slower of the two systems
Endocrine glands functions
The endocrine system is a general term referring to the group of ductless glands which
Help to maintain homeostasis in the body.
They can also drive change e.g. growth or lactation.
They do this by releasing hormones, these are communication and control molecules
Endocrine glands synthesize, store and then secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream
Hormones are
Are chemical messengers that are secreted in response to a stimulus
Have specific receptors at their target organ
The target organ is distant from the endocrine gland
The receptor will respond only to the specific hormone to which it is sensitive
Hormones are controlled by feedback loops that can be negative (usually) or positive
Hormone secretion controlled by
Hormone secretion is mainly controlled by negative feedback
Sensors detect when levels of the hormone rise above optimum levels
Signal is sent to stop or decrease production
When the levels drop below optimum, a signal is sent to increase production
Secretion may also be controlled by:
Positive feedback e.g. nursing stimulates prolactin release which stimulates more milk production
Nervous stimulation e.g. the sympathetic NS causes release of adrenalin (epinephrine) during the fight or flight response
Cells that produce locally acting hormones are called paracrine glands
Important in organ and tissue development
Characteristics of they hypothalamus
Part of the diencephalon of the brain
Links the cerebrum to the endocrine system i.e conscious to hormones
Regulates appetite, body temperature, and sleep-wake cycles
Pituitary is
An endocrine gland attached to the base of the hypothalamus by a thin stalk of nerves and blood vessels- infundibulum
A major control gland of the endocrine system
Has anterior and posterior parts
Relationship b/w hypothalamus and pituitary
Blood vessels form a portal system link between the anterior pituitary and the hypothalamus
Hypothalamus receives information from the CNS
Then secretes hormones into its portal system to regulate pituitary hormone secretion
A nervous connection between the posterior pituitary and hypothalamus allows direct transport of oxytocin and antidiuretic (ADH)
Synthesized in the hypothalamus
Stored in the pituitary
Released on stimulation by nerve impulses from the hypothalamus
Characteristics of pituitary gland
Controls other endocrine glands
Size of small pea or bean
Attached to hypothalamus by a stalk (infundibulum) and seated in a pocket in the sphenoid bone of the skull
Two parts:
anterior is normal glandular tissue,
posterior is derived from nervous tissue
Anterior pituitary does what
Produces 7 known hormones as directed by the hypothalamus and feedback from target organs and tissues
Release of each hormone is controlled by the appropriate releasing hormone from the hypothalamus
Growth hormone is
Aka somatotropin or somatotropic hormone
Promotes body growth in young animals, especially bone and muscle.
Protein building
Makes energy available from reserves (stored fat and carbs) → promotes HYPERglycemia
Prolactin is
Helps trigger and maintain lactation
Lactation and prolactin secretion continues as long as physical stimulation of nursing or milking continues
Is a positive feedback loop
Animal ‘dries up’ if stimulation stops e.g. weaning
TSh is
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH or thyrotropin)
Stimulates thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones
Increased levels if thyroid levels drop
Regulated through the hypothalamus, which will release TSH – releasing hormone to cause TSH to be released from the pituitary
Negative feedback loop regulates
ACTH is
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
Stimulates the cortex of the adrenal gland
Controlled by negative feedback
During stress, the CNS can send signals through the hypothalamus
What does the hypothalamus release?
ACTH- releasing hormone- stimulates pituitary release ACTH
ACTH→ causes release of cortisol and other stress (steroid) hormones from adrenal cortex
CRH= corticotropin releasing hormone. Same as ACTH-RH
FSH is
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
In females stimulates growth and development of ovarian follicles
Follicles develop and oocyte (egge) matures
Follicular cells to release estrogen
Promotes the physical and behavioural changes of estrus
In male animals, FSH stimulates growth and development of spermatogenesis- growth and development of sperm
(Estrogen production)
LH is
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
This is the ripening hormone for the follicle (FSH stimulates follicular development)
LH causes the final rupture and release of the egg from the follicle
Males
Called interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH)
Encourages production of testosterone
FSH and LH are also called gonadotropins because they stimulate growth and development of the glands
MSH is
Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (MSH)
Uncertain role in most animals at normal levels
Can cause skin to darken at high levels
In reptiles, fish, and amphibians, can cause rapid changes in colour
Posterior pituitary function
Does not PRODUCE any hormones
Stores and releases 2 hormones produced by the hypothalamus, as directed by the hypothalamus
Hormones get to the posterior pituitary by transport down the nerve fibers
ADH
Oxytocin
ADH is and function
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
AKA= vasopressin
Helps prevent diuresis
Helps conserve water
In kidneys
Increases reabsorption of water from the urine
Urine becomes concentrated, darker, and stronger smelling,
ADH secreted id animals becomes dehydrated and hypothalamus sense hemoconcentration
What is hemoconcentration
Increased RBC concentration
Affects are partially blocked by caffeine and alcohol
What would happen if ADH was absent
PU/PD
Oxytocin is and functions
Causes contractions of the uterine muscles at breeding and parturition
At breeding, this helps move sperm up to the oviduct
At parturition, this helps deliver the fetus and placenta
Bonding(behavioural effects) in humans. Used to promote fostering in animals.
Causes milk let down in lactating females. Moves milk from the production and storage part of the mammary gland to the lower part for nursing
Release is stimulated by the sensory stimulation of nursing, intromission, the fetus or sometimes by association (cows)
Often given as a drug to promote delivery of fetus, placenta or milk.
Anatomy of the thyroid gland
Two lobes, sometimes connected, on either side and just below larynx
The thyroid glands of several species. The inset cross section shows the ventral connection of the thyroid glands in the pig
Composed of thousands of tiny follicles
Spheres of cells around a central area containing the thyroid hormone precursor (called colloid)
What hormones do they thyroid produce
Produces 2 groups of hormones
Thyroid hormone group T3, T4
Calcitonin
Thyroid hormones are
Produced in two forms: T3 and T4
Named for how many iodine atoms they have per molecule of hormone.
Produced in response to TSH
T4 is also called thyroxine, main form produced by gland
Usually measured when testing for disease
T3 is the more physiologically active form,
Produced from T4 in tissues
Calorigenic effect of thyroid hormone
Helps heat the body by increasing metabolic rate and what production
Production is increased with exposure to cold
Production is decreased by emotional or physical stress (can make animal susceptible to cold or disease)
Effect on Protein, Carbohydrate, and Lipid Metabolism
Increases protein anabolism in the presence of adequate nutrition
Stimulates catabolism during nutritional deficiencies or high thyroid levels
Encourages lipid catabolism
Tends to cause hyperglycemia
Cardiovascular:
Increases heart rate
Effects of thyroid hormone on growth
Developmental: Effect on Young, Growing Animals
Necessary for young, growing animals
Helps maturation of CNS and growth and development of muscles and bones
Calcitonin is
Produced by C-cells found between the thyroid follicles
Functions to keep blood calcium levels from getting too high
Stimulates storage of excess blood calcium in the bones- this drops blood calcium levels
Parathyroid gland anatomy
Variable appearance and location
Generally found on or near thyroid
Often 2 pairs –
one pair on the surface of the thyroid
the other pair within the thyroid
Appear as small pale nodules