Endocrine System Flashcards
What is the endocrine system?
a system that works along side the nervous sytem and works using a network of glands that secrete hormones in order to bring about a physiological reaction
what are hormones?
chemical messengers
how do hormones travel?
through the bloodstream
What are the major glands in the endocrine system?
- pituitay glands
- adrenal glands
- reproductive glands (ovaries and testes)
Explain how hormones work.
- they are secreted by glands into the blood stream
- they then travel to target cells which are the cells hormones effect with the complementary receptors
- when enough receptors are stimulated a phyisological reaction is stimulated
What is the pituitary gland?
- the master gland which stimulates other glands and is controlled by the hypothalamus
- it has two parts (anterior and posterior)
What does ACTH do?
it stimulates the adrenal gland to release cortisol
Describe the anterior pituitary gland?
- secretes ACTH in response to stress
- produces LH and FSH (important for reproduction as they stimulated oestrogen and progesterone)
- produces testosterone and sperm
What does the posterior pituitay gland do?
- releases oxytocin
What does oxytocin do?
- it stimulates contraction during child birth
- important in mother-infant bonding
- important in maintanance and repair
Describe the adrenal gland?
- found on top of the kidney
- there are two types on on the outer (adrenal cortex) and inner (adrenal medulla)
What does the adrenal cortex do
- produces cortisol
- produces aldosterone
What does cortisol do?
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- it’s a stress hormone
- has cardiovascular and anti-flammatory functions
What does aldestrone do?
it maintains blood volume and pressure
What does the adrenal medulla?
- releases adrenaline
- releases nora adrenaline
What does adrenaline do?
involved in fight or flight response and is relased in response to stressful situations (increases heart rate for example)
What does noradrenaline do?
involved in the fight and flight response and response to stressful situations by increasing blood pressure through constricting blood vessels
What hormones do the ovaries produce?
oestrogen and progesterone
What hormone does the testes produce?
testosterone
What does testosterone do?
- causes developement of male characteristics (facial hair for example)
- plays a role in sex drive and sperm production
- important in male health and well-being
What is feedback?
when hormones move away from their stable concentration (increase and decrease) pituitary gland and hypothalamus’ receptors will detect this and adjust the secretion of said hormone
