Endocrine System

Question 1

What is the primary role of the endocrine system?

Answer 1

Co-ordinating all the systems of the body including maintenance of homeostasis

Question 2

What stimulates changes in hormone production and release by endocrine glands?

Answer 2

The nervous system or another hormone

Question 3

Which glands are considered key endocrine glands in the body?

Answer 3

• Hypothalamus
• Pituitary gland
• Pineal gland
• Thyroid gland
• 4 parathyroid glands
• Thymus gland
• 2 adrenal glands
• Endocrine cells within organs like ovaries, testes, placenta, pancreas

Question 4

What hormones are produced by the hypothalamus?

Answer 4

• Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
• Prolactin releasing hormone
• Thyrotropin releasing hormone

Question 5

What is the function of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)?

Answer 5

Stimulates the ovary to produce a dominant Graafian follicle containing a mature ovum

Question 6

What role does Luteinising Hormone (LH) play in the reproductive system?

Answer 6

Triggers ovulation and maintains the corpus luteum

Question 7

What is the function of Prolactin?

Answer 7

Initiates and maintains the production of breast milk after birth

Question 8

What hormones are secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland?

Answer 8

• Oxytocin
• Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)

Question 9

What is the primary function of thyroid hormones?

Answer 9

Essential for maintenance of normal metabolism

Question 10

What hormones are produced by the thyroid gland?

Answer 10

• Thyroxine (T4)
• Triiodothyronine (T3)

Question 11

What is the role of glucagon?

Answer 11

Converts glycogen to glucose

Question 12

What is the role of insulin?

Answer 12

Converts glucose to glycogen

Question 13

What hormones do the ovaries primarily secrete?

Answer 13

• Oestrogen
• Progesterone

Question 14

What is the function of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) during pregnancy?

Answer 14

Maintains the corpus luteum for 3-4 months and stimulates it to continue producing oestrogen and progesterone

Question 15

What is a negative feedback loop?

Answer 15

A normal biological response where a system’s output acts to reduce the processes that lead to the output

Question 16

What is a positive feedback loop?

Answer 16

A chain of positive events in which hormone secretion is increased at each step

Question 17

In a feedback loop, what is the role of receptors?

Answer 17

Detect changes in the variable and signal to the control centre

Question 18

Fill in the blank: The _______ is responsible for comparing the variable to a set point in a feedback loop.

Answer 18

Control centre

Question 19

What does the corpus luteum produce after ovulation?

Answer 19

• Oestrogen
• Progesterone
• Inhibin
• Relaxin

Question 20

What is the main function of relaxin during labor?

Answer 20

Relaxes pelvic muscles and ligaments allowing the pubis symphysis to expand

Question 21

Islets of langerhans

Answer 21

Specialised cells found throughout
Contain alpha cells (which release glucagon) and beta cells (which release insulin)

Question 22

Largest endocrine gland

Answer 22

Thyroid 10-20g

Question 23

Human placental lactogen (hPL) role

Answer 23

Helps prepare the mammary glands for milk production

Question 24

What do the ovaries respond to?

Answer 24

FSH and LH

Question 25

What prepares the uterus for implantation

Answer 25

Oestrogen and progesterone