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Ageing and Disease > Endocrine System > Flashcards

Endocrine System Flashcards

1
Q

What is a hormone?

A

A hormone is a signalling molecule which enables an event in one part of the body to have an effect elsewhere. They travel in the blood to target tissues.

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2
Q

Where may hormones be produced?

A

Hormones may be produced in the endocrine glands, or in cells distributed around the body.

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3
Q

What is the endocrine system involved in the regulation of?

A

The endocrine system is involved in the regulation of homeostasis, cellular metabolism, growth and development, stress response, reproduction and the production of immune cells.

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4
Q

A particular hormone usually affects only a limited number of cells. What are these known as?

A

The cells affected by a hormone are known as the hormone’s target cells.

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5
Q

What makes a cell a target for a hormone?

A

A cell is a target for a hormone if it has a specific receptor for that hormone. Receptors may be intracellular or on the cell surface.

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6
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A

The hypothalamus is a small region of the brain which contains clusters of neurons. It regulates pituitary gland activity.

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7
Q

What does the pituitary gland regulate?

A

The pituitary gland regulates many body functions as well as other glands.

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8
Q

The posterior pituitary is actually an extension of…

A

The posterior pituitary is actually an extension of the hypothalamus.

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9
Q

Which hormones are synthesised in the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary?

A

The antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin are synthesised in the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary.

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10
Q

What is the anterior pituitary made up of?

A

The anterior pituitary is made up of epithelial cells.

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11
Q

What is the function of the anterior pituitary?

A

The anterior pituitary synthesises and secretes several peptide hromones.

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12
Q

What is the target organ and action of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)?

A

ACTH targets the adrenals and causes secretion of other hormones.

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13
Q

What is the target organ and action of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)?

A

TSH targets the thyroid gland and causes secretion of thyroid hormones.

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14
Q

What is the target organ and action of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)?

A

FSH targets the gonads and is involved in the growth and maintenance of the reproductive system.

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15
Q

What is the target organ and action of the luteinising hormone (LH)?

A

LH targets the gonads and is involved in sex hormone production.

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16
Q

What is the target organ and action of the growth hormone (GH)?

A

GH targets the liver and adipose tissue, and promotes growth.

17
Q

What is the target organ and action of prolactin?

A

Prolactin targets the mammary glands and promotes milk production.

18
Q

Neurons in the hypothalamus release…

A

Releasing/inhibiting hormones which travel in a portal blood system to the anterior pituitary gland

19
Q

What happens to releasing hormones at the anterior pituitary gland?

A

The anterior pituitary secretes releasing hormones into the blood where they travel to their target to produce a response.

20
Q

What happens to inhibitory hormones at the anterior pituitary gland?

A

In response to an inhibitory hormone, the anterior pituitary stops secreting the relevant hormone, causing a knock-on effect on the target tissue.

21
Q

Describe the negative feedback loop of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis.

A

Thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) is released from the hypothalamus and stimulates production and secretion of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary. TSH stimulates production of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) from the thyroid. T3 and T4 have a negative feedback on the pituitary and hypothalamus so reduce production of TRH and TSH when they reach the correct level.

22
Q

Most hormone levels decline with age. Levels of which hormones increase with age?

A

The follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone and norepinephrine levels increase with age.

23
Q

How does ageing affect target cells?

A

Target cells become less sensitive to hormones as we age.

24
Q

The metabolism and excretion of hormones may be affected by which kind of diseases?

A

Chronic diseases, such as those affecting the liver and kidney, can affect the metabolism and excretion of hormones.

25
Q

What is somatopause?

A

Somatopause is a gradual, progressive decline in growth hormone secretion with age. This is primarily caused by reduced secretion of the growth hormone-releasing hormone by the hypothalamus.

26
Q

What are the effects of somatopause?

A

Somatopause leads to decreased production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and metabolic changes such as increased body fat, decreased protein synthesis, reduced bone mass and decreased immune function.

27
Q

What effect does exercise have on somatopause?

A

Regular physical activity has been shown to slow the decline in growth hormone secretion, improving body composition, bone density and metabolic health.

28
Q

What are some of the risks of growth hormone replacement?

A

Risks of GH replacement include insulin resistance, oedema, joint pain and increased risk of cancer.

29
Q

Which hormones are importanrt for maintaining the Basal Metabolic Rate?

A

T3 and T4 (thyroxine) are important for maintaining BMR.

30
Q

A decrease in thyroid activity as we age leads to a reduction in the production of which hormone?

A

T3 production decreases as we age.

31
Q

Risk of autoimmune thyroiditis increases in elderly females. What is a dietary risk factor for this?

A

A lack of dietary iodine may increase risk of autoimmune thyroiditis.

32
Q

When is menopause recognised to have occured?

A

Menopause is recognised to have occurred after 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea for which there is no other obvious pathological or physiological cause.

33
Q

What causes menopause?

A

Menopause is caused by the depletion of primordial follicles in the ovaries and a decline in oestrogen levels.

34
Q

What is the hallmark of ovarian ageing?

A

The progressive loss of follicles is the hallmark of ovarian ageing. As the number of follicles declines, ovaries produce less oestrogen resulting in a weaker negative feedback signal to the hypothalamus and pituitary. This causes the pituitary to increase secretion of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Ageing and Disease (9 decks)

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