Endocrine System Flashcards
What do glands produce?
Glands produce hormones in the blood stream.
What is the function of the pituitary gland?
The pituitary gland is known as the ‘master gland’ as it regulates other glands.
Where is the pituitary gland located?
The pituitary gland is located deep in the middle of the brain.
What role do hormones play in the body?
Hormones act as chemical messages to organs and are important for regulating the endocrine system.
What is the role of the adrenal gland?
The adrenal gland helps the body fight or respond to stress by releasing adrenaline.
What do testes facilitate?
Testes facilitate the release of testosterone.
What does the hypothalamus control?
The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland and regulates the whole endocrine system.
What is the role of the pancreas?
Controls insulin levels.
Insulin regulates blood sugar levels.
What is the journey of a hormone in chemical signaling?
1) Gland Stimulation: Gland is excited in preparation for hormone release.
2) Hormone Release: Glands release hormones into the bloodstream.
3) Effector Binding: Hormones bind to receptors on target cells, leaving the bloodstream.
What is a weakness of biological structures in research?
Biological structures are merely tools and cannot establish causation. So problematic as only relationship found.
What did White-Traut et al. measure?
They measured oxytocin levels in saliva in females before and during breastfeeding. Found that levels were highest before and decreased dramatically when started feeding, then rose again after 39 mos of feeding. Demonstrates important role of oxytocin in regulating breastfeeding.
What role does oxytocin play in breastfeeding?
Oxytocin regulates breastfeeding by demonstrating an important biological process.
Weakness of biological structures
They underpin behaviour is reductionist, reduces human behaviour and cognitive processes down to biological processes so too simplistic
