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Endocrine system Flashcards

1
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

The endocrine system is a collection of glands that produce hormones, which regulate metabolism, growth, mood, reproduction, and other vital functions.

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2
Q

What are hormones?

A

Hormones are chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands into the bloodstream, which regulate specific body functions.

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3
Q

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

A

The hypothalamus regulates many bodily functions, including temperature, hunger, thirst, and emotional responses. It also controls the pituitary gland’s hormone release.

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4
Q

What is the function of the pituitary gland?

A

The pituitary gland, known as the “master gland,” controls other endocrine glands and releases hormones like growth hormone, ACTH, and prolactin.

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5
Q

What hormone is secreted by the thyroid gland?

A

The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which regulate metabolism, energy production, and growth.

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6
Q

What is the function of insulin?

A

Insulin, produced by the pancreas, helps regulate blood glucose levels by promoting the absorption of glucose into cells.

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7
Q

What is the role of glucagon?

A

Glucagon, also produced by the pancreas, raises blood glucose levels by promoting the conversion of glycogen into glucose in the liver.

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8
Q

What is cortisol and where is it produced?

A

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, and it plays a role in managing stress, regulating metabolism, and controlling inflammation.

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9
Q

What is aldosterone?

A

Aldosterone is a hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that helps regulate sodium and potassium levels, as well as fluid balance and blood pressure.

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10
Q

What is the function of adrenaline (epinephrine)?

A

Adrenaline, produced by the adrenal medulla, increases heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels, preparing the body for “fight or flight” responses.

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11
Q

What is the function of the parathyroid hormone (PTH)?

A

PTH, secreted by the parathyroid glands, increases blood calcium levels by promoting calcium release from bones and reducing calcium excretion by the kidneys.

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12
Q

What is the role of the ovaries in the endocrine system?

A

The ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone, which regulate female reproductive functions, menstruation, and pregnancy.

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13
Q

What is the role of the testes in the endocrine system?

A

The testes produce testosterone, which regulates male reproductive functions, including sperm production, and promotes the development of male secondary sexual characteristics.

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14
Q

What hormone is released by the pineal gland?

A

The pineal gland releases melatonin, which helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

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15
Q

What is the function of antidiuretic hormone (ADH)?

A

ADH, produced by the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary, regulates water balance by promoting water reabsorption in the kidneys.

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16
Q

What is the function of oxytocin?

A

Oxytocin, produced by the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary, stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and the release of milk during breastfeeding.

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17
Q

What is the function of the growth hormone (GH)?

A

Growth hormone, produced by the anterior pituitary gland, stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration. It affects bones, muscles, and overall body growth.

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18
Q

What is the function of prolactin?

A

Prolactin, secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, stimulates milk production in the mammary glands after childbirth.

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19
Q

What is the function of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)?

A

FSH, released by the anterior pituitary, stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles in females and sperm production in males.

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20
Q

What is the function of the adrenal medulla?

A

The adrenal medulla produces adrenaline (epinephrine) and norepinephrine, which are involved in the body’s response to stress, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.

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21
Q

What is the function of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)?

A

TSH, secreted by the anterior pituitary, stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which regulate metabolism.

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22
Q

What is the role of the pancreas in the endocrine system?

A

The pancreas secretes insulin (lowers blood glucose) and glucagon (raises blood glucose), regulating blood sugar levels.

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23
Q

What is the function of calcitonin?

A

Calcitonin, produced by the thyroid gland, lowers blood calcium levels by inhibiting the release of calcium from bones.

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24
Q

How does the endocrine system maintain homeostasis?

A

The endocrine system maintains homeostasis by releasing hormones that regulate vital functions like metabolism, blood sugar, blood pressure, and stress responses.

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25
What is diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels due to insulin production or function problems.
26
What are the two main types of diabetes mellitus?
Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) and Type 2 diabetes (insulin-independent).
27
What causes Type 1 diabetes mellitus?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
28
What causes Type 2 diabetes mellitus?
Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, where the body's cells become less responsive to insulin, or the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin.
29
What are common symptoms of diabetes mellitus?
Symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing sores.
30
What is the role of insulin in diabetes mellitus?
Insulin helps regulate blood glucose by allowing glucose to enter cells for energy. In diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or can't use it effectively.
31
What is diabetes insipidus?
Diabetes insipidus is a condition characterized by excessive thirst and urination caused by the kidneys' inability to conserve water, often due to a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
32
What causes diabetes insipidus?
Diabetes insipidus is caused by a deficiency of ADH (central diabetes insipidus) or the kidneys' resistance to ADH (nephrogenic diabetes insipidus).
33
What is a key difference between diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus?
Diabetes mellitus is related to blood glucose regulation and insulin, whereas diabetes insipidus is related to water balance and ADH.
34
What are peptide hormones?
Peptide hormones are made of amino acids and are water-soluble. They typically act by binding to receptors on the surface of target cells
35
What are steroid hormones?
Steroid hormones are lipid-soluble and derived from cholesterol. They can pass through cell membranes and bind to intracellular receptors. These hormones often affect gene expression and are involved in long-term processes like growth, development, and metabolism.
36
What are amine hormones?
Amine hormones are derived from amino acids, usually tyrosine or tryptophan. They can be water-soluble or lipid-soluble and affect various body functions.
37
What are endocrine glands?
Endocrine glands are glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones regulate various physiological processes such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and mood.
38
What are exocrine glands?
Exocrine glands secrete their products into ducts, which then carry the products to a specific site (such as the skin or digestive tract). Their secretions are not released into the bloodstream.
39
What is negative feedback?
Negative feedback is a mechanism that works to reverse a change or keep a variable within a set range. When a change is detected in a system (like a rise or fall in a certain variable), the body activates mechanisms to counteract or negate that change, bringing the system back to its normal state.
40
What is positive feedback?
Positive feedback is a mechanism that enhances or amplifies a change, rather than reversing it. In positive feedback, a small change is intensified and continues in the same direction until a specific outcome or event is achieved. Positive feedback is typically less common in the body but plays a crucial role in certain processes that need to be completed quickly.
41
Tropic hormones
stimulate the release of other hormones from other endocrine glands.
42
anterior pituitary
front part of the pituitary gland and produces and releases several important hormones that regulate various physiological processes. These hormones are typically controlled by releasing hormones from the hypothalamus.
43
posterior pituitary
stores and releases hormones produced by the hypothalamus. Unlike the anterior pituitary, the posterior pituitary does not produce its own hormones but rather stores and releases hormones that are synthesized in the hypothalamus.
44
What is hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone (T3 and T4), leading to an overactive metabolism.
45
What is hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone (T3 and T4), leading to a slower metabolism.
46
What is the role of calcium regulation in the body?
Calcium regulation is essential for muscle contraction, nerve signaling, blood clotting, and bone health.
47
Where is calcitonin produced and what is its function?
Produced in: Thyroid gland (C cells). Function: Lowers blood calcium levels when they are too high by inhibiting osteoclasts (preventing calcium release from bones) and increasing calcium excretion by the kidneys.
48
What happens when blood calcium levels are low (hypocalcemia)?
Stimulates: Release of PTH from the parathyroid glands. Effects: PTH increases calcium release from bones, reduces calcium excretion by the kidneys, and increases calcium absorption in the intestines via activated vitamin D. Result: Blood calcium levels increase.
49
What happens when blood calcium levels are high (hypercalcemia)?
Stimulates: Release of calcitonin from the thyroid. Effects: Calcitonin inhibits osteoclast activity (less calcium is released from bones) and increases calcium excretion by the kidneys. Result: Blood calcium levels decrease.
50
What are the key hormones involved in calcium regulation?
PTH (increases calcium) Calcitonin (decreases calcium) Vitamin D (increases calcium absorption)
51
What is a stress hormone?
Stress hormones are chemicals released by the body in response to stress, helping the body cope with stressors. The primary stress hormones are cortisol and adrenaline (epinephrine).
52
What is cortisol and what is its function?
Produced by: Adrenal cortex (part of the adrenal glands) Function: Cortisol is a glucocorticoid that increases blood sugar, reduces inflammation, and helps the body respond to long-term stress by preparing it to deal with the stressor (increases energy).
53
What is adrenaline (epinephrine) and what is its function?
Produced by: Adrenal medulla (part of the adrenal glands) Function: Adrenaline triggers the fight or flight response by increasing heart rate, blood flow to muscles, and releasing glucose for energy, preparing the body for immediate physical action.
54
What is the main difference between the nervous system and the endocrine system?
Nervous System: Uses electrical impulses to send rapid signals through nerves to specific target cells. Endocrine System: Uses hormones released into the bloodstream to communicate with a wider range of cells over a longer period.
55
How does the speed of response compare between the nervous system and endocrine system?
Nervous System: Fast responses, typically occurring in milliseconds to seconds. Endocrine System: Slower responses, occurring over minutes, hours, or even days.
56
How does signaling differ between the nervous system and endocrine system?
Nervous System: Signals travel as electrical impulses through neurons to specific target tissues. Endocrine System: Signals are chemical in nature, carried by hormones through the bloodstream to target organs or cells.
57
What are alpha cells and where are they found?
Alpha cells are found in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. They are responsible for producing the hormone glucagon.
58
What is the function of alpha cells?
Alpha cells release glucagon when blood glucose levels are low. Glucagon stimulates the liver to break down glycogen into glucose, which is released into the bloodstream, raising blood glucose levels.
59
What are beta cells and where are they found?
Beta cells are also located in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. They are responsible for producing the hormone insulin.
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Biology 30-1 (6 decks)

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