Endocrine/Excretory System Flashcards
Endocrine System
: composed of a network of endocrine glands and functions as a chemical messenger system.
What is influenced by the Endocrine System
- Mood regulation
- Growth and development
- Metabolism
Hormones
Hormones are the body’s chemical messanger, as they transfer information and instructions from one set of cells to another.
Glands
a group of cells that produce and secrete hormones
Hypothalamus
- a collection of specialised cells that are located at the lower central part of the brain.
- controls growth and body temperature
- nerve cells in the hypothalamus controls the pituitary glands by producing chemicals that stimulate or suppress hormones secretion from the pituitary
Pituitary gland
- it is no bigger than a pea, it is located at the base of the brain under the hypothalamus.
- it is called the master gland, as it produces hormones that controls other glands
- it creates growth hormones, that stimulate growth of bones and other body tissues.
- secretes endorphins, chemicals that act on the nervous system and reduce feelings of pain.
Thyroid glands
- Located at the front part of lower neck
- Produces hormones to control rate at which cells burn fuels from food to provide energy
- Helps kids and teens bones grow and develop
- plays a role in the development of brain and nervous system
- thyroid sends hormones to help develop your brain
Thymus gland
- located in the chest, between the breast bone and heart
- responsible for producing T cells, which help destroy infected cells
- important for newborn babies, as without a thymus, the baby’s immune system will collapse causing the baby to die.
Adrenal glands
- Two triangular glands, one on top of each kidney
- Inner part of gland is called the medulla, and the outer part is called the cortex
- The cortex produces hormones that regulate salt and water balance in body, the body’s response to stress and immune system
- The medulla produces epinephrine which increases blood pressure and heart rate when experiencing stress
Pancreas
- Part of body’s hormone secreting system
- Produces two important hormones, insulin and glucagon
- Insulin is released when blood sugar is too high
- Glucagon is released when blood sugar is too low
What does the Endocrine System DO
When a hormone is released, it travels from the gland that made it into the bloodstream. It will move until it reaches target cells, that are designed to receive its message
Target cells will absorb the hormone and create proteins needed.
Type 1 Diabetes
- When the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin
- An autoimmune disorder, so some parts of the body’s immune system attacks and destroys cells of the pancreas that produces insulin
- To control blood sugar level, individuals will need regular injections of insulin
Type 2 Diabetes
- When the body cant produce normal amounts of insulin
- When the body cant respond to insulin properly
- Some individuals can control blood sugar level with dietary changes, exercise and oral medications but many take injections of insulin
Function of Excretory System
The function of the excretory system is remove waste products from the body such as urea, carbon dioxide, water and salts and to help maintain homeostasis
Why is the Excretory System
If we didn’t have have the excretory system, harmful waste products would pile up which would make us sick.
Parts of the Excretory System
Lungs, Skin, Liver, Kidney, Ureter, Bladder, Urethra
What does the it secrete?
Urea, salt and carbon dioxide
Lungs
Lungs remove carbon dioxide from the blood and releases it when we breathe out. The lungs also releases small amounts of water and heat.
Skin
Responsible for excreting most of the body’s heat. It also gets rid of water, salts, and urea. It gets rid of wastes from sweat.
Kidney
The kidneys filter out waste from the blood and creates urine. The urine then leaves the kidneys through the ureter and stored in the bladder until the urethra carries it out
Liver
considered a secondary organ, helps eliminate waste but needs other organs to help. It produces urea by breaking down proteins and helps breakdown of wastes into forms that can be excreted.
