Endocrine System-2

Question 1

The cortex releases some 2 dozen steroid hormones collectively called

Answer 1

Corticosteroids

Question 2

The adrenal medulla is

Answer 2

Derived from embryonic nervous tissue and contains sympathetic nerve fibers

Question 3

What is under control of the sympathetic nervous system

Answer 3

Adrenal medulla

Question 4

The sympathetic nervous system…

Answer 4

Results in secretion of norepinephrine and epinephrine from the adrenal medulla

Question 5

What does the zona glomerulosa release

Answer 5

Aldosterone

Question 6

The release of aldosterone is controlled by the…

Answer 6

Kidneys renin-angiotensin system

Question 7

The Renin-Angiotensin system is activated when…

Answer 7

Blood pressure drops or when NA+ levels in the blood drop

Question 8

What is aldosterone’s main target organ and what is it’s main effect?

Answer 8

Kidney; to increase sodium and water absorption and increase K+ excretion

Question 9

What is under control of the anterior pituitary?

Answer 9

Zona fasciculata

Question 10

CRF=

ACTH=

Answer 10

Corticotropin releasing factor

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

Question 11

What is released throughout a normal person’s day?

Answer 11

Cortisol

Question 12

When are cortisol levels the highest/lowest?

Answer 12

Highest-in the morning

Lowest- throughout the day

Question 13

Cortisol…

Answer 13

• released in circadian rhythm
• increases blood sugar levels
• releases a lot when stressed

Question 14

What are characteristics of acute major depression and other forms of chronic stress?

Answer 14

Dysfunction of the HPA axis (hypothalamic pituitary adrenal) with elevated plasma cortisol levels

Question 15

What does cortisol do to the body?

Answer 15

• Cortisol raises blood sugar levels by stimulating the conversion of FA and AA to glucose
• Cortisol raises blood glucose levels by stimulating breakdown of glycogen in liver
• cortisol has a vasoconstriction effect
• cortisol has an anti-inflammatory effect

Question 16

Cushing’s disease (hypersecretion of cortisol)

Answer 16

Causes:

1) pituitary tumor
2) adrenal tumor
3) large doses of glucocorticoid drugs

Symptoms:

• hyperglycemia (steroid diabetes)
• round face
• fat deposition around midline
• weak bones and thinning muscles
• water and salt retention (hypertension)

Question 17

Addison’s disease (hyposecretion)

Answer 17

Hyposecretion of hormones from adrenal cortex. Affects both aldosterone and cortisol

Symptoms

• weight loss
• low NA+ and glucose levels in blood
• high K+ levels in blood
• weakness or fatigue
• severe dehydration and hypotension
• salt craving

Question 18

Addison’s disease may be caused by…

Answer 18

1) the immune system mistakenly attacking the adrenal gland (autoimmune disease)
2) infections (such as tuberculosis, HIV, fungal)
3) tumors

Question 19

What is used to treat Addison’s disease

Answer 19

Corticosteroid replacement therapy

Question 20

What is the main androgen secreted by the adrenal gland?

Answer 20

Testosterone

Question 21

Target tissues…

Answer 21

Contain an enzyme called aromatase which converts some testosterone to estrogen

Question 22

Aromatase

Answer 22

This enzyme becomes important when females are diagnosed with estrogen receptor and breast cancer

Question 23

What is the function of estrogen and testosterone from the adrenal?

Answer 23

Sex hormones promote bone growth and to maintain muscle mass in both males and females

Question 24

Pineal gland is involved in what

Answer 24

Awake/sleep cycles

Question 25

What hormone does the pineal gland secrete

Answer 25

Melatonin