Endocrine System** Flashcards
What is the function of the endocrine system?
Maintain homeostasis by releasing hormones and control prolonged continuous processes
How does the endocrine and nervous system work together?
Coordinate and direct the activity of the body’s cells and to maintain homeostasis
What kind of cells are in the endocrine system?
Glandular epithelium
What kind of chemical signals does the endocrine system have?
Hormones
What is the specificity of response in the endocrine system?
Receptors on target cells
What is the speed of onset in the endocrine system?
Seconds to hours
How long is the duration of action in the endocrine system?
May be brief or may last for days if secretion ceases
Release their products at the body’s surface (epithelium) or into body cavities through ducts; ducted
Exocrine Glands
What are some examples of exocrine glands?
Sweat, oil, saliva, pancreas, liver
Produce hormones that release into the blood or lymph; ductless
Endocrine glands
What are some examples of endocrine glands?
Pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, thymus
Chemical messengers released into the blood to be transported leisurely throughout the body
Hormones
Cells with specific receptors on which hormones exert their effect
Target cells
Where must protein receptors be present so the hormone can attach?
Plasma membrane
What does a hormone depend on so it could interact with its customers’ receptors?
Molecular structure
Made from cholesterol; can pass straight through the target cell’s membrane and cytoplasm and into its nucleus
Steroid
What are steroid hormones soluble in?
Lipids
What are steroid hormones insoluble in?
Water
Amino acid based molecules; activates/deactivates enzymes that trigger the desired change to the cell’s activities
Non-steroid hormones
What prompts the endocrine glands to release or not release their hormones?
Negative feedback
What is hormone secretion activated by?
Internal or external stimulus
What do rising hormones inhibit?
Further hormone release
Endocrine organs are prodded into action by other hormones
Hormonal stimuli
What are some examples of hormonal stimuli?
Hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to secrete its hormone
Changing blood levels of certain ions and nutrients
Humoral stimuli
What are some examples of humoral stimuli?
Decreasing calcium levels stimulates the parathyroid ormone
Nerve fibers stimulate hormone release
Neural stimuli
What are some examples of neural stimuli?
Adrenal medulla releases norepinephrine and epinephrine during periods of stress
What types of chemicals can hormones be?
Steroids, peptides, amines, proteins, glycoproteins
Locally-produced lipids that affect the organ in which they are produced with a variety of effects
Prostaglandins
What are some effects of Prostaglandins?
Relax or contract smooth muscle, stimulate secretion, influence blood pressure
Hormones that have another endocrine gland as their target
Tropic hormones
What 2 hormones does the anterior pituitary produce?
Growth hormones, prolactin