Endocrine System Flashcards
Endocrine glands
Secrete hormones into blood vessels that then transport these to target organs
Secretions
- A useful substance or fluid produced by cells and released to to the surrounding medium.
- E.g. Sweat, enzymes and hormones
Exocrine glands
Glands with ducts to carry secretions to places where they are required
The endocrine system
- A system consisting of various endocrine glands releasing hormones
- which act as chemical messengers targeting specific organs
Name at least 5 major glands making up the endocrine system
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary
- Thyroid
- Thymus
- Pancreas
- Adrenal
- Testes
- Ovaries
Functions of hormones
- Regulate secretions from endocrine or exocrine glands
- control growth and development of the body
- maintain homeostasis
- regulate metabolism and energy release
- react to stimuli in emergency situations
- control reproduction process
When hormones act together for a common effect
Synergistic hormones
When hormones act against each other or the effect of one cancels out the effect of the other
Antagonistic hormones
Over secretion of hormones
Hyper secretion
Under secretion of hormones
Hypo secretion
The role of the hypothalamus
- Part of the brain that links the nervous and endocrine systems
- maintains homeostasis
- controls other glands
- particularly involved with pituitary gland function
- produces ADH (secreted by pituitary)
The role of the pituitary gland (hypophysis)
- Referred to sometimes as the master gland
- Releases hormones that control metabolic functions and many other endocrine glands
Five hormones secreted by pituitary
- Growth hormone GH (growth)
- Thyroid stimulating hormone TSH (thyroid to produce thyroxin)
- Follicle stimulating hormone FSH (ovary or testes function)
- Lutenising hormone LH (ovary or testes function)
- prolactin (mammary gland function)
Thyroid gland function
Pituitary gland releases thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Thyroid stimulated to produce thyroxin:
- controls basic metabolic rate of cells
- increases nervous system activity
- increases cardiac output
- affects mental and physical growth and sexuality
- affects alimentary system
Hyperthyroidism
Over-secretion of thyroxin
Graves’ disease:
- Increased metabolic rate
- nervousness
- weight loss
- rapid heart rate
- shaky, sweaty and hyperactivity
- goitres causing bulging eyes
Hypothyroidism
Under secretion of thyroxin:
cretinism in children:
- low metabolic rate
- retarded growth and mental development,
- thick skin and protruding tongue
- retarded sexual development
myxoedema in adults:
- feel cold,
- gain weight,
- thick skin,
- slow mentally and physically
Structure of the pancreas
Exocrine gland (digestive juices) Endocrine gland (islets of Lagerhans): -alpha cells secrete glucagon -beta cells secrete insulin
Role of insulin and glucagon
Antagonistic hormones - negative feedback interaction. Hypothalamus detects if blood sugar too high Insulin secretion increased and more glucose converted to glycogen Hypothalamus detects if blood sugar too low Glucagon secretion increased and more glycogen converted to glucose
Diabetes
-Not enough insulin produced resulting in elevated blood glucose levels -Extra glucose is excreted by the kidneys -Diabetics need to control intake of carbohydrates and may need daily insulin
Type 1 diabetes
Life long condition Pancreas does not produce enough insulin Daily use of insulin required
Type-2 diabetes
-Body cells become resistant to insulin or pancreas makes insufficient insulin -Can be triggered by obesity and lack of physical fitness -treatment varies according to the specific nature of the disease e.g. daily insulin
The function of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)
-Regulates water content and body temperature -Osmoreceptors in hypothalamus detect if concentration of solutes in the blood high. -The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary to release ADH -ADH increases permeability of distal convoluted tubule of the nephron -more water is reabsorbed, less water in urine -a lower concentration of solutes in the blood inhibits secretion of ADH -permeability of the distal convoluted tubules decreases -less water reabsorbed, more water in urine