Endocrine System

Question 1

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 1

The collection of glands that produce hormones regulating metabolism, growth, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction …

Question 2

What are the major endocrine glands?

Answer 2

• Pineal gland
• Hypothalamus
• Pituitary gland
• Thymus
• Pancreas
• Gonads
• Adrenal glands
• Parathyroid gland
• Thyroid gland

Question 3

Where is the thymus located?

Answer 3

The superior mediastinum

Question 4

What is the role of the thymus?

Answer 4

The maturation of bone marrow derived stem cells into immunocompetent cells. (Thymosin)

(Thymus cell education)

Question 5

What are the four types of hormone?

Answer 5

Peptide hormones

Steroid hormones

Catecholamines

Thyroid hormones

Question 6

What are some of the roles of the hypothalamus?

Answer 6

Thermoregulation

Plasma osmolality

Heart rate

Blood pressure

Emotion, sexual behaviour

Lactation …

Question 7

What does the hypothalamus produce?

Answer 7

ADH and oxytocin

4 stimulatory and 2 inhibitory hormones that travel to the anterior pituitary

Question 8

What are the two lobes of the pituitary?

Answer 8

Anterior

Posterior

Question 9

What is the stress response?

Answer 9

The activation of endocrine, nervous and immune systems to maintain homeostasis in the presence of adverse stimuli.

Question 10

Where are the principal effectors of the stress response located?

Answer 10

The hypothalamus, the anterior love of the pituitary gland, the adrenal gland.

Question 11

List the adrenal cortical hormones:

Answer 11

Glucocorticoids (cortisol) and mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)

Question 12

What makes up the medulla of the adrenal gland?

Answer 12

Epithelioid cells called chromaffin cells.

Modified neurons

Question 13

Describe the secretion by chromaffin cells:

Answer 13

Myelinated presynaptic sympathetic nerve fibres reach the chromaffin cells.

When they reach the chromaffin cells these cells release their adenaline/noradrenaline

Question 14

What are the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline?

Answer 14

Glycogen broken down to glucose

Increase blood pressure

Increases breathing rate

Increases metabolic rate

Increases alertness

Decreased digestive + reproductive system activity

Question 15

What are the effects of mineralocorticoids?

Answer 15

Retention of sodium and water by kidneys

Increases blood volume and blood pressure

Question 16

What are the effects of glucocorticoids?

Answer 16

Proteins and fats converted to glucose or broken down for energy

Increases blood sugar

Suppression of immune system

Question 17

How are oxytocin and ADH released?

Answer 17

They are produced in the hypothalamus, travel down the neuronal axons and secreted adjacent to the capillaries of the posterior pituitary

Question 18

What does the pineal gland do?

Answer 18

Produces melatonin

Calcified in early adulthood and is visible in x rays

Question 19

What does melatonin do?

Answer 19

Controls the circadian rhythm

Inhibits release of gonadotrophins