Endocrine System Flashcards
The endocrine system uses ____ to communicate?
Hormones
What is a Hormone?
A hormone is a chemical messenger that travels in the bloodstream to other tissues or organs to stimulate physiological responses in cells of another tissue or organ
What are the 4 principal mechanisms of communication between cells in the body?
GNPH
Gap junctions
Neurotransmitters
Paracrines
Hormones
What are gap junctions and where are the commonly found?
The are pores in cells that allow signaling molecules, nutrients, and electrolytes to move from cell to cell.
Used by smooth and cardiac muscle
What are paracrines?
The are short acting hormones released by cells to affect a local area
The endocrine system is composed of what?
Hormone producing glands, tissues, and cells
What are exocrine glands?
Glands with ducts that secrete substances to an epithelial surface “external secretions”
What are endocrine glands?
Glands with ducts that secrete hormones into the body “internal secretions”
Composed of dense fenestrated capillary networks which allow easy uptake of hormones by the blood
What are three neurotransmitters that also act as hormones?
AND
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Nor-epinephrine
Dopamine
Where is the pituitary gland located?
inferior to the hypothalamus suspended by the infundibulum and housed in the stella turcica of the sphenoid bone
What two structures make up the pituitary gland?
The anterior and posterior pituitary gland
Adenohypophysis and the Neurohypophysis
How is the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland connected to the hypothalamus?
Via the hypophyseal portal system
What is the hypophyseal portal system?
A network of capillaries that begins in the Hypothalamus and travel into the anterior lobe via portal venules
how Is the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland different?
It is actually an extension of the nervous system it communicates via neurons that originate in the hypothalamus
How many hormones are produced in the hypothalamus?
8
How many hypothalamus hormones regulate the anterior pituitary lobe?
6
4 releasing and two inhibiting
What are the four releasing hormones that stimulate the anterior pituitary
TCGG
TRH-Thyroid Releasing Hormone
CRH- Corticotropin Releasing Hormone
GnRH- Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
GHRH- Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone
What are the two inhibiting hormones that inhibit the anterior pituitary lobe?
PS
PIH - Prolactin Inhibiting Hormone
Somatostatin - Inhibits GH and TSH secretion
What two Hormones are released by the posterior pituitary lobe?
OA
OT- Oxytocin
ADH- Antidiuretic Hormone
What does “Tropic” mean?
It controls other glands
How many hormones does the posterior lobe of the pituitary lobe synthesize?
None but it stores two from the hypothalamus
How many hormones doe the anterior lobe of the pituitary lobe synthesize?
What are they?
FLTAPG
6 FSH- follicle-stimulating hormone LH- luteinizing Hormone TSH- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ACTH- Adrenocoritcotropic hormone PRL- Prolactin GH- growth hormone
The Paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus produce what hormone?
Oxytocin
OT
The Supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus produce what hormone?
Antidiuretic hormone
ADH
What two Hormones are released when GNRH is produced?
FL
Follicle-Stimulating hormone (FSH) Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
What hormone is FSH and what is its general function?
Follicle-Stimulating hormone
Stimulates secretion of ovarian sex hormones, development of ovarian follicles, and stimulates sperm production in males
What hormone is LH and what is its general function?
Luteinizing Hormone
Stimulates ovulation, stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone, and stimulates the testies to produce testosterone
What hormone is released in the presence of TRH?
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
What hormone is TSH and what is its general function?
Thyroid stimulating hormone
Stimulates secretion of thyroid hormone
What hormone is released in the presence of CRH?
ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone)
What hormone is ACTH and what is its general function?
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete glucocorticoids (cortisol)
What hormone stimulates the release of Prolactin?
TRH
What hormone is PRL and what is its general function?
Prolactin
Stimulates mammary glands to produce milk
What hormone is released in the presence of GHRH?
GH
Growth Hormone
What Hormone is GH and what is its general function?
Growth hormone
Stimulates mitosis and cellular differentiation
What hormone is ADH and what is its general function?
Antidiuretic Hormone
Increases water retention, reduces urine volume to prevent dehydration
also know as vasopressin because it is a vasoconstricter
increases BP
What are the functions of OT
Oxytocin
promotes sexual satisfaction
stimulates labor contractions via positive feedback
stimulates the flow of milk
promotes bonding between child and mother
Are the rates of hormone release constant?
no
What are the four main targets of GH?
Cartilage, bone, muscle, fat
When GH reaches the liver what does it induce?
it causes the liver to produce growth stimulants
IGF-1
IGF-2(somatomedins)
What do IFG-1 and IGF-2 do?
Stimulate target cells prolong the action of GH increase protein synthesis increase lipid metabolism (protein sparing effect) Stimulates glucose release from liver Reduce dependence of other cells on glucose (glucose sparing effect) Balance electrolytes
Hormone Half life is defined as-
The amount of time it takes for 50% of the hormone to be cleared from the blood
What is the half life of GH?
6-20 minutes
What is the half life of IGF-1?
20 hours
How does GH affect bone growth?
it cause thicker bones and induces remodeling
What causes the release of ghrein and how does it effect GH?
and empty stomach
activates GH
Where is the pineal glad located?
the roof of the third ventricle of the brain
When does the pineal gland begin to shrink?
around age 7
What is the assumed function of the pineal gland?
Synchronization of circadian rhythms
Synthesizes melatonin from serotonin
influences the time of puberty
What three body systems does the thymus play a role in?
Endocrine
Lymphatic
Immune
Where is the thymus located?
Superior to the heart
What important cell matures in the thymus?
T cells
What is function of the thymus?
secretes hormones that stimulate the development of lymphatic organs and the activity of T lympocytes
Where is the thyroid gland located?
Inferior to the larynx
Most of the thyroid is made up of thyroid ____ which are?
Thyroid follicles
sacs lined with simle cuboidal epi cells that contain colloid
What hormones does the thyroid glad produce and secrete? their funtion?
Thyroxine (T4)
Triidothyronine (T3)
Responsible for metabolism in virtually all cells
Between the follicles of the thyroid are ____ cells also called C cells. What is their function?
Parafollicular cells
the secrete calcitonin
What is the function of calcitonin?
stimulates osteoblast activity and bone formation
Where are the parathyroid glands located?
embedded in the posterior surface of the thyroid gland
What hormone is secreted by the parathyroid glands and what is its function?
PTH (parathyroid hormone)
- Increases blood Ca++ levels
- Promotes synthesis of calcitriolactive Vit D
- increases absorption of Ca++
- Decreases urinary excretion
- increases bone reabsorbtion
The adrenal medulla consists of _ to _ % of the adrenal gland
12-20%
The adrenal medulla is primarily a part of the ___ system?
sympathetic nervous system
The adrenal medulla consists of postganglionic neurons called____cells
chromaffin cells
When the adrenal medulla is stimulated it releases ____ directly into the blood stream
Catecholamines
What are the two Catecholamines released by the adrenal medulla?
Epinephrine and nor-epinephrine
What are the three main effects that catecholamines have on the body?
ABD
- Alerts the body and prepares it for physical activity
- Increases Vitals, Airflow, and metabolic rate
- Decreases Digestion and Urine
How do catecholamines prepare the body for activity?
- Mobilizes high energy fuels, lactate, fatty acids, glucose
- boosts glucose levels but initiating Glycogenolysis and Glucogenesis in the liver
- Epi inhibits insulin to spare glucose for the brain
*basically, it causes your body to produce more glucose and spare it for use by the brain while making high energy fuels available for the rest of the body
the Adrenal cortex is the ___ portion of the adrenal gland and is part of the ___ system
Outer
Endocrine
The main function of the adrenal cortex is to secrete ____ hormones
Corticosteriods
How may layers does the adrenal cortex have? What are they? super to deep
GFR
Zona glomerulosa
Zona fasciculata
Zona reticularis
Describe the zona glomerulosa and list its function
Thin outer layer of the cortex
cells arranged in round clusters
secretes mineralocorticoids that regulate the body’s electrolyte balance
Describe the zona fasciculata and list its function
Thick middle layer
Cells arranged in fascicles separated by capillaries
Secretes glucocorticoids cortisol as well as a small amount of androgens
Describe the zona reticularis and list its function
Narrow inner layer
cells in branching network reticulated
secretes glucocorticoids and sex steroids androgens
Glucocorticoids are secreted by the ____ and ___ of the adrenal ___
Zona Fasciculata and reticulata
cortex
Glucocorticoids function to____
regulate metabolism of glucose and other fuels
Glucocorticoids are released in responce to the hormone _____ which is released by ___ from the ___ gland
ACTH
CRH
anterior pituitary
The Glucocorticoids cortisol and corticosterone stimulate what 3 things?
FGF
Fat/protein catabolism
gluconeogenesis
release of fatty acids and glucose
What effect do Glucocorticoids have on the body that can suppress the immune system with long term exposure?
the anti-inflammatory effects can suppress the immune system
What are the two main sex steroids released by the adrenal cortex?
Androgens and Estradiol
What is the general function of Androgens?
they set libido
play a large role in prenatal male development
are the cortex and medulla of the adrenal gland functionally independent?
no
What happens to the medulla of the adrenal gland in the absence of cortisol?
it atrophies
How do the cortex and the medulla work together?
some of the chromaffin cells of the medulla extend into the cortex and stimulate it to release corticosteroids when stress activates the sympathetic nervous system
What are the three main endocrine cells located within the pancreatic islets?
Alpha
Beta
Delta
What hormone is secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets?
Glucagon
What is the function of glucagon? when is it released
- It is released between meals when blood glucose is falling and when amino acid levels are rising in the blood
- in the liver it stimulates glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the release of glucose into the blood stream
- in adipose tissue it stimulates fat catabolism to release fatty acids
- in the blood when amino acid levels rise to promote absorption