Endocrine system Flashcards
What is the endocrine system made up of?
Glands that secrete hormones
What are hormones?
Chemical messengers that travel through the blood to deliver messages to targeted organs or systems
Where is the hypothalamus?
It is situated in the center of the brain
What is the hypothalamus?
It acts as a link between the nervous system and the endocrine system
The hypothalamus picks up on various stimuli to what?
Send messages to the pituitary gland so it can secrete the proper hormones in response to a specific stimulus
What does the pituitary gland do?
It receives messages from the hypothalamus and directs those messages to other glands of the endocrine system
What hormones are produced by the pituitary gland?
GH, TSH, Endorphins, Prolaction, LH, FSH, Oxytocin, Adrenaline
What is GH?
It allows various tissues to grow. At puberty, the pituitary gland increases its secretion of growth hormones
What is TSH?
Thyroid stimulating hormones that act on the thyroid gland which helps regulate metabolism
What are endorphins?
They reduce sensitivity to pain
What is prolactin?
Stimulates the production of milk by lactating women
What is LH?
Luteinizing hormone stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone. It also stimulates the testicles to produce testosterone
What is FSH?
Follicle stimulating hormone stimulates the ovaries to produce ovules and stimulates the testicles to produce sperm cells
What is oxytocin?
Hormone responsible for the contractions of the uterus during labor
What is adrenaline?
Produced by adrenal glands that sit on top of the kidneys. Increases blood pressure and heart rate in a dangerous situation (fight-or-flight response)
