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MCAT Psych/Soc > Endocrine System > Flashcards

Endocrine System Flashcards

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1
Q

endocrine system

A

the set of glands throughout the body that produce and release hormones into the bloodstream to chemically control other organs and functions

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2
Q

endocrine gland

A

organ that synthesizes and releases hormones into the bloodstream

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3
Q

hypothalamus

A

the part of the brain located below the thalamus that receives neural signals and controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland or releases hormones itself in response to the signals
this can be considered the control center of the endocrine system

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4
Q

ADH (antidiuretic hormone)

A

a hormone that helps maintain fluid levels by acting on the kidneys to control urine production and water reabsorption
produced by the hypothalamus, released by the posterior pituitary gland

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5
Q

oxytocin

A

hormone that contributes to social bonding, pair bonding, and childbirth
produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary gland

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6
Q

GnHR (gonadotropin releasing hormone)

A

hormone synthesized and released by the hypothalamus that acts on the anterior pituitary, triggering the release of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone

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7
Q

adrenocorticotropic releasing hormone

A

hormone synthesized and released by the hypothalamus that stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic stimulating hormone

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8
Q

thyroid releasing hormone

A

hormone synthesized and released by the hypothalamus that stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone

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9
Q

growth hormone releasing hormone

A

hormone synthesized and released by the hypothalamus that stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release growth hormone stimulating hormone

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10
Q

prolactin inhibitory factor

A

hormone that is constantly being synthesized and released by the hypothalamus, except for when a woman is breastfeeding
prolactin release is normally inhibited by this hormone, and stimulated when this hormone stops being released

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11
Q

pituitary gland

A

pea-sized structure in the brain that releases many types of hormones when stimulated by the hypothalamus
these hormones control many other endocrine glands

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12
Q

anterior pituitary gland

A

portion of the pituitary gland that receives signals from the hypothalamus through the hypophyseal portal system
only portion that synthesizes its own hormone for release

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13
Q

hypophyseal portal system

A

collection of blood vessels that connect the hypothalamus to the pituitary in order to transport paracrine hormones, allowing the hypothalamus to direct the pituitary gland’s actions

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14
Q

tropic hormones

A

hormones that stimulate other endocrine glands

eg FSH, LH, ACTH, TSH

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15
Q

FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)

A

synthesized and released by the anterior pituitary gland

helps control puberty and regulate reproductive processes

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16
Q

LH (luteinizing hormone)

A

synthesized and released by the anterior pituitary gland

helps regulate the menstrual cycle in women and triggers the production of testosterone

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17
Q

ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)

A

synthesized and released by the anterior pituitary gland

stimulates the thyroid gland

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18
Q

direct hormones

A

hormones that stimulate a part of the body that is not an endocrine gland
growth hormone and prolactin

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19
Q

growth hormone

A

hormone synthesized and released by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates growth in long bones and muscles via the release of other effectors, like IGF-I from the liver

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20
Q

prolactin

A

hormone produced and released by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates milk production and lactation

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21
Q

posterior pituitary gland

A

portion fo the pituitary gland that stores and releases hormones (namely ADH and oxytocin) made in the hypothalamus

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22
Q

hormones produced and released by anterior pituitary gland

A 
tropic: 
FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
LH (luteinizing hormone)
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
direct:
prolactin
growth hormone
FLAT PeG
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23
Q

hormones stored and released by posterior pituitary gland

A

ADH (antidiuretic hormone)

oxytocin

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24
Q

thyroid

A

endocrine gland located posterior to the thyroid gland that releases hormones responsible for maintaining calcium levels

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25
Q

parathyroid hormone

A

synthesized and released by the parathyroid gland when blood calcium levels are low
stimulates the reabsorption of calcium from bone tissue

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26
Q

adrenal gland

A

endocrine gland that is located on top of the kidney that releases epinephrine/adrenaline, norepinephrine, and steroid hormones

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27
Q

adrenal medulla

A

interior portion of the adrenal gland that is activated by the sympathetic nervous system and releases catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)

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28
Q

catecholamines

A

class of signaling molecules that includes epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine

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29
Q

adrenal cortex

A

exterior portion of the adrenal gland that releases hormones as a part of the stress response, including aldosterone and cortisol

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30
Q

cortisol

A

glucocorticoid hormone synthesized and released by the adrenal cortex that helps control glucose metabolism and regulate the immune system as a part of the stress response

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31
Q

aldosterone

A

steroid hormone synthesized and released by the adrenal cortex that helps control blood pressure by affecting the retention of sodium and water

32
Q

cortisone

A

steroid hormone synthesized and released by the adrenal cortex that has an anti-inflammatory effect

33
Q

gonads

A

glands that release sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen)

ovaries in males and testes in females

34
Q

estrogen

A

main female sex hormone
responsible for the development of secondary sex characteristics (eg breast development, female distribution of fat, wide hips, etc) and for regulating the reproductive system

35
Q

testosterone

A

male sex hormone that is responsible for the development of secondary sex characteristics (eg facial hair, increased muscle mass, etc.)

36
Q

pancreas

A

an endocrine gland that controls blood glucose levels through the production of insulin and glucagon

37
Q

insulin

A

a hormone produced by the pancreas that is released when blood glucose levels are high to promote glucose absorption and storage

38
Q

glucagon

A

hormone produced by the pancreas that is released when blood glucose levels are low to promote glycogen breakdown to release glucose into the blood

39
Q

autocrine hormones

A 
class of chemical messenger that acts on the same cell that produced it, or on the cells immediately around it
eg interleukin
40
Q

interleukin

A

a type of autocrine hormone that is both produced by, and acts on, T-cells

41
Q

paracrine hormones

A

class of chemical messenger that acts on a regional level, affecting the cells around where it was produced

42
Q

endocrine horones

A

a class of chemical messenger that is released into the bloodstream to reach its distant target

43
Q

metabolism of hormones

A

the way in which the body controls hormone levels

hormones are constantly being broken down by the liver and filtered by the kidney to keep levels in check

44
Q

negative feedback loops

A

a self-regulating process in which one of the outputs serves to reduce the stimuli that triggered the process or another upstream event
helps maintain equilibrium or homeostasis

45
Q

protein and polypeptide hormones

A

chains of amino acids that serve as the majority of chemical signals in the body
made in the rough ER and act on receptors on the cell membranes of their target cells

46
Q

polypeptide vs protein

A

polypeptide is a small chain of <100 amino acids

protein is a large chain of >100 amino acids

47
Q

peptide bonds

A

carbon-nitrogen single bonds that connect amino acids

48
Q

steroid hormones

A

cholesterol derived chemical signals
have a characteristic hydrophobic 4 ring structure and can easily pass through cell membranes to affect transcription and translation inside of the cell

49
Q

tyrosine derivative hormones

A

chemical signals that are modified versions of the amino acid tyrosine
eg thyroid hormones and catecholamines

50
Q

secondary messenger signaling

A

signaling mechanism by which hormones can create an effect in the receiving cell that involves the hormone binding to a receptor on the cell membrane
this binding causes the activation of molecules within the cell that create the desired effect, and has an amplification ability referred to as the “cascade effect”

51
Q

G-protein coupled receptor

A

a type of transmembrane receptor that activates an internal cascade response when its ligand is bound

52
Q

G-protein

A

a type of protein involved in cell signaling that is bound to a molecule of GDP
this receptor exchanges its GDP for GTP when activated, and is deactivated by hydrolyzing its GTP into GDP and a phosphate group

53
Q

adenylate cyclase

A

protein that catalyzes the formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) from adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

54
Q

cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)

A

common secondary messenger produced by adenylate cyclase that activates a variety of proteins

55
Q

signal amplification

A

the idea that one hormone molecule can cause the production of a lot of secondary messengers, leading to a large intracellular effect

56
Q

primary messenger signaling

A

signaling mechanism by which a hormone causes its desired effect by diffusing through the membrane to bind to a receptor in the cytosol or nucleus

57
Q

terpenes

A

class of molecules composed of repeating units of isoprene

58
Q

isoprene

A

molecule with 5 carbons, four in a chain, and one that is branched off of carbon-2
can come together to form larger terpene molecules

59
Q

monoterpene

A

molecule composed of two isoprene units

60
Q

sequiterpene

A

molecule composed of three isoprene units

61
Q

diterpene

A

molecule composed of two monoterpenes, or four isoprene units

62
Q

sesterterpene

A

molecule composed of five isoprene units

63
Q

triterpenes

A

molecule composed of three monoterpenes, or six isoprene units

64
Q

tetraterpene

A

molecule composed of four monoterpenes, or eight isoprene units

65
Q

pyrophosphate

A

molecule (or portion of a molecule) composed of two phosphate groups bound together
weak base and good leaving group

66
Q

dimethyl allyl pyrophosphate

A

allylic isoprene unit that is one of the starting materials for steroid and cholesterol synthesis

67
Q

isopentyl pyrophosphate

A

allylic isoprene unit that is one of the starting materials for steroid and cholesterol synthesis

68
Q

gerenyl pyrophosphate

A

ten carbon molecule made from the reaction between dimethyl allyl pyrophosphate and isopentyl pyrophosphate
intermediate in the production of steroid hormones

69
Q

farnesyl pyrophosphate

A

a 15 carbon molecule that is an intermediate in steroid synthesis

70
Q

squalene

A

a triterpene that is made from the reaction between two farnesyl pyrophosphate molecules
this is an intermediate in steroid synthesis

71
Q

cholesterol

A

a molecule made from the cyclization of squalene in the liver
this is a component of cell membranes and is a precursor to steroid hormones

72
Q

steroid backbone

A

a four ring carbon chain made of three cyclohexane groups and one cyclopentane group

73
Q

sex hormones

A

steroid based chemical signals that affect sexual characteristics or development

74
Q

estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1)

A

estrogen hormones that are produced by the ovaries and affect the development of female secondary sex characteristics

75
Q

progesterone

A

sex hormone closely related to pregnancy and fetal development

76
Q

androgens

A

class of steroid sex hormones that includes testosterone and androsterone

77
Q

androsterone

A

an androgen hormone that affects the development of secondary sex characteristics in males, along with testosterone

MCAT Psych/Soc (23 decks)

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