Endocrine System Flashcards
What are endocrine glands?
Ductless glands that secrete directly into surrounding interstitial fluid.
What are exocrine glands?
Glands that secrete their products through ducts to the epithelial surface.
Are endocrine organs vascular or avasucular?
Very vascularized.
What does it mean for secretion to be humoral?
Secretion due to change in ions or nutrient levels in the blood.
What does it mean for secretion to be neural?
Neural stimulation causes secretion.
What is the hypothalamus?
The master control center of the endocrine system.
What does the hypothalamus do? (3)
- Controls the release of regulatory hormones from the anterior pituitary gland. 2. Secretes specific hormones from the posterior pituitary glands. 3. Controls the stimulation and secretion activation activities of the adrenal medulla.
Is the pituitary attached to the hypothalamus? If so, how?
Yes. It is attached by the infundibulum.
What are the two parts of the pituitary gland?
- Anterior Adenohypophysis. 2. Posterior Neurohypophysis.
What does the Adenohypophysis do? Where do its hormones travel?
Releasing and inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus. They travel through the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system.
What does the Neurohypophysis do?
Neural connection between the hypothalamus and the posterior pituitary.
What do the axons of the neurohypophysis make up?
The hypothalamohypophyseal tract.
Does the neurohypophysis make hormones? Does it store them?
No. It stores them.
What is the largest endocrine-only gland?
Thyroid gland.
What does thyroid hormone do? (2)
- Metabolism. 2. Increases osteoblast activity.
