Endocrine System Flashcards
What is homeostasis?
The presence of a stable internal environment.
What can happen if homeostasis is not maintained?
It can lead to illness and even death
What is negative feedback and what is its purpose?
When an effector activated by the control system opposes, or negates, the original stimulus ie. it reduces the change until the stimulus is removed or it directly inhibits further release.
It tends to minimise change, keeping variation in key body systems within limits compatible with our long term survival.
What is positive feedback?
When an initial stimulus produces a response that exaggerates or enhances the change in the original conditions, rather than opposing it ie. there is an amplification of a change until a desired outcome is achieved
Describe how homeostasis in maintained
A change in these controlled variables is detected by a control centre and it signals effectors (organs or tissues). The effector responds to these signals by (usually) opposing the stimulus. These effects could be localised or the whole body.
What is the difference between a set point and a normal range?
The set point is the point where the body wants to be (eg. an internal temp of 37.5 degrees).
But the body never stays at this one point; it oscillate above and below this point. This is how we get the normal range.
Homeostatic control is not
precise
it maintains a normal range rather than an absolute value
What is the population reference range?
The population reference range is based on the width of individual normal ranges within a population, covering most of the people in a population and most of their normal ranges
How do individual normal ranges and population reference ranges differ?
The population reference range tends to be wider than normal fluctuations within an individual. Some people can still exhibit symptoms of disorder even though they are inside the population range because they are outside their own normal range.
Most individuals will have a set point that is
within the population reference range
Some people can still exhibit symptoms of disorder even though they are inside the population range because
they are outside their own normal range
Compare the neural and endocrine control systems
- Synaptic:
- action potentials in axons and neurotransmitter release at the synapse
- targeting achieved by one neuron synapsing onto another to get that signal going where we want
- fastest transmission speed to minimise response delays between signals and receptors
- good for brief responses
- Endocrine:
- hormones released into the blood
- targeting by presence of specific receptors on target cells
- relatively slow but long lasting action
- good for widespread and sustained responses
What does the endocrine system consist of?
endocrine gland cells that secrete hormones which are carried into the bloodstream to the target cells upon which they act on.
What are hormones?
chemical messengers that allow one cell type to communicate with another cell type without the use of neurons
What are the main endocrine glands? (6)
- hypothalamus
- pituitary gland
- thyroid gland
- adrenal glands
- pancreas (pancreatic islets)
- parathyroid glands
What is the role of the hypothalamus?
It links the nervous system to the endocrine system and controls the secretion of many endocrine glands
What are some physiological variables that are maintained homeostatically through hormones?
- blood sugar concentration
- growth and repair
- basal metabolic rate (how much energy our body uses)
- blood calcium concentration
What is a true hormone?
Chemical messengers produced in one location and transported via the bloodstream to a second location (target cell) where they cause a response in the cell
What are three mechanisms of cellular communication?
paracrine communication
autocrine communication
endocrine communication
Describe paracrine communication
A cell releases things (paracrines) into the extracellular fluid. Actions of paracrines are limited to nearby the releasing cells
Describe autocrine communication
A cell releases things into the EC fluid (autocrines). They only act upon the cell that secreted them.
Describe endocrine communication
It is through the bloodstream and the chemical signals are hormones. These target cells for the hormones are often in very distant tissues and organs from the cell that released the hormone
What is a receptor?
A protein that can be in the plasma membrane or inside the cell that allows a hormone to target that cell
What is a target cell?
A cell that the hormone acts upon to create a response
What are the two types of hormones?
water-soluble hormones
lipid-soluble hormones
Describe water-soluble hormones and give two examples
they can not cross the plasma membrane because they are water soluble
the receptors are located in the plasma membrane
eg. peptides and catecholamines
Describe lipid-soluble hormones and give two examples
they can diffuse across the cell membrane into the target cell
the receptors are located in the cytoplasm or nucleus
eg. steroid and thyroid hormones
Describe water-soluble hormone receptor activation
- water soluble hormone binds to the receptor surface (which is on the plasma membrane)
- this allows the activation of the intracellular protein G-protein
- this causes one of three responses: adenylyl cylase is activated or inhibited, or intracellular Ca2+ ions
- these cause a SECOND MESSENGER production or reduction (eg. an increase or decrease of cAMP, or increase in Ca2+ acting as second messenger)
- cAMP and Ca2+ cause downstream proteins and pathways to be activated or deactivated
Describe lipid-soluble hormone receptor activation
- the lipid-soluble hormone dissociates from a carrier protein
- the hormone diffuses across the cell membrane to reach receptors
- the hormone binds to intracellular receptors (in the cytoplasm or nucleus)
- the hormone-receptor complex acts as a specific transcription factor (ie. it moves onto DNA and binds to a particular region of the DNA)
- this causes a target gene to be activated
- mRNA is generated. It moves out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm
- a new protein is generated by the translation on mRNA
- the new protein mediates cell specific responses
How does the chemical classification of water-soluble and lipid soluble hormones differ?
water-soluble:
- peptides (most abundant)
- catecholamines
lipid-soluble:
- steroids
- thyroid hormones
How does the storage of water-soluble and lipid soluble hormones differ?
water-soluble:
- stored until they are required (released by exocytosis)
lipid-soluble:
- steroids made from cholesterol as required (not stored)
- thyroid hormones are made in thyroid cells and stored until required
How does the transport of water-soluble and lipid soluble hormones differ?
water-soluble:
- dissolved into the blood
lipid-soluble:
- bound to a carrier protein
How do the receptors of water-soluble and lipid soluble hormones differ?
water-soluble:
- on the cell surface
lipid-soluble:
- intracellular receptors in cytoplasm or nucleus
How does the mechanism of action of water-soluble and lipid soluble hormones differ?
water-soluble:
- through second messengers
lipid-soluble:
- by altering gene transcription and causing the formation of new proteins
How does the speed of response of water-soluble and lipid soluble hormones differ?
water-soluble:
- milliseconds to minutes
lipid-soluble:
- hours to days
What does the amount of hormone in the blood depend on?
- rate of human secretion
- rate of removal from blood
The removal of hormones from the blood is controlled by
enzymes in the blood or in target cells
The goal of a hormone is to
maintain homeostasis
Secretion is usually controlled by a
negative feedback loop
Describe the exocrine gland of the pancreas
- 99% of the organ’s volume
- cells of pancreatic acini secrete digestive enzymes
- secrete alkaline, enzyme rich fluid that reaches the lumen of the intestinal tract through one or more pancreatic ducts
Describe the endocrine gland of the pancreas
- about 1% of the organ’s volume
- consists of pancreatic islets
- contain β cells and α cells
What do β cells secrete?
insulin
What do α cells secrete?
glucagon
What can happen if homeostasis is not maintained and blood glucose concentration gets too high for too long?
Diabetes
What can happen if homeostasis is not maintained and blood glucose concentration gets too low for too long?
Hypoglycaemia
What is the only source of energy that the brain uses?
glucose
What are the two metabolic states?
fed state
fasting state
What happens during the fed state?
- cellular uptake of nutrients
- anabolic metabolism (making molecules)
- synthesis of glycogen, protein and fat
- glucose is moved from our bloodstream into a storage system which we can then access later when we are in the fasting state
What is the fed state?
a metabolic state when we have just eaten
What is the fasting state?
after long periods of not eating
What happens during the fasting state?
- mobilisation of nutrients
- catabolic metabolism (breaking down molecules)
- breakdown of glycogen, protein and fat
Insulin and glucagon try and maintain a blood concentration between
70-110 mgdL-1
Describe how the body maintains homeostasis after an increase in blood concentration
- the β cells secrete insulin into the bloodstream
- insulin travels to target cells
- decrease in blood glucose concentration
What role do the β cells have in releasing insulin
as both the sensor and control centre
What are the target cells for insulin?
Muscle and adipose cells
liver cells
Insulin being released to reduce the blood glucose concentration is an example of:
negative feedback control because by decreasing the blood glucose concentration, we remove the stimulus (an increased blood sugar concentration) and so now without that stimulus, the β cells are going to stop secreting insulin
Insulin is a _______-________ _________ hormone and the target cells have _________ receptors
water-soluble
peptide
membrane
What effect does insulin have on muscle cells?
- increase in net glucose uptake
- increase in amino acid uptake
- uses amino acids and glucose to make proteins
- converts glucose to glycogen
What effect does insulin have on adipose cells?
- increase in net glucose uptake
- fat synthesis
What effect does insulin have on liver cells?
- prevents further production of glucose in the liver (stops glycogen –> glucose)
- increase in net glucose uptake
- glycogen and fat synthesis
What are 5 effects of insulin on the target cells?
- increased rate of glucose transport into target cells
- increased rate of glucose use and ATP generation
- increased conversion of glucose to glycogen
- increased amino acid absorption and protein synthesis
- increased triglyceride (fat) synthesis in adipose tissue
Describe how the body maintains homeostasis after a decrease in blood concentration
- the α cells secrete glucagon
- glucagon travels to the target cells
- increase in blood glucose concentration and blood ketone concentration
What role do the α cells have in releasing glucagon?
the sensor and the control centre
What are the target cells for glucagon?
liver cells
Glucagon being released to increase the blood glucose concentration is an example of:
Negative feedback loop because by increasing the blood glucose concentration, we remove the stimulus (a decreased blood sugar concentration) and so now without that stimulus, the α cells are going to stop secreting glucagon
Glucagon is a _______-________ _________ hormone and the target cells have _________ receptors
water-soluble
peptide
membrane
What effect does glucagon have on liver cells?
- increased breakdown of glycogen to glucose
- increased glucose synthesis
- increased ketone synthesis
What is the breakdown of glucose called?
Glycogenolysis
What is glycogenolysis?
The breakdown of glucose
What is glucose synthesis called?
Gluconeogenesis
What is gluconeogenesis?
Glucose synthesis
What are the two distinct parts of the pituitary gland?
- anterior lobe
- posterior lobe
Where is the pituitary gland located?
at the base of the hypothalamus, attached through the narrow infundibulum
What does the hypothalamus control?
the secretion of pituitary hormones (when activated by neural input, the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete hormones)
How does the hypothalamus communicate with the posterior pituitary?
- hypothalamus connected to PP by neurons
- the cell bodies in the hypothalamus and the axon terminate in the posterior lobe
Where are posterior pituitary hormones made?
in the hypothalamus
Describe the release of hormones from the posterior pituitary gland
- PP hormones are made in the hypothalamus in the cell body of the axons
- the hormones travel down the axon and are stored at the axons terminals until required
- the hypothalamus uses neural communication with the posterior lobe to release hormones into the blood (an increase or decrease in the frequency of action potentials leads to a change in hormone release)
What are the peptide hormones that are released from the posterior pituitary gland?
- antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
- oxytocin (OXT)
What does ADH do?
stimulates the kidneys to absorb water (the kidneys conserve water when the body dehydrates)
What does oxytocin do?
- stimulates the contraction of uterine muscles during childbirth
- stimulates milk release in breastfeeding
The hormones released by the posterior pituitary gland are _______ hormones and are stored _______ ________
peptide
until required