Endocrine System Flashcards
Endocrine System
Set of organs that secretes hormones directly into the circulatory system
How do hormones travel the body?
blood circulation. transmit hormones from gland to target organ
_____ takes longer to travel, but last longer than______
Hormones
Neurons
I.E. endocrine system have a prolonged duration compared to the nervous system
Epinephrine
a polar, water soluble/ nonsteroid hormone released by the adrenals in response to stress also known as adrenaline
adrenal gland
located above kidney that produces hormones to regulate heart rate, blood pressure and other functions
exocrine gland
a gland that produces secretions having an extracellular effect, such as chemical digestion. these secretions leave the gland by way of a duct
pancreas
the gland of the digestive and endocrine system that produces insulin and secretes pancreatic juices
unique as it secretes both enzymes and hormes
insulin
released by pancreas. hormone that triggers the uptake of glucose into cells thus lowering blood glucose levels
glucagon hormone
secreted by the pancreas that stimulates its target cells in the liver to convert hepatic glycogen stores into glucose and release that glucose into the blood.
negative feedback
a mechanism that includes the monitoring for specific homeostatic levels and a signal to a gland: this signal stimulates or inhibits the gland’s secretion in order to maintain homeostasis or cause compensations that returns the levels to homeostasis
diabetes
pathologically high blood sugar levels when hormone regulation malfunctions
hypothalamus
located in the brain that is a integration center between the endocrine and nervous system
releasing hormones
chemical messengers that stimulate the production of certain hormones.
inhibiting hormones
chemical messengers that restrict the production of certain hormones
growth hormone
a secretion of the anterior pituitary that stimulates tissue growth. also know as somatotropin
gigantism
excessive growth resulting from overproduction of growth hormone
why are Thyroid Hormone (TH) homeostatic levels in blood important
plays role in regulating growth, development, metabolic rate
hyperthyroidism
a malfunction of regulatory feedback loops leading to the overproduction of thyroid hormone
positive feedback
a mechanism that stimulates the glandular secretions to continue to increase, temporarily pushing levels further out of homeostasis, until a particular biological effect is reached (eg. expulsion of the fetus during child birth)
oxytocin
a hormone made by the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary. one of its functions is to stimulate uterine contractions during childbirth
what are melatonin target organs?
eyes, hypothalamus and anterior pituitary
follicle-stimulating hormone
a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that stimulates development of eggs in ovaries and sperm in testes.
what hormone is released by the ovaries
estrogen
luteinizing hormone produced by anterior pituitary triggers what?
ovulation in female gonads (ovaries) and production of testosterone by male gonads (testes)
