Endocrine System Flashcards
nervous system function
exerts control by transmission of nerve impulses to and from various tissues
endocrine system function
influences activity or cells by release of chemical messages - hormones
homeostasis
maintenance of stable/ constant internal environment despite a changing external environment
types of gland
endocrine glands: secrete hormones into extra cellular fluid that surrounds de cell that makes up the gland, secretion passes into capillaries to be transported by blood
exocrine gland: secrete into a duct that carries secretion to body surface or to one of body cavities, sweat glands, mucous glands, salivary glands and glands of alimentary canal are exocrine glands
types of hormones: steroid hormones
lipid soluble (do not dissolve in water), secreted by adrenal cortex and gonads, has lipid derivatives diffuses across cell membrane and inside of cell combines with receptor proteins
types of hormone: protein hormones
secreted by pituitary gland and pancreas, are water soluble, unable to diffuse across cell membrane so attach to receptor protein on cell membrane of target cell, causes a secondary messenger to be released within the cell /diffuse across cell
types of hormones: amines
secreted by adrenal medulla and thyroxine hormone, amino acids derivatives water soluble (same as protein hormones)
receptor proteins
hormones are tissue specific, only act on particular target cells, hormones circulate in blood until they come into contact with cell that have complementary receptor proteins, specific hormones have specific receptor proteins (lock and key mechanism). Combination of hormones and receptor proteins can alter cells metabolism
mechanisms of hormone actions
hormone secretion is regulates negative feedback, hormone is released when homeostatic balance is altered and stops when equilibrium is returned
3 responses of endocrine glands
changes in cellular environment, stimulation by nerves, other hormones
transport of protein/amine hormones
lock onto receptors on outside of cell membrane and act as first messenger, target cell responds by producing cyclic adenosine monophosphate which acts as secondary messenger and alters cellular activities (protein synthesis/metabolism)
transport of steroid hormones
pass easily through cell membrane (lipid soluble and a cell membrane is a phospholipid bilayer, once inside cell hormones are picked up by receptor proteins transported to nucleus, in nucleus it can affect specific genes therefore new cell functions can be started or altered
functions of hormone within cell
- altering types of activities / quantities of proteins produced by cells
- stimulating particular genes in nucleus to produce certain proteins
- may turn an enzyme off by altering shape and structure (denaturing)
- change rate of transcription or translation therefore production of enzyme/structural protein is affected
enzyme amplification
single hormone molecule can result/trigger in the production of billions of enzyme molecules, this molecule can initiate the production of many of one particular molecule which can then produce multiples of another molecule
- 1 hormone molecule = 200 molecule of 1 = 1000 molecule 2 = 500000 molecule 3 etc
paracrines
local hormones, chemicals secreted by a cell that diffuses to/affects nearby cells, secreted by all cells, not carried in bloodstream
autocrines
chemicals that exert their effects on the same cells that secrete them (stimulate cell itself, self signalling), not considered hormone as it does not a long distance chemical signal
endocrine
occurs when chemical released by cell travels in bloodstream to activate distant cell (hormone)
hormone clearance
hormone activates a particular effect once this has been achieved it is inactivated, can be broken down in target cell or in liver/kidneys to be excreted in urine or bile
hypothalamus
- section of brain that links nervous and endocrine systems in Ofer to maintain homeostasis
- receives info from nerves throughout body and parts of brain and initiates endocrine responses
- secretes neurochemicals (releasing factors) into portal system/capillaries which stimulates/targets anterior lobe of pituitary gland
- secretes hormones directly into blood via neurosecretory cells that extend into posterior pituitary lobe
pituitary gland
- lies adjacent to hypothalamus and is in direct contact with it due to portal blood system
- receives instruction from hypothalamus and consists of two lobes
anterior lobe of pituitary
-recieves releasing/inhibiting factors that are released from hypothalamus into portal vessels by neurosecretory cells, this causes endocrine cells to release/produce a specific hormone into blood stream