Endocrine System And Stress Flashcards
Endocrine System
Network of glands that manufacture and secret hormones
Hormones
Chemical messengers that regulate metabolism and influence body growth, mood, and sexual characteristics
Hypothalamus
- Endocrine System
- Neural and vascular
- Secrets hormones that act on pituitary
Pituitary Gland
- Endocrine System
- Master Gland
- Secretes growth hormone
- Secretes hormones that act on other endocrine glands
Define Stress
- Demanding condition in the environment more correctly referred to as stressor
- individuals internal response to that situation
SSRS
•Social Readjustment Rating Scale- assess impact of major life changes
GAS
General adaption syndrome- alarm reaction, resistance, exhaustion
Alarm reaction
- Initial reaction when body recognizes fending off danger
* Sympathetic NS activated- adrenal hormones released
Fight or Floght Response
•Release of a cascade of “stress” hormones
Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal- brain
•CRF-ACTH-cortisol
•Release of adrenaline and norepinephrine into blood
•Increase HR and other stress functions
Gender Differences in Stress
Females- tend and befriend
•Hormone oxytocin has a calming effect and is simplified by estrogen (female) and testerone (male)
Stress
- Activated the Sympathetic NS
- Results increase of HR, blood flow, and Respiration rate help deal with the stress
- Activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
Epinephrine and norepinephrine
- Increase output from the heart
* Liberates glucose from muscles for energy
Cortisol
- Provides a more sustained release of energy
* converts proteins to glucose
Psychoneuroimmunology
•Study of the interaction b/t stress and the immune, endocrine, and Nervous System
Reactive aggression
Impulsive, provoked, and emotional
Proactive aggression
Premeditated, unprovoked, and relatively emotionless
Biological roots of Aggresion
- Tumors in hypothalamus or septal area
- Seizure activity in the amygdaloid
- Murders have higher activity in the amygdala and hypothalamus
Psychopathy
- Less autonomic response to stress
* Impaired amygdala function
