Endocrine System (Pt. 3) Flashcards
What are the main functions of parathyroid hormone (PTH)?
- Regulates calcium, magnesium, and phosphate
- Increases osteoclast activity (releases calcium from bones)
- Reduces calcium/magnesium loss in urine
- Increases phosphate excretion
- Promotes active vitamin D (calcitriol) formation
How does PTH affect bones?
PTH increases osteoclast activity, which breaks down bone and releases calcium and phosphate into the blood.
How does PTH affect the kidneys?
PTH reduces calcium and magnesium loss in urine, increases phosphate excretion, and stimulates the production of calcitriol (active vitamin D).
How does PTH promote vitamin D activation?
PTH stimulates the kidneys to produce calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, which enhances calcium, phosphate, and magnesium absorption from the digestive system.
What triggers the release of parathyroid hormone (PTH)?
Low blood calcium (Ca²⁺) levels trigger the release of PTH to restore calcium balance.
How does PTH increase blood calcium levels?
PTH increases osteoclast activity, which breaks down bone and releases calcium into the bloodstream.
How does PTH help increase calcium absorption?
PTH stimulates the kidneys to produce calcitriol, which enhances calcium absorption from the digestive system into the blood.
How does PTH affect urinary calcium excretion?
PTH reduces calcium and magnesium loss in urine, conserving these minerals in the bloodstream.
explain the negative feedback system of PTH:
Stimulus: Decreased blood calcium levels.
Control Center: The parathyroid glands detect low calcium levels.
Response:
- PTH Release: The parathyroid glands release PTH.
- Effectors: PTH stimulates osteoclasts to break down bone, releasing calcium into the blood, and affects kidneys to reabsorb more calcium.
Result: Increased calcium levels in the blood.
Return to homeostasis
Does the posterior pituitary gland produce hormones?
No, it stores and releases hormones made by the hypothalamus.
What two hormones are stored and released by the posterior pituitary?
Oxytocin (OT) and Antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
How is oxytocin (OT) released into the bloodstream?
It is stored in the posterior pituitary and released via a capillary network.
How is ADH released into the bloodstream?
It is stored in the posterior pituitary and released through the same capillary network as oxytocin.
How do oxytocin and ADH reach the bloodstream from the posterior pituitary?
They pass through the hypophyseal veins to reach their target tissues.
What triggers the variation in ADH secretion?
Blood osmolarity and osmotic pressure.
How does ADH affect urine and sweat output?
ADH decreases urine and sweat output by absorbing water when the blood is thick (dehydrated) or when blood pressure is low.
How does ADH affect urine and sweat output when blood is thick (dehydrated) or blood pressure is low?
ADH decreases urine and sweat output by absorbing water.
What happens to ADH secretion when blood volume increases?
ADH secretion decreases.
What happens to ADH secretion when blood volume decreases?
ADH secretion increases.
What is the function of ADH in high blood osmolarity or low blood pressure?
It helps the kidneys retain water, reducing urine and sweat output.
How does increased blood volume affect ADH secretion?
It decreases ADH secretion, allowing more water to be excreted.
What happens to ADH secretion when blood volume is low?
ADH secretion increases to conserve water and maintain blood pressure.
Q: What role does ADH play in regulating hydration and blood pressure?
A: It balances the body’s water retention and blood pressure levels.
Q: How does sweating affect blood plasma?
A: Sweating causes a loss of blood plasma, increasing blood osmolality.
Q: How is increased blood osmolality detected?
A: It is detected by osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus.
Q: What does the hypothalamus do in response to increased osmolality?
A: It signals the posterior pituitary gland to release ADH into the bloodstream.
Q: What effect does ADH have on the kidneys?
A: ADH increases the water permeability of renal tubules and collecting ducts, resulting in increased water reabsorption.
Q: What happens to blood osmolality as water is reabsorbed by the kidneys?
A: Blood osmolality decreases as plasma volume increases.
Q: What concludes the feedback loop in blood osmolality regulation?
A: Blood osmolality returns to normal levels as plasma volume is restored.
ADH Effects:
Kidneys: Retain more water to reduce urine output.
Sweat Glands: Reduces water loss through sweating.
Blood Vessels: Causes blood vessels to constrict, raising blood pressure
What is the relationship between exercise intensity (VO2 max) and ADH levels?
As exercise intensity (VO2 max) increases, plasma ADH levels increase significantly, especially at higher intensities.
Why does the body increase ADH release during intense exercise?
A: To help retain more water in the body during periods of increased sweating and water loss.
Q: What does higher ADH levels during intense exercise indicate about water conservation?
A: Higher ADH levels indicate the body is working harder to conserve water as exercise intensity increases.
Q: What are the target tissues for Oxytocin (OT)?
A: Uterus and mammary glands.
Q: How is Oxytocin secretion controlled?
A: Secreted in response to uterine distension and nipple stimulation.
Q: What is a principal action of Oxytocin?
A: Stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection from mammary glands.
Q: What are the target tissues for Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)?
A: Kidneys, sudoriferous glands, and arterioles.
Q: How is ADH secretion controlled?
A: Secreted in response to high blood osmotic pressure, dehydration, or stress; inhibited by low osmotic pressure, high blood volume, and alcohol.
Q: What is a principal action of ADH?
A: Conserves body water by decreasing urine volume, reduces perspiration, and raises blood pressure by constricting arterioles.
Q: What two factors primarily determine hormonal effect?
A: Hormone concentration and number of receptors on the target cell.
Q: How do endocrine glands deliver hormones?
A: They release hormones directly into the bloodstream to reach specific cells/tissues.
Q: What is the primary feedback mechanism for hormonal responses?
A: Negative feedback, which aims to restore homeostasis.
Q: How do lipid-soluble and water-soluble hormones differ?
A: They have different mechanisms of action in the body.
Q: What is the relationship between hypothalamus and pituitary gland?
A: They are interconnected in regards to hormone release.
Q: How does alcohol affect ADH?
A: Alcohol inhibits ADH secretion, leading to increased urine production.
Q: Where are the adrenal glands located?
A: Above each kidney (also called suprarenal glands)
Q: What are the two main parts of adrenal glands?
A: Adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla
Q: What does the adrenal cortex produce?
A: Essential steroid hormones
Q: What does the adrenal medulla produce?
A: Catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and some dopamine)
Q: What happens if adrenal cortex hormones are lost?
A: Leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, requiring hormone replacement therapy
Q: What is a key characteristic of adrenal glands?
A: They are highly vascularized, similar to the thyroid gland
What are the two main regions of the adrenal glands?
A: The outer cortex and the inner medulla.
Q: Which region of the adrenal glands produces steroid hormones?
A: The outer cortex.
Q: What does the inner medulla of the adrenal glands produce?
A: Catecholamines such as norepinephrine and epinephrine.
What are the three zones of the suprarenal cortex?
A: Zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, and zona reticularis
Q: What hormones does the suprarenal medulla produce?
A: Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and small amounts of dopamine
Q: What triggers hormone release from the suprarenal medulla?
A: Stimulation by sympathetic preganglionic neurons
what does the adrenal cortex produce?
- Mineralcorticoids: regulate blood volume and blood pressure
- Glicocorticoids: cortisol
- Weak androgens
Q: What are mineralocorticoids used for?
A: To regulate blood volume and blood pressure
Q: What is the primary glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal glands?
Cortisol
Q: What is the function of androgens produced by the adrenal glands?
A: They contribute to sex-specific differences, though they are relatively weak
Q: Which zone produces mineralocorticoids?
A: Zona glomerulosa
Q: Which zone produces glucocorticoids?
A: Zona fasciculata
Q: Which zone produces androgens?
A: Zona reticularis
Q: What is the primary role of the RAA pathway?
A: Controls the secretion of aldosterone and regulates sodium homeostasis, blood volume, and pressure.
Q: What is the major mineralocorticoid hormone produced?
Aldosterone
Q: How does aldosterone affect the kidneys?
A: Increases sodium (Na+) reabsorption, leading to water retention.
Q: What is the outcome of aldosterone’s action?
A: Increased blood volume and blood pressure.
Q: What triggers the activation of the RAA system?
A: Dehydration, low blood sodium levels, or excessive bleeding (hemorrhage).
Q: How do low blood volume and pressure influence the RAA system?
A: They activate the RAA system to restore blood volume and pressure.
Q: What initiates the RAA pathway?
A: A reduction in blood volume and blood pressure
Q: What is the kidney’s response to low blood pressure?
A: The kidneys release the enzyme Renin
Q: What happens to Renin levels in the blood during this process?
A: Renin levels rise in the blood
Q: What is angiotensinogen and what converts it?
A: It’s a blood protein produced by the liver; Renin converts it to angiotensin I
Q: What is the status of angiotensin I in the body?
A: It’s an inactive hormone
Q: Where is angiotensinogen produced?
A: In the liver
Q: What happens to blood levels of angiotensin I?
A: They rise and circulate in the blood.
Q: What enzyme in the lungs converts angiotensin I?
A: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE)
Q: What does ACE convert angiotensin I into?
A: Angiotensin II (an active hormone)
Q: Where does angiotensin II travel after being formed?
A: It travels to the adrenal cortex.
Q: What effect does angiotensin II have on the adrenal cortex?
A: It stimulates the release of aldosterone.
Q: What happens to aldosterone levels after stimulation?
A: Aldosterone levels rise in the blood and travel to the kidneys.
Q: How does aldosterone affect the kidneys?
A: It stimulates kidneys to reabsorb sodium, which leads to increased water reabsorption through osmosis.
Q: What is the end result of the RAA pathway?
A: Blood volume increases and blood pressure stabilizes.
Q: What additional effect does angiotensin II have on blood vessels?
A: It causes vasoconstriction in arteries and veins, helping to increase blood pressure.
Q: How does sodium reabsorption lead to water retention?
A: Through osmosis - water follows sodium back into the blood.