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Medical Physiology > Endocrinology > Flashcards

Endocrinology Flashcards

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USMLE® Step 1 flashcards
1
Q

what is endocrinology?

A

the study,biosynthesis, storage, biochemical and physiological study of the function of hormones and the endocrine cells and tissues that secrete them.

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2
Q

where are glands derived from?

A

epithelial tissues - specialised for secretion

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3
Q

what are the common features of the endocrine and nervous systems?

A
  • both respond to changes in inputs that the body may suffer
  • both release signalling molecules via endocytosis
  • neurons and endocrine cells can become depolarisation and release signalling molecules.
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4
Q

surface epithelial cells specialise into…

A
  • exocrine (ducal system)

- endocrine (bloodstream)

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5
Q

what are the two types of hormones and give examples.

A
  • water soluble hormones (catecholamines and protein/peptide hormones)
  • lipid soluble hormones (steroids and thyroid hormones T3)
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6
Q

mechanisms for cell to cell signalling via hormones:

A
  • Autocrine- hormone acts on same cell that secretes it or adjacent cells of the same type.
  • Paracrine - hormone acts on adjacent cells over a short distance and is transported by interstitial fluid.
  • Endocrine - hormone acts on distant cells is transported via the bloodstream.
  • Neurocrine - hormone signal originates from neurons and after axonal transport into the bloodstream, Is transported to distant target cells.
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7
Q

what are the three factors that determine hormone levels?

A
  • Rate of production
  • Rate of delivery
  • Rate of degradation
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8
Q

In what cells are parathyroid hormones made?

A

Principal or Chief cells

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9
Q

True or false

the parathyroid gland is part of the thyroid

A

False!

PTG sits on the thyroid but is not part of it (separate glands)

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10
Q

what are the effects of PTH on plasma levels of calcium and phosphate?

A

increases calcium levels

decreases phosphate levels

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11
Q

what 3 organs does the PTH target and what are the effects?

A
  • Bone - stimulation of osteoclasts (increased bone calcium)
  • kidney - stimulation of calcium reabsorption and phosphate loss
  • Intestine - increases calcitrol levels leading to increased calcium and phosphate reabsorption from the gut.
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12
Q

what are Osteoclasts and Osteoblasts?

A
  • Osteoclasts- activated/stimulated by PTH to release calcium
  • Osteoblasts- lays down calcium and phosphate onto bone to build it up (repair)
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13
Q

what are the processes of fast and slow exchange of calcium between the bone and the plasma?

A
  • Fast exchange - calcium is moved from the labile pool in the bone fluid into the plasma by PTH activated calcium pumps located in the osteocytic-osteoblastic bone membrane.
  • Slow exchange - calcium is moved from the stable pool in the mineralised bone into plasma by means of PTH induced dissolution of the bone.
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14
Q

what is Calcitonin and where is is produced?

A

it is a peptide hormone produced in the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland.

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15
Q

where is the pituitary gland located?

A

Sits beneath the hypothalamus in a socket of bone called the Sella Turica.

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16
Q

the pituitary gland consists of what two parts?

A
  • Anterior pituitary

- posterior pituitary

17
Q

How are the pituitary and hypothalamus connected?

A

the hypothalamus drops down through the infundibulum to for the posterior pituitary.

18
Q

what are the hormones released by the Anterior Pituitary?

A
  • Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
  • Growth Hormone (GH)
  • adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
  • Leutinising Hormone (LH)
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
  • Prolactin (PRL)
19
Q

what is the Hormonal regulation of Growth Hormone secretion?

A
  • GHRH increases GH secretion

- Somatostation decreases GH secretion

20
Q

How do glucose and free fatty acids regulate GH?

A
  • decreases glucose or fatty acids increase GH
  • fasting increases GH
  • obesity decreases GH
21
Q

describe the long loop negative feedback of GH secretion.

A

Mediated by IGFs

  • inhibit release of GHRH
  • inhibit action of GHRH in Anterior pituitary
  • stimulate release of Somatostatin
22
Q

Describe the short loop negative feedback of GH secretion

A
  • mediated by GH itself via stimulation of Somatostatin release.
23
Q

what causes Acromegaly and Gigantism?

A

growth hormone excess

24
Q

what causes dwarfism?

A

Growth hormone deficiency

25
Q

True or false

IGFs can be Autocrine, Paracrine and Endocrine.

A

True

26
Q

What are the two lobes of the thyroid gland joined by?

A

Isthmus (bow tie shaped)

27
Q

what is colloid?

A

extracellular deposits of thyroglobulin present within follicles of the thyroid tissue.

28
Q

what are the sources of iodine?

A

dietary only (meats, veg, dairy products, iodised salt)

29
Q

what are the uses of iodine in the body?

A

to make thyroid hormone ONLY!

30
Q

what are the roles of Tyrosine peroxidase in th e production of thyroid?

A
  • Catalyses the additional oh hydrogen peroxide to iodide to convert it to iodine.
  • iodination of Tyrosine to DIT
  • conjugation of two DIT molecules to thyroxine.
31
Q

True or false

T4 is more active than T3

A

false! the other way round

32
Q

True or false

T4 can be converted into T3

A

True 🙂

33
Q

what is TSH?

A

thyroid stimulating hormone

made up of 2 non covalently bound subunits (alpha and beta).

34
Q

what are the roles played by TSH in the thyroid?

A

1) increases thyroglobulin iodination
2) increases DIT/MIT conjugation
3) promotes TG endocytosis
4) increases TG proteolysis
5) stimulates T3/T4 secretion

35
Q

what biological responses do thyroid hormones affect in the body?

A
  • effects on cellular differentiation and development

* effects on metabolic pathways

36
Q

what are the general actions of thyroid hormones?

A
  • increase basal metabolic rate and heat production
  • stimulation of metabolic pathways
  • sympathomimetic effects
37
Q

what does the term sympathomimetic effects mean?

A

increase in target cells response to catecholamines by increasing the receptor number on target cells.

38
Q

diseases related to thyroid dysfunction

A 
* Goitre: an enlarged thyroid gland
Hypothyroidism: 
- in infants - cretinism 
- in adults - myxedema 
* Hashimoto's disease 
Hyperthyroidism 
- Grave's disease

Medical Physiology (6 decks)

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