Endocrinology Flashcards

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1
Q

What do the endocrine system control and integrate ?

A

processes such as:

  • reproduction
  • growth and development
  • maintenance of electrolyte, water and nutrient balance of the blood
  • regulation of cellular metabolism and energy balance
  • mobilisation of body defenses
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2
Q

What is the main signal in the endocrine system?

A

hormone

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3
Q

What do endocrine glands do?

A

secrete hormones into the systemic circulation

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4
Q

how are hormones secreted?

A

via specialised organs called endocrine glands

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5
Q

Where are the hormones secreted to?

A

the blood to a tissue where they have a specific action

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6
Q

What is a hormone?

A

a chemical substance which is secreted by specialised endocrine cells directly into the blood to exert an effect on distant target cells to bring about specfic changes in cellular function.

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7
Q

What are the target cells?

A

Can be local

referred to as paracrines or autocrines

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8
Q

What are the 2 types which hormones are made of?

A

Amino acid based

Lipid based- steroid based hormones

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9
Q

What are the amino acid based hormones?

A
  • Polypeptides (large)- long chain
  • not able to pass through plasma membrane through diffusion- have to use specialised proteins/channels within plasma membrane
  • water soluble - as they are protein based
  • most common e.g TRH, TSH, insulin, glucagon
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10
Q

What are the modified amino acid based hormones?

A

-small
-still cannot pass though plasma membranes by diffusion
water soluble
e.g thyroxine

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11
Q

What are the steroid/lipid based hormones?

A
  • synthesised by cholesterol
  • small, fat soluble - can pass through the plasma membrane by diffusion- as they can pass through that hydrophobic region
    e. g. cortisol, oestrogen, testosterone
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12
Q

Whta re the stimulus for these hormones to be released to maintain homeostasis?

A
  • 3 types of stimuli- regulating endocrine system
  • Humoral stimulus
  • Neural stimulus
  • hormonal stimulus
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13
Q

What is the humoral stimulus?

A
  • Hormone release caused by altered levels of certain critical ions or nutrients
  • these glands are constantly monitoring levels of ions and nutrients in systemic circulation
  • endocrine glands sense if the levels are high or low and then will sense and respond by secreting a hormone
  • Which will exert an effect on another gland in the body to change the uptake or excrete the ions/nutrients to regulate the level in the blood.
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14
Q

What is neural stimulus?

A

hormone release caused by neural input

  • stimulated by nervous system
  • Stimulus: action potential in preganaglionic sympathetic fibres to adrenal medulla
  • response- regulate secretion of adrenaline by adrenal medulla cells
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15
Q

What is hormonal stimulation?

A

hormone release caused by another hormone

  • stimulus- hormones from hypothalamus
  • endocrine glands regulated by hormones
  • response- pituitary gland secretes hormones that stimulate other endocrine glands to secrete hormones
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16
Q

How is hormone release regulated?

A

Negative feedback

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17
Q

Example of a negative feedback - homeostasis

hormonal stimulation

A

Gland A- secrete hormone A in blood stream
Hormone A - have effect on glsnd B
Gland B - release hormone B
-Hormone B - some used by a target organ (where it is neeeded)-Low levels of hormone B
-Again gland A stimulated- REPEAT process
-When too much hormone B- it inhibits secretion of it in gland A

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18
Q

What are the main endocrine glands in the body?

A
Pineal
Pituitary- Growth/lactation/thyroid
Thyroid- Metabolism
Thymus- T-cell maturation
Adrenal-stress response
Pancreas-glucose metabolism
Ovaries-ovulation
Testis-spermatogenesis
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19
Q

What is pineal gland?

A
  • Sits right in the middle of the brain
  • regulate sleep wake cycle- info relayed through eyes- in retina have photoreceptor cells - nervous innervation through the retina
  • Sends nervous innervation to pineal gland which secretes melatonin- peaks at night- causing drowsiness and lowers body temperature through neural stimulation
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20
Q

What does the hypothalamus do?

A
  • receives input from higher brain centres- limbic system= detect emotional changes
  • receive input from visceral and somatic sense via brain stem (everywhere else in body- respond to physical changes- neural stimulus from touch , temp to brain which relays info)
  • The release hormones from the pituitary is regulated by different stimuli acting on the hypothalamus initially.- interaction into your endocrine system
  • sends neurones into pituitary gland
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21
Q

What is optic chiasm?

A
  • Bundles of nerves coming from back of eye ( optic nerve)
  • cross middle line of brain
  • sits directly above the pituitary gland
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22
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A

part of CNS

  • regulate pituitary and pineal gland- uses neuroendocrine system
  • links the CNS to endocrine system
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23
Q

What is the pitutiary gland?

A
  • lies close to optic nerves
  • has a bony cup and grows upwards
  • have 2 regions:
  • anterior lobe
  • posterior lobe
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24
Q

What does these 2 regions do?

A

secrete different hormones

and innervated differently by hypothalamus

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25
Q

What is anterior lobe?

A
  • produce and secrete hormones from the lobe

- lots of different cells - which are responsible in secreting a specific hormone in the body

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26
Q

What are the anterior pituitary cells?

A
  • Somatotrophs- growth hormone
  • Lactrotophs- prolactin
  • Corticotrophs- ACTH
  • Thyrotrophs- TSH
  • Gonadotrophs- FSH and LH
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27
Q

What is the posterior lobe?

A

secretes oxytocin and vasopressin

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28
Q

What is the relationship between neuroendocrine hormones from hypothalamus and the hormones that are then released from the anterior pituitary?

A

Hypothalamus is the CNS -Are Neurones which secrete special hormones called neuroendocrine hormones in the blood and detected by anterior pituitary

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29
Q

What do the hormones end in?

A

end in RH- releasing hormone

end in I- Inhibit release- from the cells in anterior pituitary lobe

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30
Q

How is the neuroendocrine gland signal getting to those cells in anterior pituitary lobe?

A
  • Neuroendocrine signals/hormones such as TRH, Gn RH, PIF are secreted in the neurones in the hypothalamic nuclei- into blood stream
  • Hormones travel down portal vein- in systemic circulation
  • Into capillaries which surround all the cells in the anterior lobe
  • Cells respond to stimulus- act on speciifc cells to release their speicific hormones into the blood again - i.e. TSH , PRL , LH .FSH
  • Hormones then secretion into hypophyseal vein- which takes hormones everywhere in the body
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31
Q

What is GnRH in females?

A

GnRH- is secreted from the hypothalamus in a cyclical way leading to a cyclical secretion of LH and FSH from the pituitary, which maintains the menstrual cycle.

  • LH- acts on the ovarian follicle and it induces ovulation
  • FSH- causes development of ovarian follicle and stimulates secretion of oestradiol and progesterone
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32
Q

What is GnRH in males?

A
  • Release in pulsating action- burst
    Causes the release of LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary - same as females
    -LH - acts on testes to produce testosterone
    -less cyclical action
    -FSH- acts on the testes to maintain spermatogenesis
    -continuously producing sperm and testosterone - on a slightly short cyclical cycle- less level- get bursts/show more aggression suddenly at a time.
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33
Q

What is growth hormone?

A

Come out somatotrophs

  • Have a direct affect on organs around the body such as skeletal muscle- growth and protein synthesis
  • Liver- regulate IGF- insulin growth factor
  • Bone/Chondrocytes- increases axial length- increase cartilage which increases more bone
  • Adipose tissue- increase fat oxidation- to make more ATP available for growth protein synthesis- metabolism
34
Q

What can excess production of growth hormone cause?

A

gigantism - over elongation of muscles and bones - acromegaly- esp in hands and feet

35
Q

What is TSH- Thyroid stimulating hormone?

A
  • TSH exerts an effect on the Thyroid gland- in reponse to this secretes thryoid hormones such as thyroxine which can be converted into T3 (Tri iodothyronine)
  • Secretion is stimulated by TSH- secreted from the anterior pituitary lobe
36
Q

Negative feedback- hormonal control for TSH?

A

in hypothalamus- TRH secreted

  • Down portal vein
  • Detected in pituitary gland
  • TSH- goes down vein into systemic circulation
  • goes through capillaries in thyroid gland
  • induce to secrete T3 and T4 in systemic circulation- regulate metabolism
  • Hyphoseal vein
  • When metabolism not needed- T3 and T4 can build up
  • An excess of T4 and T3 stimulates the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland to reduce TSH secretion into the bloodstream
  • This reduces T4 AND T3 production in the thyroid gland
  • as TSJ secretion is also controlled by the hypothalamus
  • the hypothalamus secretes thryroptropinRH- TRH
  • Excess T4/T3 in the blood will inhibit the production and secretion of TRH by the hypothalamus- so dont over stimulate metablosim- needs to be regulated
37
Q

What is ACTH?

A
  • This acts on adrenal cortex of adrenal gland
  • results in production of cortisol
  • regulate in diurnal rhythm- more secretion during day
  • stress response
  • increase b.p
  • increase blood glucose- energy boost
38
Q

What is prolactin?

A

Prolactin Inhibitory factor- released by hypothalamus
to Inhibit secretion of prolactin from anterior pituitary gland
-it induces milk production /lactation and mammary growth during pregnancy
-Inhibited by dopamine

39
Q

What is posterior pituitary ?

A

Hypothalmus which inervate neurons down to the posterior lobe in pituitary gland via the supra optic or paraventricular nucleus.

  • Hypothalamus to posterior pituitary via nervous innervation
  • Neruones dont stop and secrete neuroendocrine signals
  • they innervate directly down to posterior lobe in pituitary gland
  • These neurones coming from supra optic and paraventricular nuclei in hypothalamus- innervate down in posterior lobe
  • No cells in posterior lobe which produce and secrete hormones
  • hormone stored in nuclei then secreted in blood stream via posterior pituitary into hypophyseal veins
  • hormones secreted are oxytocin and vasopessin (ADH)
40
Q

What is Vasopressin?

A

ADH

  • regulate water of blood
  • increase water retention by kidneys (antidiuretic)
  • Constricts arterial walls therefore increases BP
  • regulated by baroreceptors in atria
  • act through humoral stimulus- osmoreceptors also increase ADH release to reserve water
41
Q

What is oxytocin?

A

happy hormone

  • orgasm
  • socialisation
  • giving birth- helps mother baby bonding
42
Q

where is the thyroid and parathyroid gland located?

A

.the neck

43
Q

what is the function of the thyroid and parathyroid gland?

A

. important for calcium homeostasis
. regulate metabolism:
protein synthesis
lipid and carbohydrate metabolism

44
Q

how many parathyroid glands are there?

A

. 4 small parathyroid gland which release parathyroid hormone

45
Q

what are the two types of cells in the thyroid gland?

A

. thyroid follicular cells

. calcitonin cells

46
Q

what is the function of thyroid follicular cells?

A

. produce T3 and T4 hormones

47
Q

what is the function of calcitonin cells?

A

. in follicles produce calcitonin which decreases calcium uptake

48
Q

what do thyroid hormones T3 and T4 require?

A

. thyroid hormones require iodine

49
Q

what is the main hormone secreted by thyroid gland?

A

.T4

.T4 is a precursor to T3 because T3 is more potent

50
Q

what is the function of T3 ?

A

. growth
. metabolism increases
. body temperature regulation
. mood

51
Q

what kind of cells are present in the parathyroid gland?

A

cells that secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH)

52
Q

what type of stimuli occurs in the parathyroid glands?

A

. humoral stimulus

this is because levels of PTH regulated by free calcium in the bloodstream

53
Q

what does PTH respond to?

A

PTH respond to low Ca levels

54
Q

how does PTH retain Calcium?

A

. increases renal tube absorption of calcium in the kidney

. augments gastrointestinal absorption of Calcium

55
Q

where are adrenal glands located?

A

they sit on top of the kidney

56
Q

what are the three regions in the adrenal glands?

A
. capsule - holds everything together
. medulla - in the centre , which are large blood vessel
respond to neural stimulus
. cortex - ACTH from pituitary acts here
respond to hormonal stimulus
57
Q

what hormones does cortex release in respond to ACTH ?

A

. corticosteroids
1. mineral corticosteroids
2. glucocorticoids
. androgens

58
Q

what is the function of mineral corticoids? ie. aldosterone

A

. retains water and maintains BP and blood volume , it does this by increasing Na+ retention by the kidney and water.- increases water and na absorption
. electrolyte balance and blood pressure

59
Q

what is the function of glucocorticoids? ie. cortisol

A

. increases metabolism of fats/glucose
. increases blood glucose levels through gluconeogensis
. suppresses immune system
. linked to stress

60
Q

what is the function of androgens?

A

. precursors to testosterone

. estrogen has effect maintaining male/female characteristics

61
Q

where are the hormones that the adrenal cortex derive from ?

A

. the adrenal cortex produces hormones derived from cholesterol as they are steroid based hormones

62
Q

how is the endocrine system regulated by negative feedback?

A

. corticosteroids are regulated by ACTH from the anterior pituitary gland
. ACTH secretion is regulated by CRH secretion from the hypothalamus

63
Q

what is the function of the medulla?

A

. secretes hormones that help cope with emotional or physical stress
. produces two hormones
1. adrenaline ( epinephrine )
2. noradrenaline ( norepinephrine )

64
Q

how are the two medulla hormones released by ?

A

. sympathetic innervation

65
Q

what two glands make up the pancreas?

A

the pancreas is both an endocrine and exocrine gland

66
Q

how is the pancreas act as an endocrine gland ?

A

. secretes insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose levels

67
Q

how does the pancreas also act as an exocrine gland ?

A

releases pancreatic enzymes into the duodenum to aid digestion

68
Q

what are the endocrine cells that make up the pancreas?

A

the islet of langerhans

69
Q

what is the structure of islet of langerhans ?

A

uniformly distributed along fenestrated capillaries with pores to allow easy transfer of hormones in/out the blood ?

70
Q

how are the islet of langerhans linked?

A

they linked by bridges/linkages of these cells ?

71
Q

what are the 5 cell types that make up the islet of langerhans?

A
  1. alpha cells 30-40%
  2. beta cells 50%
  3. delta cells 10-20%
  4. F cells
  5. epsilon cells
72
Q

what is the function of the function of the 5 types of cells that make up the islet of langerhans?

A

they secrete hormones
1. alpha cells - secrete glucagon - increase blood sugar level
2. beta cell - secrete insulin - decrease blood sugar level
3. delta cells - somatostatin and gastrin -
gastrin - regulates the exocrine function of pancreas
somatostatin- inhibits gastrin
4. F cells - pancreatic polypeptide - regulate digestive enzyme
5. Epsilon cells - ghrelin- controls hunger
tells you when to eat

73
Q

function of alpha cells in the pancreas ?

A

. secrete glucagon
. liver breaks down glycogen to glucose
. glucagon increase blood glucose levels

74
Q

what is the function of beta cells in the pancreas ?

A

. secrete insulin
. increase glucose uptake
. insulin decreases blood glucose levels

75
Q

what is the main metabolic effect of insulin ?

A

. facilitates uptake of glucose into muscle and adipocytes
. stimulate liver to store glucose as glycogen
. stimulates liver to convert excess glycogen to fatty acids

76
Q

what happens when insulin secretion goes wrong ?

A

type 1 diabetes

77
Q

what is type 1 diabetes ?

A

is an autoimmune disease that kills off the pancreatic beta cells

78
Q

what happens when you have type 1 diabetes ?

A

. less insulin production and secretion

. this leads to a loss of control of blood glucose levels - they increase

79
Q

what is the function of insulin ?

A

suppresses glucagon secretion.

80
Q

what happens when there is no insulin?

A

glucagon is secreted in excess which increases blood glucose levels further