Exam #1 Flashcards
what is a ligand?
hormones or neurotransmitters (chemical substances) released in response to stimuli that communicate with target cells
what is the communication method of the nervous system compared to the endocrine system?
Nervous system: nerve signal causes neurotransmitter release from a neuron into a synaptic cleft
Endocrine system: secretes hormones into blood; hormones transported within the blood are distributed to target cells throughout the body.
What is the target of stimulation of nervous system vs. endocrine system?
nervous system: other neurons, muscle cells and gland cells
es: any cell in the body with a receptor for the hormone
What is the response time of the nervous system compared to the endocrine system
ns: rapid - milliseconds or seconds
es: slower: seconds to minutes to hours
what is the effect of stimulation of the nervous system compared to the endocrine system?
ns: causes stimulation or inhibition of another neuron, contraction or relaxation of muscles, or change in secretion from glands
es: causes metabolic activity changes in target cells
what are the range of effects for nervous system vs endocrine system?
ns: localized, specific effects in the body
es: widespread effects throughout body
what is the duration of response for nervous system vs endocrine system?
ns: short term: milliseconds - terminates with removal of stimulus
es: long-lasting: minutes to days to weeks; may continue after stimulus is removed
what are the functions of the endocrine system?
Maintaining homeostasis of blood composition and volume
Controlling reproductive activities
Regulating development, growth, and metabolism
Controlling digestive processes
What are features of all endocrine glands?
ductless
extensive blood supply (so hormones can be rapidly taken by blood).
What are the major endocrine glands?
pituitary gland pineal gland thyroid gland parathyroid glands adrenal glands
what are organs which contain endocrine cells?
hypothalamus skin thymus heart liver stomach pancreas small intestine kidney gonads (testes and ovaries)
what does the pineal gland secrete?
melatonin
what does melatonin do?
makes us drowsy
what hormone does the parathyroid produce and release?
parathyroid hormone (PTH)
what does PTH do?
released in response to decreased blood calcium levels
what is a reflex?
preprogrammed response that occurs when activated by certain stimuli
what are the 3 types of stimulation that initiate an endocrine reflex?
humoral, hormonal or nervous
what is hormonal stimulation?
release of a hormone in response to another hormone
what is humoral stimulation?
release of a hormone in response to changes in level of nutrient of ion in the blood.
what is nervous system stimulation?
release of a hormone in response to stimulation by the nervous system.
how are hormones grouped according to chemical structure?
steroid hormones, protein hormones and biogenic amines
what is a steroid hormone?
lipid soluble molecules synthesized from cholesterol
what is calcitriol?
hormone produced by vitamin D
sometimes called steroid hormone, but really a sterol hormone - still lipid soluble
what is a protein hormone?
composed of small chains of amino acids - water-soluble
what are biogenic amines?
modified amino acids - include epinephrine and norepinephrine and thyroid hormone
all water soluble except for thyroid hormone
what are local hormones?
hormones that do not circulate within blood - released from producing cells then bind to same cell or neighboring cells
what are eicosanoids?
primary type of local hormone made from fatty acid that comes from phospholipids within a cell’s plasma membrane
synthesized through enzymatic cascade
What are 3 eicosaoids?
leukotrienes, prostaglandins, thromboxanes
what is autocrine stimulation?
when an eicosanoid initiates cellular change in the cell from which it was formed
what is paracrine stimulation?
when an eicosanoid initiates cellular changes in neighboring cells
which kind of hormones require carrier molecules?
lipid-soluble
what are carrier molecules?
water-soluble proteins synthesized by the liver
what is a bound hormone?
a hormone attached to a carrier
what kind of hormone can exit the blood and bind to cellular receptors of target hormones?
unbound hormones
why do some water-soluble hormones use carrier protein molecules?
transport carrier protein protects the hormone - prevents early destruction so prolongs the life of the hormone
what factors influence hormone concentration in the blood?
hormone synthesis and hormone elimination
how are hormones eliminated?
enzymatic degradation in liver cells or removal from the blood by excretion by the kidneys or by uptake into the target cells
which kind of hormone has the longer half-life?
steroid hormones have the longer half life (testosterone is 12 days), water-soluble minutes to an hour
how do lipid-soluble hormones (steroid hormones) interact with target cells?
1.Unbound hormones diffuse across plasma membrane
in the cell. 2.they bind to intracellular receptors (either in cytosol or nucleus) to form hormone-receptor complex 3. hormone-receptor complex binds to specific DNA sequence within the nucleus (hormone-response elements HRE’s) 4. binding to DNA results in transcription of mRNA 5. tranlation of mRNA by ribosomes synthesizes specific protein.
can water-soluble hormones cross the plasma membrane?
no
how does a water-soluble hormone stimulate a target cell?
- hormone binds to plasma membrane receptor, inducing shape change & activating receptor.
- G protein binds to activated receptor
- GDP is bumped off and GTP binds to G protein - activating G protein.
- activated G protein is released from receptor, travels along inside of plasma membrane–> formation or availability of 2nd messenger
what are the 2 plasma membrane enzymes that protein G activates?
Adenylate cyclase and/or phospholipase C
describe the adenylate cyclase cascade
- activated G protein binds to and activated plasma membrane enzyme adenylate cyclase
- adenylate cyclase converts ATP to cAMP molecules.
- cAMP serves as the 2nd messenger by activating protein kinase A.
describe phospholipase C enzyme cascade
- activated G protein binds to and activates plasma membrane enzyme phospholipase C
- phospholipase C splits PIP2 into 2 2nd messengers: DAG and IP3
3a. DAG activates protein kinase C
3b. IP3 increases Ca2+ in cytosol (stimulates release from endoplasmic reticulum and entry across the plasma membrane from the interstitial fluid).
3c. Ca2+ acts as 3rd messenger to activate protein kinase enzymes.
what organ releases glucagon?
pancreas
why is glucagon released?
in response to low blood glucose levels
where does glucagon go after it is released?
receptors in plasma membrane of liver cells - causes increase in cAMP synthesis and activation of kinase A enzymes, kinase A enzymes phosphorylate enzyme pathways that lead to release of glucose from liver cells
what does glucose do?
enters blood and helps return blood glucose levels to normal homeostatic range
what organ releases oxytocin?
posterior pituitary
what does oxytocin do?
binds with membrane receptors of smooth muscle cells in uterus to increase production of IP3 which increases intracellular Ca2+ and causes stronger uterine contractions to expel the baby
what does the intracellular enzyme cascade do?
happens after hormone binds to cell membrane receptor, then G protein, transmembrane enzyme (either adenylate cyclase or phopholipase C), 2nd messenger, and protein kinase become involved. Activated protein kinase can either stimulate or inhibit enzymatic pathways within the cell, alter cell permeability to an ion, or both.
what are two advantages to the signaling pathways?
- amplifies signal at each enzymatic step
2. provides more places and opportunities to fine-tune and regulate the pathway activities (because it is multi-step)
what is up-regulation?
cells increase the number of receptors - increasing cell’s sensitivity to a hormone
what is down-regulation?
cell decreasing the number of receptors, reducing the cell’s sensitivity to a hormone.
what causes a cell to alter the number of hormone receptors?
hormone concentration in the blood.
developmental maturity
cell’s state of activity,
different stages of the cell cycle
what are the 3 ways in which hormones interact?
synergistic, permissive, antagonistic
what is synergistic hormone interaction?
activity of one hormone reinforces the activity of another hormone
i.e. estrogen and progesterone together more powerfully influence female reproductive structures together than by themselves.
what is permissive hormone interaction?
activity of one hormone requires a second hormone
i.e. prolactin is required to produce breast milk and oxytocin is required for milk ejection
what is antagonistic hormone interaction?
effects of one hormone oppose the effects of another hormone
i.e. glucagon (initiates cellular changes that increase blood glucose levels) and insulin(initiates cellular changes that decrease blood glucose levels).
What hormone does the pineal gland produce?
Melatonin
what is the function of melatonin?
regulates the body’s circadian rhythm
What hormones does the hypothalamus produce?
oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone
what does the posterior pituitary do?
stores and releases oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone
what is the function of oxytocin?
uterine contractions and breast milk release
what is the function of antidiuretic hormone?
fluid balance
triggered by increase in blood osmolarity (too many particles in blood - means dehydrated), reduces urine production, increases water-reabsorption in the kidney
What does the anterior pituitary produce?
TP-FLAG thyroid-stimulating hormone prolactin follicle-stimulating hormone luteinizing hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone growth hormone
what is the function of thyroid-stimulating hormone?
stimulates the thyroid gland to release thyroid hormone
what is the function of prolactin?
breast milk production
what is the function of follicle-stimulating hormone?
development of gametes (and follicle in female)
regulate hormone synthesis by the gonads
what is the function of luteinizing hormone?
development of gametes (and ovulation in female)
regulating hormone synthesis by gonads
what is the function of adrenocorticotropic hormone?
stimulates adrenal cortex to produce and release corticosteroids (glucocorticoids). - like cortisol
what is the function of growth hormone?
stimulates cell growth and division
affects most body parts - especially those within the skeletal and muscular systems
stimulates liver to release insulin-like growth factor 1 and 2 (IGF-1 and IGF-2)
what hormones are produced by the thyroid gland?
thyroid hormone
calcitonin
what is the function of thyroid hormone?
increases metabolism
what is the function of calcitonin?
decreases blood calcium levels
what hormones are produced by the parathyroid glands?
parathyroid hormone
what is the function of the parathyroid hormone?
increases blood calcium levels
what hormones are produced by the adrenal medulla?
catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)
what do catecholamines do?
prolong fight-or-flight response
what hormones are produced by the adrenal cortex?
mineralcorticoids (like aldosterone)
glucocorticoids (like cortisol)
gonadocorticoids (like androgens)
what do mineralcorticoids do?
regulate blood sodium and potassium levels
what do glucocorticoids do?
(cortisol)
participate in stress response
what is the function of gonadocorticoids?
(androgens)
stimulates maturation and functioning of the reproductive system
what hormones does the skin produce?
vitamin D - later converted to calcitriol through enzymes in the liver and kidney
what is the function of vitamin D (and calcitriol)?
promotes absorption of calcium from gastrointestinal tract into blood
what hormones are produced by the thymus?
thymosin, thymulin, thymopoietin
what are the functions of thymosin, thymulin, and thymopoietin?
stimulates maturation of T-lymphocytes
what hormones are produced by the heart?
atrial natriuretic peptide
what hormones are produced by the stomach?
gastrin
what hormones are produced by the liver?
angiotensinogen
erythropoietin
what is the function of angiotensinogen?
regulates blood volume and blood pressure
what is the function of erythropoietin?
increases production of erythrocytes
what hormones does the pancreas produce?
insulin and glucagon
what is the function of insulin?
decreases blood glucose
what is the function of glucagon?
increases blood glucose
what hormones are produced by the small intestine?
secretin and cholecystokinin
what hormones are produced by the kidneys
erythropoietin
what hormones are produced by testes?
androgens (testosterone) and inhibin
what is the function of testosterone and inhibin?
stimulate maturation and function of male reproductive system
what hormones are produced by the ovaries?
estrogen, progesterone, inhibin
what are the functions of estrogen, progesterone, inhibin?
stimulate maturation and function of female reproductive system
OT
oxytocin
ADH
antidiuretic hormone
TSH
thyroid-stimulating hormone
PRL
prolactin
FSH
follicle-stimulating hormone
LH
luteinizing hormone
ACTH
adrenocorticotropic hormone
GH
growth hormone
TH
thyroid hormone
PTH
parathyroid hormone
ANP
atrial natriuretic peptide
EPO
erythropoietin
what is a nutrient?
organic molecules derived from foods to generate ATP
what forms of nutrients circulate in the blood?
simple forms: glucose, fatty acids, amino acids
how are glucose and fatty acid stored within cells?
as glycogen and triglycerides (more complex forms)
what structures help regulate nutrient blood levels?
liver, adipose connective tissue and skeletal muscle - can be used for storing nutrients when blood levels are high, can be withdrawn when blood levels are falling
what enzymatic pathways for nutrient processing exist in the liver?
glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis
what is glycogenesis?
the synthesis of glycogen from glucose obtained from the blood
what is glycogenolysis?
the breakdown of stored glycogen into glucose
what is gluconeogenesis?
production of glucose from noncarbohydrate molecules such as amino acids, fatty acids or lactate
do muscle cells engage in glycogenolysis?
yes, but do not release glucose into the blood. use glucose to support their own high energy needs
what enzymatic pathways do adipose connective tissue cells use?
lipogenesis and lipolysis
what is lipogenesis?
the synthesis of triglycerides for storage from fatty acids and glycerol obtained from the blood
what is lipolysis?
the breakdown of triglycerides into glycerol and fatty acids that are then released into the blood
which cells use enzymatic pathways that produce protein?
all cells - especially muscle cells
what is protein anabolism?
synthesis - stimulated with increased uptake of amino acids from the blood
what is protein catabolism?
breakdown of protein to release amino acids - usually only used for emergency purposes
which gland’s hormone release does the hypothalamus control?
the pituitary gland
which glands does the hypothalamus indirectly control hormone release from?
thyroid gland, adrenal gland, liver, testes and ovaries
what is another name for the pituitary gland?
the hypophysis
what is the stem of the pituitary gland called?
the infundibulum (or infundibular stalk)
what is another name for the posterior pituitary?
neurohypophysis
what is the pars nervosa?
the rounded lobe of the posterior pituitary
what is the posterior pituitary composed of?
the infundibulum and the pars nervosa
what is in the posterior pituitary?
axons (dendrites and cell bodies of neurons are in the hypothalamus) - synaptic knobs and ends of axons are in the pars nervosa
what is another word for the anterior pituitary?
adenohypophysis
how are the anterior pituitary and the hypothalamus connected?
through direct blood pathway called hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system (from primary plexus - capillary network on hypothalamus - to secondary plexus - capillary network on anterior pituitary)
does the posterior pituitary produce any hormone?
no - just stores oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone that are synthesized in hypothalamus (transported through unmyelinated axons to synaptic knobs in posterior pituitary)
how do hormones travel from hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary?
hormones are released into the primary plexus, then transported via the hypophyseal portal vein to the secondary plexus within the anterior pituitary. anterior pituitary then releases its hormones into the blood of the general circulation.
what are the hormones released by the hypothalamus called?
regulatory hormones
what are regulatory hormones?
molecules secreted into the blood by the hypothalamus to regulate secretion of anterior pituitary hormones.
what are the 2 groups of regulatory hormones?
releasing hormones (RHs) and inhibiting hormones (IHs)
what are releasing hormones?
stimulate production and secretion of specific anterior pituitary hormones
what are inhibiting hormones?
deter production and secretion of specific anterior pituitary hormones
What are the hormones that are synthesized and released into the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system from the hypothalamus?
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone prolactin-releasing hormone gonadotropin-releasing hormone corticotropin-releasing hormone growth hormone-releasing hormone prolactin-inhibiting hormone growth-inhibiting hormone