Exam 4 Flashcards
(156 cards)
Compare and contrast nervous and endocrine system control
Nervous system - #1 controlling system of the body
- Neurons: release NTs
- Very fast, quick response by effectors
- Short-lived effect
Endocrine system - #2 controlling system of the body
- Glandular cells: hormones
- Lag time before response by target cells
* Hormone must travel through
bloodstream in order to reach
target cell
- Longer-lasting effect
- Both systems function in communication with other parts of the body
Contrast endocrine and exocrine
Endo = within
-crine = to secrete
Endocrine glands: hormones sent to target tissue through bloodstream
Exocrine lands: secretions sent through a duct to membrane surface
Give examples of endocrine glands
- Pineal gland
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary gland
- Thyroid
- Parathyroid glands
- Thymus
- Adrenal
- Pancreas
- Ovary
- Testis
Contrast the 2 classes of hormones based on their structure
Amino acid based
- Composed of amino acids/derivatives
of amino acids
Steroid bases
- Made form cholesterol
- Examples: sex hormones and adrenal
cortex hormones (cortisol)
Define target cells
Cells with a receptor for a specific hormone that can respond to that hormone; the target of a hormone’s effect
Define receptor
(1) a peripheral nerve ending specialized for response to particular types of stimuli; (2) molecule that binds specifically with other molecules, e.g., hormones and neurotransmitters
Contrast the function of water-soluble and lipid-soluble hormones
Lipid-soluble/steroid hormones: can use direct gene activation or indirect
^ diffuse through the plasma membrane
to enter the target cell and bind to a
receptor protein.
Water-soluble/amino acid hormones: Indirect pathway
^ bind to a receptor protein on the plasma
membrane of the cell.
Contrast hormone mechanisms of action via direct gene activation and second messenger signaling
Direct gene activation
^ Steroid hormone (outside the cell)
^ Moves past plasma membrane and into cell through cytoplasm
^ Moves into nucleus
^ Binds receptor protein
^ Hormone-receptor complex interacts with DNA
^ Gene is turned on > mRNA transcribed > protein
Second messenger signaling
^ Hormone behaves as first messenger
(outside cell)
^ Binds membrane receptor, setting off a
chain reaction of events
^ After binding of receptor, enzyme
becomes active
^ Active enzyme then activates second
messenger (ex: cAMP)
^ Second messenger then has an effect on
cellular function, such as glycogen
breakdown
What are the three ways that the body controls the release of hormones
- Hormonal stimulus
- Humoral stimulus
- Neural stimulus
Describe the hormonal stimulus
- A gland secretes a hormone that then goes on to stimulate another gland to stimulate another hormone and so on – typically a 3-step pathway
^ Controlled by negative feedback
^ Ex: The hypothalamus secretes
hormones that stimulate the anterior
pituitary gland to secrete hormones that
stimulate other endocrine glands to
secrete hormones
Describe the neural stimulus
- Neural stimulus
^ Preganglionic sympathetic fiber
stimulates adrenal medulla cells to secrete
catecholamines (epinephrine and
norepinephrine)
Describe the humoral stimulus
- Humoral = blood
^ Capillary blood contains low
concentration of Ca2+, which stimulates
secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH)
by parathyroid glands
What are the major anterior pituitary hormones/their functions and targets?
Hypothalamus also makes releasing hormones, such as GHRH and TRH, which then tell the anterior pituitary to release hormones such as…
- GH (growth hormone)
- TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
- ACTH (stimulates the adrenal cortex)
- FSH and LH (reproductive hormones,
stimulate the gonads = gonadotropins)
- PRL (prolactin)
What are the major hormones stored and released by the posterior pituitary and what are their functions?
- Oxytocin: causes uterine contraction during labor and targets mammary glands (milk let-down reflex)
- ADH: anti-diuretic hormone, targets kidney tubules, balances water in body
Describe the relationship between the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary as well as the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary
Hypothalamus and the posterior pituitary:
^ Hypothalamus is responsible for the
synthesis of oxytocin and ADH
^ Oxytocin and ADH are then
transported and released to the
posterior pituitary gland, where they are
stored until they are needed
^ The posterior pituitary does not
make any hormones on its own – it
simply stores and releases ADH and
oxytocin as needed and releases them
into bloodstream
Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary:
^ The anterior pituitary is under the
control of the hypothalamus
^ Hypothalamus also makes releasing
hormones, such as GHRH and TRH,
which then tell the anterior pituitary to
release hormones
_____ and _____ are the only non-endocrine targets of the anterior pituitary hormones
GH, PRL
Describe gigantism
Hypersecretion of GH in children (growth plates still open)
What is the function of GH?
- General metabolic hormone
^ Target cells increase in size and divide
^ Long bone growth
^ Increase in muscle mass - Effects on metabolism
^ Gat breakdown
^ Glucose sparing
^ Helps glucose stay in homeostasis
Describe acromegaly
Hypersecretion of GH in adults (growth plates closed)
^ Thickening of the bones, especially in
the face, hands and feet
Describe pituitary dwarfism
Hyposecretion of GH in children
^ Proportional limb sizes
What pathologies are associated with too much or too little GH?
Gigantism, acromegaly, pituitary dwarfism
What is/are the function(s) of thyroid hormone?
- Thyroid hormones inhibit anterior pituitary and hypothalamus
^ Negative feedback control - TH effects
^ Increases BMR
^ Increased glucose “burn” rate
^ Glucose energy to ATP
^ Responsible for heat production
^ Regulates tissue growth and
development (particularly important in
infants and children)
What is the location of the thyroid hormone?
Situated in the anterior part of the neck
^ Butterfly-shaped gland situated across the trachea
What are the major hormones of the thyroid gland?
Major hormones
- Thyroxine (T4)
^ Major hormone
^ 4 atoms of iodine
- Triiodothyroxine (T3)
^ Formed at target tissues
^ 3 atoms of iodine
- Calcitonin
^ Calcium deposit > bones