F214 - Hormones Flashcards
Endocrine Gland
Definition
Releases hormone directly into the blood
Ductless
Exocrine Gland
Definition
Releases a secretion onto or at the surface of an organ via a duct
Target Tissue
Definition
Tissue made up of cells with specific complimentary receptors to the hormone molecules
First Messenger
Definition
A hormone that binds to a cell surface membrane to affect intracellular metabolic processes
Second Messenger
Definition
A molecule inside cells that acts to transmit signals from a receptor to a target
Where are the adrenal glands?
Anterior to (just above) the kidneys, one on each side of the body Each gland can be split up into a medulla region and a cortex region
Function of the Adrenal Glands
The Adrenal Medulla
Cells in the medulla manufacture the hormone adrenaline and release it in response to stress.
Function of the Adrenal Glands
The Adrenal Cortex
Uses cholesterol to produce certain steroid hormones
e.g.
Mineralocorticoids (e.g. aldosterone) help to control concentrations of sodium and potassium in the blood
Glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisol) help to control the metabolism of carbohydrates in the liver
What are the effects of adrenaline?
- relaxes smooth muscle in the bronchioles
- increases stroke volume of the heart
- increases heart rate
- causes general vasoconstriction to increase blood pressure
- stimulates conversion of glycogen to glucose
- dilates pupils
- increases mental awareness
- inhibits the action of the gut
How does adrenaline affect target muscle cells?
- adrenaline binds to a receptor protein in the cell plasma membrane
- this causes a shape change which affects a G protein on the inner membrane surface
- the G protein activates an enzyme called adenylyl cyclase
- adenylyl cyclase catalyses the production of cyclic AMP from ATP
- cyclic AMP activates an enzyme in the cytoplasm that catalyses a reaction to activate another enzyme starting a chain of enzymes
- at the end of the chain glycogen phosphorylase is activated
- glycogen phosphorylase catalyses the conversion of glycogen to glucose phosphate
What are the first and second messengers for adrenaline?
adrenaline is the first messenger
cyclic AMP is the second messenger
The Pancreas as an Exocrine Gland
- Pancreatic juices are secreted into the pancreatic duct which carries them to the duodenum
- The secretion contains digestive enzymes
- The enzymes break down large insoluble molecules to be absorbed
Glycogenolysis
Definition
The break down of glycogen to form glucose
Gluconeogenesis
Definition
The creation of glucose from non-carbohydrate substrates
Glycogenesis
Definition
Generating glycogen from glucose molecules
Alpha Cells
Definition
Cells in the pancreas which secrete glucagon