Homeostasis Flashcards
define homeostasis
- process where constant internal environment is maintained despite the changes in the external environment, and constant balance is achieved through monitored adjustments
what are the components of a homeostatic control system?
- monitor that detects change in variable
- coordinating center that receives message from monitor and sends resposne
3.regulator that carries out response initiated by the coordinating center
what is the hypothalamus?
- part of the brain that serves as the coordinating center that recieves message from the monitors to initiate a hormonal or nervous response
explain dynamic equilibrium
- another term for homeostasis that refers to the balance in our bodies that can be maintained within an acceptable change
explain a negative feedback loop
- change in conditions triggers a response that reverses that change
explain a positive feedback loop
- change in conditions that trigger a response that reinforces that change
what is the function of the endrocrine system?
- maintain homeostasis by releasing hormones from glands in the body
define glands
- secrete hormones and other substances into the bloodstream as they do not have ducts
define hormones
- affect a broad range of cells and work slowly but are long lasting
- chemicals produced at the source and communicates regulatory messages within the body
what are the two types of hormones and explain
1.peptide hormones that require a receptor as they are not membrane permeable. Will bind to receptor and trigger cascade of reactions in cell
- steroid hormones that can pass through the cell membrane without a receptor and bind to one in the nucleus or cytoplasm and activate specific genes
explain the master gland of the hypothalamus
- connects endocrine system to nervous system and receives signals from body and initiates release of hormones
explain the master gland of the pituitary gland
- secretes hormones made in the hypothalamus and stimulates other glands to release hormones
what are the two regions of the pituitary gland
- posterior region
- anterior region
what hormones does the posterior region release?
- ADH to regulate osmoregularity in kidneys
-oxytocin to act on muscles in uterus during labour and causes mammary glands to release milk
what hormones does the anterior region release?
- TSH that stimulates the thyroid
- ACTH that stimulates the adrenal glands
- FSH that acts on the gonads (ovaries and testes)
- LH that acts on the gonads (sex cells)
- MSH to stimulate release of melanin
- growth hormone that act on the muscles
- prolactin in mammary glands
what are tropic hormones?
- hormones that stimulate other glands to release hormones
name the hormones involved in the regulation of blood sugar
- insulin decreasing blood sugar
2.glucagon increasing blood sugar - epinephrine increasing blood sugar and mobilizing carbs
- norepinephrine increasing blood sugar turning glycogen into glucose
- cortisol increases blood sugar under stress so sugars are available for metabolism
explain how insulin regulates blood sugar
- comes from beta cells in islets of langerhans and pancreas
- target liver muscle and other body cells to increase permeability to glucose
- in liver glucose becomes glycogen
- reduces blood sugar
explain how glucagon regulates blood sugar
- comes from alpha cells in islets of langerhans and pancreas
- target liver to convert glycogen to glucose
- increases blood sugar
what kind of feedback loop is thyroid involved in?
negative
explain how the thyroid gland regulates metabolism
- metabolic rate decreases, and receptors in hypothalamus recognize this and release TRH which is thyroid releasing hormone
- TRH travels to anterior pituitary to release TSH
- TSH travels to thyroid gland to release thyroxine that travels to body cells to stimulate increase in
cellular respiration - increased thyroxine signals hypothalamus to stop making TRH
what is goiters?
- when iodine deficient thyroxine levels drop so TRH keeps stimulating release of TSH that overstimulate thyroids resulting in an enlargement of the gland
what is the parathyroid?
- 4 small glands that release PTH that regulates blood calcium level
explain the growth hormone
- comes from the anterior pituitary and targets mostly cartilage and bone cells
- increases the number and size of soft tissue and bone cells by increasing amino acid uptake by stimulating ribosomes for protein synthesis
- stimulates liver to release IGFs that stimulate cell division and promoting the elongation of skeletons and long bones and increasing the breakdown of fats for energy
What is acromegaly?
- when a person is done growing but hgH is still largely produced and the bones become wide, ribs thick, face wide and hands and feet enlarged
explain the flight or fight response
- hypothalamus senses danger
- can activate the sympathetic nervous system which will activate the glands and smooth muscles, but also activates adrenal medulla to release epinephrine and norepinephrine into the blood
- hypothalamus can also activate adrenal cortex by releasing CRF that stimulates pituitary into releasing ACTH targetting adrenal cortex to release 30+ hormones
what stress is the adrenal medulla responsible for?
short term stress
what does norepinephrine and epinephrine target?
blood vessels,eyes, livers, muscles,heart, lungs
what happens when epinephrine and norepinephrine are released?
- liver and muscles break down glycogen and release fatty acids from fat cells
- heart rate and stroke volume increase
- blood vessels constrict and dilate for more oxygen and nutrient delivery to essential hormones
- retinas dilate for more visual information
-bronchioles dilate so respiration rate increases
what stress is the adrenal cortex responsible for?
- long term stress
what are glucocorticoids?
- released by adrenal cortex and increase blood sugar
what are mineralcorticoids?
- released by adrenal cortex to increase blood pressure
explain how cortisol regulates stress
- increases breakdown of muscle protein into glucose to be released into blood stream
-reduces its uptake in certain cells - hypothalamus senses danger and releases CRF that stimulates pituitary to release ACTH that causes adrenal cortex to release cortisol
- negative feedback loop as increased cortisol supresses ACTH to stop release of cortisol
why is being under constant stress harmful?
- large levels of cortisol
- impaired thinking, heart muscle damage, high blood pressure, risk of infection
explain what aldesterone does
- plays a role in water and salt balance by stimulating kidneys to increase salt absorption in blood, increasing solute so the water is drawn to the blood via osmosis to increase blood pressure
name the male reproductive hormones:
- testosterone: stimulates spermaotgenesis and secondary male sexual characteristics and sex drive
- FSH stimulates sperm production by acting on sperm producing cells
- LH stimulates production of testosterone
- androsterone which is the less potent testosterone
- GnRH that releases FSH and LH from pituitary
explain how the male reproductive hormones work:
- hypothalamus reeases gnRH to stimulate the anterior pituitary into releasing FSH and LH that target the testes
- FSH stimulates the sertoli cells to influence sperm production
- LH acts on the interstitial cells to release testosterone that also influences sperm production
- testosterone and ihibin both inhibit the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary
what are steroids?
- synthetic derivatves of testosterone that promote muscle growth and can be abused by body builders and atheletes but can be legally prescribed to males with low testosterone and to patients with HIV