Hormonal Communication

Question 1

Why are hormones called ‘chemical messengers’

Answer 1

They carry information from one part of the body to another

Question 2

Compare the adrenal cortex to the medulla

Answer 2

Adrenal cortex is the outer region - produces hormones that are vital for life e.g. Cortisol and aldosterone
Adrenal medulla is the inner region- produces non-essential hormones e.g. Adrenaline

Question 3

Describe the journey of a hormone around the body

Answer 3

1. Hormones are transported in blood plasma
2. Diffuse out of blood and bind to specific receptors, found on membranes
3. Once bound hormones stimulate target cells to produced response

Question 4

What are the hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex

Answer 4

Glucocorticoids
Mineralocorticoids
Androgens

Question 5

What are glucocorticoids

Answer 5

Help to regulate metabolism, blood pressure and cardio vascular function in response to stress

Question 6

What are mineralcorticoids

Answer 6

Help to control blood pressure

Question 7

What are androgens

Answer 7

Small amounts of male and female sex hormones

Question 8

What 2 hormones are secreted by the medulla

Answer 8

Adrenaline
Noradrenaline

Question 9

What’s the role of adrenaline

Answer 9

Increases heart rate sending blood quickly to muscles and brain, rapidly increasing blood glucose levels

Question 10

What’s the role of noradrenaline

Answer 10

Response to stress, increases heart rate, widens pupils and narrows blood vessels to non-essential organs

Question 11

Describe a steroid hormone

Answer 11

Lipid - soluble
Pass through lipid component of plasma membrane and bind to form hormone-receptors
Hormone-receptor complex formed acts as transcript
e.g. Oestrogen

Question 12

Describe non-steroid hormones

Answer 12

Hydrophilic so cannot pass directly through membrane
They bind to specific receptors on the plasma membrane
Triggers cascade reaction mediated by second messenger
Eg. Adrenaline

Question 13

What is exocrine tissue

Answer 13

Exocrine glands are digestive enzymes
Composed of exocrine tissue- acini
Produces digestive enzymes and pancreatic juice secreted into duodenum via pancreatic duct
Eg. Pancreatic amylase, trypsin & lipase

Question 14

What is endocrine tissue

Answer 14

Small regions called lets of langerhan
Produces hormones
Eg. Insulin and glucagon
Secreted into the bloodstream

Question 15

Describe how the lets of langerhan can be distinguished

Answer 15

Lightly stained
Large spherical clusters
Produce/ secrete hormones
Alpha cells = glucagon
Beta cells = insulin

Question 16

Describe how the pancreatic ancient can be distinguished

Answer 16

Dark stained
Small berry-like clusters
Produce and secrete enzymes
There’s move of these as they’re needed for digestion, less hormones required

Question 17

How can you increase your blood glucose levels

Answer 17

Diet: carbs are broken down into glucose then absorbed into bloodstream
Glycogenisis
Gluconeogenisis

Question 18

Define glycogenlysis

Answer 18

Glycogen is broken down into glucose

Question 19

Define gluconeogenisis

Answer 19

Production of glucose from a non-carb source

Question 20

How can you decrease your blood glucose levels

Answer 20

Respiration
Glycogenisis

Question 21

Define glycogenisis

Answer 21

Production of glycogen for storage

Question 22

Describe the role of alpha cells in the lets of langerhan

Answer 22

Detects a fall in glucose levels
Produces glucagon
Response: secrete into bloodstream, glucose is not absorbed by cells, when it raises above a level, secretion stops
Specific processes: glycoenolysis, gluconeogenisis