Hormones Flashcards
What are hormones?
They are chemical messengers that are secreted by endocrine glands directly into the blood transported by the blood to target cells, where they elicit a response.
What hormones are secreted by the pineal gland?
Melatonin
What hormones are secreted by the pituitary gland?
LH and FSH, ADH, oxytocin, prolactin
What hormones are secreted by the thyroid gland?
Thyroxin
What hormones are secreted by the pancreas?
Insulin, glucagon
What hormones are secreted by the adrenal glands?
Epinephrine
What hormones are secreted by the ovaries?
Oestrogen, progesterone
What hormones are secreted by the testes?
Testosterone
What is the negative feedback?
It has a stabilizing effect because a change in levels cause the opposite change. A rise in levels back to decrease production and reduce the levels. A decrease in levels feeds back to increase production and raise the levels.
What is positive feedback?
Leads to sudden rises or falls, because a rise causes further rise and a fall causes further fall.
What is homeostasis?
It is keeping the conditions inside the organism within tolerable limits.
What are the two glands in the pancreas?
Exocrine gland
Endocrine gland- pancreatic islets/ islets of Langerhans that secrete hormones into the blood.
What are the two types of cells in islets?
Alpha and beta
Describe the regulation of blood glucose levels
- If blood glucose concentration falls too low, alpha cells in the pancreas synthesize and secrete the hormone glucagon into the blood
- Glucagon stimulates liver cells to hydrolyse glycogen into glucose and release glucose into the blood.
- If blood glucose concentration rises too high, beta cells in the pancreas synthesise and secrete the hormone insulin into the blood
Describe Type I diabetes
It is called early onset because it usually first appears during childhood. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys the beta cells of the pancreas. Thus, insulin is not produced in sufficient quantities. The causes of the autoimmune disease are unknown. It is treated by injecting insulin when glucose is too high.
What other health problems can diabetes cause?
Atherosclerosis
Coronary heart disease
Hypertension
Describe type II diabetes
It is called late onset because its onset is usually after childhood. It is characterised by the inability of cells to respond to insulin. The main risk factors are diets rich in carbohydrates and fat, prolonged obesity, together with genetic factors. Cells are insensitive to insulin, so insulin injections do not help. Monitoring diet and exercise helps.
What does the hormone thyroxine do?
It regulates the metabolic rate and helps control body temperature
What monitors body temperature?
The hypothalamus
Which cells do thyroxine target?
Almost all cells. The most metabolically active such as liver, muscle, and brain are the main targets
What does thyroxin do?
Increases the metabolic rate and a higher metabolic rate supports more protein synthesis and increases the generation of body heat.
How does thyroxin control body temperature?
Regulation respiration in brown adipose tissue
Vasoconstriction of skin arterioles and shivering