Introduction to the endocrine system Flashcards

1
Q

Which cell signalling is transported via the blood stream?

A

Endocrine

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2
Q

Which cell signalling is via a local mediator into target cells nearby?

A

Paracrine

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3
Q

Which cell signalling involves neurons binding at a synapse?

A

Neuronal

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4
Q

Which cell signalling releases a signal to act on itself?

A

Autocrine

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5
Q

Which glands are ductless?

A

Endocrine glands

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6
Q

What are the major endocrine glands?

A

Hypothalamus
Pineal gland
Pituitary
Thyroid
Parathyroid
Thymus
Adrenal
Pancreas
Ovaries
Testes

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7
Q

Which is the pituitary gland also known as?

A

Hypophysis

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8
Q

How is the pituitary gland connected to the hypothalamus?

A

Via the pituitary stalk (infundibulum)

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9
Q

Which gland controls almost all pituitary secretions?

A

Hypothalamus

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10
Q

How many hormones are secreted in the pituitary?

A

Anterior - 6
Posterior - 2

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11
Q
A
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12
Q

Which functions does the pituitary gland regulate?

A
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13
Q

What is acromegaly and what can cause it?

A

Dysfunction of the pituitary gland.
Increased growth hormone in adults = bigger bones

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14
Q

What is gigantism and what can cause it?

A

Increased growth hormones in children before bone fusion, leads to abnormal height and bone growth.
Caused by pituitary gland dysfunction.

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15
Q

The parathyroid glands are involved in which ion?

A

Calcium concentration

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16
Q

What hormones does the pancreas release?

A

Insulin (beta cells) and Glugagon
Also secretes digestive enzymes into GI tract

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17
Q

Where are the adrenal glands located?

A

Above kidneys

18
Q
A
19
Q

What does the medulla of the adrenal glands secrete?

A

Adrenaline and noradrenaline in response to SS

20
Q

What does the cortex of the adrenal glands secrete?

A

Corticosteroids - synthesised from cholesterol

21
Q

Which syndrome is caused by too much cortisol?

A

Cushings syndrome

22
Q

Which condition is caused by too much aldosterone?

A

Hyperaldosteronism - leads to HTN

23
Q

Can peptide hormones cross the cell membrane?

A

No as they’re hydrophilic, they bind to cell surface receptors instead

24
Q

Hormones can be stored in cells until required as what?

A

Prohormones (inactive) –> get cleaved into active hormones via enzymes

25
Q

Can steroids cross the cell membrane?

A

Yes as they are hydrophobic

26
Q

Which type of hormones cannot be stored in cells?

A

Steroids, but they can be rapidly synthesised

27
Q

What are steroids synthesised from?

A

Cholesterol

28
Q

What is the pathway of Tyrosine to thyroid hormones?

A

Tyrosine –> 3-lodo-L-tyrosine –> 3-5-lodo-L-Tyrosine –> Thyroxine or Triiodothyronine

29
Q

What is the pathway of tyrosine to adrenaline?

A

Tyrosine –> Dopamine –> Noradrenaline –> Adrenaline

30
Q

Which type of hormones have a short half life, short duration of action and a rapid onset of action?

A

Peptide hormones

31
Q

Which type of hormones have a slow onset of action, a long plasma half life and a long duration of action?

A

Steroid and thyroid hormones

32
Q

Which type of hormones are not orally active?

A

Peptides.
Steroids and thyroid hormones are orally active.

33
Q

What are steroid and thyroid hormones transported in the blood with?

A

Plasma proteins.
Peptide hormones are not bound and can freely circulate.

34
Q

What are three primary receptor classes?

A

GPCR
Tyrosine kinase receptors
Steroid hormone receptors

35
Q

Which receptor does adrenaline bind to?

A

G-protein a-adrenergic receptors (Gaq)

36
Q

What is the GPCR Gaq pathway?

A

PLC activated –> PIP2 cleavage into DAG and IP3 –> Ca2+ influx, cAMP activation –> protein phosphorylation

37
Q

What is the pathway of a tyrosine kinase receptor?

A
38
Q

What is the pathway of steroid hormone receptors?

A

1 - enters through cell membrane due to small size and hydrophobic nature
2 - steroid hormone binds with cytoplasmic receptor forming hormone receptor complex (HRC)
3 - HRC enters the nucleus and cytoplasmic receptor aspect of the HRC binds to DNA
4 - HRC binding to genes is able to turn genes on or off
5 - cell undergoes transcription and protein synthesis

39
Q

When is serum TSH at it’s highest throughout the day?

A

At night - there is diurnal variation, TSH then reduces during the day

40
Q

What is the pathway of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis?

A
  • hypothalamus secretes corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)
  • CRH binds to anterior pituitary gland causing release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
  • ACTH is released into blood and binds to adrenal cortex
  • adrenal cortex releases glucocorticoids (cortisol)
  • glucocorticoids bind to pituitary gland and hypothalamus, inhibits further release of glucocorticoids
41
Q

What type of receptor class would insulin bind to?

A

Cell surface receptor

42
Q

What type of receptor class would thyroid hormones bind to?

A

Cytosolic receptors