L12: Introduction to the Endocrine system & Endocrine control of appetite Flashcards
Define homeostasis?
Dynamic equilibrium to counteract changes in the internal environment and remain stable and relatively constant
What can happen if homeostasis fails?
Disease
What are the characteristics of a control system?
- Stimulus
- Receptor
–> Detect stimuli
–> Chemoreceptors, thermoreceptors, nociceptors, proprioceptors - Control centre
–> Determines the set point
–> Analyses afferent input
–> Determines response - Effector
–> Causes change
Negative (or positive) feedback to turn stimulus off
What are the names of the pathways that take the signal to and from the control centre?
Afferent pathway–> to the control centre
Efferent pathway–> away from the control centre
Nervous system uses AP
Endocrine system uses hormones
What are biological rhythms?
Circadian rhythms (diurnal) Body clock --> suprachiasmatic nucleus Set point varies throughout the day based on cues from the external environment (light, temperature, social interaction, exercise, eating/drinking pattern)
What is jet lag?
Mismatch between your body clock and the external environment
What is responsible for setting the biological clock?
Melatonin from pinneal gland
What is important to remember when taking a blood test for cortisol?
Different levels throughout the day
Ensure you record the time taken when you take the sample
What are feedback loops?
Effector feedsback on stimulus to either enhance or inhibit stimulus
Positive and negative feedback loops
What is negative feedback?
Response reverse the direction of change
Most common
What is positive feedback?
Response changes variable even more in the direction of change
Rare
Used when rapid change is desirable e.g. childbirth, blood clotting
What is the difference between the long and short loop?
Long loop–> last hormone released feedsback on AP and hypothalamus
Short–> second hormone released feedsback on hypothalamus
What detects changes in the osmotic pressure?
Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus
What is the difference between osmolarity and osmolality?
Osmolarity–> Number of osmoles per litre of solution (volume)
Osmolality–> Number of osmoles per Kg of solution (mass)
What is the normal range for sodium concentration?
275- 295 mOsmol/kg
Hyponatraemia –> low Na+ in the blood
How does antidiuretic hormone control body fluid homeostasis?
Increased Osmolality (high solute concentration)–> detected by osmoreceptors in hypothalamus–> Posterior pituitary secretes more ADH–> Increased resorption of H2O in kidneys–> normal blood osmolality and small amount of concentrated urine
Decrease osmolality (low solute concentration)–> osmoreceptors–> Posterior pituitary secrete less ADH–> Decreased resorption of H2O in kidneys–> normal blood osmolality with large volume of dilute urine
How is plasma glucose homeostasis maintained?
Blood glucose- 5mM Increase glucose (after eating)--> pancreas secrete insuin--> stimulates glycogenesis in liver (storage) and glucose uptake in muscle and adipose tissue (GLUT4 transporter) --> plasma glucose declines
Plasma glucose decreased–> pancreas releases glucagon–> stimulates glycogenolysis–> plasma glucose increases