Learning Objectives 10: Endocrine System

Question 1

What is the difference between endocrine and exocrine glands?

Answer 1

endocrine glands do not have ducts and secrete hormones that go into blood vessels
exocrine glands contain ducts and secrete a substance that travels outside the body or into a cavity of the body

Question 2

What are the two different communication systems of the body? How do they send and receive information?

Answer 2

the nervous system
sends and receives information through nerves and receptors
the endocrine system
sends and receives information through hormones in the bloodstream

Question 3

Hormones are released from endocrine cells into the bloodstream. How do hormones only cause a response in specific cells and not all of the cells in our body?

Answer 3

hormones interact with specific receptors located on specific cells. That is how they only cause a response in certain cells; only cells with the highly specialized hormone receptor can respond to the hormones.

Question 4

Give the location and GENERAL function of each of the 8 endocrine glands

Answer 4

hypothalamus
inferior to the thalamus
secretes tropic hormones which inhibit or stimulate the release of hormones from other glands
pituitary gland
inferior to hypothalamus
produces 8 hormones. Known as the master gland because most of these hormones are tropic
pineal gland
posterior to the hypothalamus
secretes melatonin to regulate the circadian rhythm. it is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light
thyroid gland
inferior to the pharynx
regulates metabolism
parathyroid glands
located on the posterior aspect of the thyroid
regulates blood calcium using parathyroid hormone
thymus gland
medial to the lungs
secretes tribes that stimulates development of lymphocytes
adrenal gland
located on superior aspect of kidneys
long term stress regulation is done by the adrenal cortex, and short term stress regulation (fight or flight) is done by the medulla
Gonads
Both produce sex hormones which stimulate production of sex cells/gametes and growth, development, and maintenance of sex organs
ovaries
produces estrogen
lateral to the uterus
testicles
produces testosterone
lateral to the bladder

Question 5

What is the difference between melanin and melatonin?

Answer 5

melanin is a skin pigment produced by melanocytes while melatonin is a hormone involved in regulating the human circadian rhythm produced by the pineal gland

Question 6

What type of gland is the pancreas?

Answer 6

it is both an endocrine and exocrine gland

Question 7

What is the function of the exocrine pancreas?

Answer 7

To produce digestive enzymes that are secreted and move through ducts into the duodenum

Question 8

What is the function of the endocrine pancreas? What hormones does it produce and how do they impact the level of glucose in the blood?

Answer 8

Blood glucose regulation
Hormones produced
insulin
glucose storage-reduces level of glucose in body
glucagon
glucose release-increases level of glucose in body

Question 9

In general, what causes endocrine disorders?

Answer 9

Hyper or hypo secretion of hormones

Question 10

Hypersecretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland is usually caused by an adenoma. What is the result if a patient has hypersecretion of growth hormone before puberty? What is the result if a patient has hypersecretion of growth hormone after puberty?

Answer 10

result before puberty
giantism-excessive growth of long bones before plates close
result after puberty
acromegaly-growth in thickness of bones, enlargement of hands/feet and facial bones

Question 11

Draw and label the organs of the system