Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Phase 2: Endocrine > Lecture 1: Introduction > Flashcards

Lecture 1: Introduction Flashcards

1
Q

Define an endocrine organ?

A

An endocrine organs are glands that secrete their products (hormones) directly into the bloodsteam rather than through a duct (exocrine)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Name the three types of hormones?

A
  • Steroid hormones
  • Peptide hormones
  • Amine (aka amino acid) derivatives
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Describe amino hormone group?

A

Derived from a single amino acid.

e.g. adrenaline, noradrenaline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Describe peptide hormone groups?

A

Derived from multiple amino acids

e.g. all pituitary homones, insulin etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe steroid hormone groups?

A

Derived from cholesterol

e.g. glucocorticoids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Describe the action of steroid hormones?

A
  • Steroid hormone can pass freely into the cell and bind to intracellular receptors creating a receptor/ligand complex.
  • The receptor/ligand complex binds to DNA and affects transcription and mRNA production.
    • Upregulation or downregulating the production of proteins.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe the action of G protein coupled receptors?

A

Peptide hormone binds to G protein receptor

Binding creates a conformational changes in the G protein, which initiate cellular changes by acting directly on processes (such as ion channels) or through second messengers, which then affect cell proteins to alter function.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Most peptide hormones act through which receptor to generate a change?

A

G- protein receptors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe the adenylyl cyclase pathway?

A
  • Activated GPCRs cause a conformational change in the attached G protein complex, which results in the Gs alpha subunit’s exchanging GDP for GTP and separation from the beta and gamma subunits.
  • The Gs alpha subunit, in turn, activates adenylyl cyclase, which quickly converts ATP into cAMP
  • cAMP causes the activation of protein kinase A (PKA)
  • PKA regulates transcription factors including the regulation of glucogen.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Name the endocrine glands?

A
  1. Pituitary
  2. Thyroid
  3. Pancreas
  4. Adrenal
  5. Testes
  6. Ovaries
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Which endocrine gland is the cruical connection between the endocrine and the nervous system?

A

Pituitary gland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the lobes of the pituitary gland called?

A

Anterior and posterior lobes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the 7 pituitary hormones produced by the anterior pituitary?

A
  1. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
  2. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
  3. Follicle stimulating hormones (FSH)
  4. Luteinising hormones (LH)
  5. Prolactin
  6. Growth hormone (GH)
  7. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

The thyroid gland produces which hormones?

A

Produces thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) hormone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Thyroid gland produces T3 and T4 by?

A

iodination of thyroglobulin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Thyroid gland produces T3 and T4 in response to which hormone?

A

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from anterior pituitary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the function of the thyroid hormones?

A

RegulateS body metabolism and ensure healthy cellular development

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Name some common disorders of thyroid?

A
  • Hyperthyroidism- overactive
  • Hypothyroidism- underactive
  • Adenoma
  • Cancer
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Adrenal glands are regulated by which systems?

A

ACTH and renin-angiotensin system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Corticosteroids are a class of drugs based on hormones formed in the ___ gland

A

adrenal gland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Name the corticosteroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex?

A

Cortisol

Aldosterone

Androgens

22
Q

Adrenal medulla is a source of catecholamines. What are catecholamines?

A

Catecholamines are hormones made by your adrenal glands, which are located on top of your kidneys. Examples include dopamine, adrenalin and noradrenaline

23
Q

Briefly describe Addison’s disease?

A

Also known as primary adrenal insufficiency and hypocortisolism,

It is a long-term endocrine disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones.

24
Q

Give an example of a condition in which is characterised by an insufficiency of an adrenal cortex hormone

A

Addison’s disease

25
Briefly describe cushing's syndrome?
A disorder that occurs when your body makes too much of the hormone cortisol over a long period of time
26
Give an example of a condition in which is characterised by an excess of adrenal cortex hormone
Cushing's syndrome- overproduction of cortisol Primary aldosteronism- overproduction of aldosterone Phaeochromocytoma- tumour of the adrenal medulla
27
Describe polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)?
Women with PCOS produce higher-than-normal levels of androgens. Higher than normal androgen levels in women can prevent ovulation (thus no menstural cycle) and can cause extra hair growth and acne
28
Descibe the structure of the thyroid gland?
The thyroid gland lies in the anterior to the trachea. It is made up of two lobes - the right lobe and the left lobe. These two lobes are joined by the isthmus
29
Which cells in the exocrine pancreas help with nutrient digestion
Centroacinar cells Produce proteases, lipase and pancreatic amylase
30
Which part of the exocrine panreas produce bicarbonate?
Pancreatic duct epithelium
31
Name the cells in the islets of langerhans
**Alpha cells** – produce glucagon **Beta cells** – produce insulin and amylin **Delta cells** – produce somatostatin **Gamma cells** – produce pancreatic polypeptide **Epsilon cells** – produce ghrelin
32
The pancreas is a dual-functional gland, what are the two parts of the pancreas?
Endocrine pancreas Exocrine pancreas
33
Islets are thought to make up what percentage of the overall volume of the pancreas
5% of the overall volume of the pancreas
34
Which cell makes up the majority of the Islets of Langerhans
Beta cells (65-80%)
35
Fill in the blanks
36
_Insulin_: Produced by which cells? Function?
Produced by beta cells Function is to decrease blood sugar levels
37
_Amylin_: Produced by which cells? Function?
Produced by beta cells Function is to slow gastric emptying to prevent spikes in blood glucose levels
38
_Glucagon_: Produced by which cells? Function?
Produced by alpha cells Function is to increase blood sugar levels
39
_Somatostatin_: Produced by which cells? Function?
Produced by delta cells in the islets of langerhans Function is to regulate Islet cell secretion of other hormones
40
_Pancreatic polypeptide:_ Produced by which cells? Function?
Produced by the gamma cells in the Islets of Langerhans Functions in the GI
41
_Ghrelin:_ Produced by which cells? Function?
Produced by the epsilon cells in the islets of Langerhans Function is to increase appetite
42
Describe the feedback endocrine loop for blood sugar level
High blood sugar levels promotes insulin release from the beta cell in the Islet of Langerhan. Insulin targets 2 organs- peripheral tissue (muscle and adipose tissue) and the liver. In the liver it stimulates the formation of glycogen. In the peripheral tissue it stimulates glucose uptake, to be used as an energy source. As a result decrease blood glucose levels. Low blood sugar levels promote the glucagon release from the alpha cells in the Islet of Langerhans. Glucagon stimulates the liver cells to break down the glucogen into glucose. Causing a rise in blood glucose levels.
43
Describe the hypothalamic-pituitary axis
* Neurons in the hypothalamus secrete thyroid releasing hormone (TRH), which stimulates cells in the anterior pituitary to secrete thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). * TSH binds to receptors on epithelial cells in the thyroid gland, stimulating synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which affect their target tissue. * When blood concentrations of T3 and T4 increase above a certain threshold, TRH-secreting neurons in the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary are inhibited. Stop secreting TRH and TSH.
44
Describe the HPA axis?
* Stress, physical and/or psychological, cause the neurons in the hypothalamus to secrete corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), which stimulates cells in the anterior pituitary to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). * ACTH binds to receptors on the adrenal cortex and stimulates adrenal release of cortisol, which initates their metabolic effects. * At a certain blood concentration of cortisol, the cortisol exerts negative feedback to the hypothalamic release of CRF, directly and indirectly by inhibiting the stressers, and the pituitary release of ACTH (negative feedback).
45
Why is type 2 diabetes mellitus considered as "a CHD equivalent"
Considered as patients with type 2 diabetes without a prior MI are at the same risk for MI and coronary mortality as patients without diabetes who had a prior MI.
46
Diabetes complications are divided into two groups. what are they?
Microvascular complications - due to damage to small blood vessels Maceovascular complications - due to damage to large blood vessels
47
Give some examples of microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus?
Retinopathy - damage to the small blood vessels in the retina Nephropathy - damage to small blood vessels in the kidneys Neuropathy - direct damage by the hyperglycemia and decreased blood flow to nerves by damaging small blood vessels
48
Give some examples of macrovascular complications of diabetes mellitus?
cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, strokes and insufficiency in blood flow to legs.
49
\_\_\_ complication of diabetes is dependent on glycaemic (blood sugar level) control
Microvascular complications
50
\_\_\_ complication of diabetes is dependent on other risk factors
Macrovascular complications i.e. not enough to just manage blood sugar levels (glycaemic control) but need to manage other risk factors e.g. sedatory lifestyle

Phase 2: Endocrine (23 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions