Lecture 15: Endocrine System Flashcards
what are hormones?
- chemical substances that act like messenger molecules in the body.
- after being made in one part of the body, they travel to other parts of the body where they help control how cells and organs do their work
what is a tropic hormone?
- hormones that have other endocrine glands as their target
- most tropic hormones are produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland
what are the major endocrine organs?
- pineal gland
- hypothalmaus
- pituitary gland
- thyroid gland
- parathyroid glands
- thymus
- adrenal glands
- pancreas
- ovary + testis
what is the role of hypothalamus
hypothalamus secretes hormones that stimulate or suppress the release of hormones in the pituitary gland
what are the 3 types of endocrine gland stimuli?
- humoral stimulus
- neural stimulis
- hormonal stimulus
what is humoral stimulus?
- hormone release is caused by altered levels of certain critical ions or nutrients
example of humoral stimulus
stimulus = low concentration of Ca2+ in capillary blood
response = parathyroid hormone (PTH) which increases blood Ca2+
what is neural stimulus?
- hormone release caused by neural input
example of neural stimulus
stimulus = action potentials in preganglionic sympathetic fibres to adrenal medulla
response = adrenal medulla cells secrete epinephrine and norepinephrine
what is hormonal stimulus?
- hormone release caused by another (tropic) hormone
example of hormonal stimulus
stimulus = hormones from hypothalamus
response = anterior pituitary gland secretes hormones that stimulate other endocrine glands to secrete hormones
what is the pituitary gland?
- important endocrine organ that secretes hormones
- known as the MASTER gland
what are the hormones of the anterior pituitary gland?
- follicle-stimulating hormone
- luteinizing hormone
- adrenocorticotropic hormone
- thyroid-stimulating hormone
- prolactin
- growth hormone
how does the hypophyseal portal system work?
1.) when stimulated, hypothalamic neurons secrete either stimulating or inhibiting hormones into the primary capillary plexus
2.) hypothalamic hormones travel through portal veins to the anterior pituitary gland where they stimulate or inhibit the release of hormones made there
3.) in response to stimulating hormones, anterior pituitary gland secretes hormones into the secondary capillary plexus and empties into general circulation
what is the mnemonic for hormones of pituitary gland?
FLATPEG (minus e)
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- named after ovarian follicles
- promotes egg and sperm development
how do follicle-stimulating hormones reach target cells?
hypothalamus + gonadotrophin releasing hormone –> anterior pituitary gland –> ovaries/testes (target cells)
luteinizing hormone (LH)
- named after corpus luteum
- stimulates ovulation, release of progesterone and production of testosterone
what is corpus luteum?
- temporary mass of cells that forms in an ovary every menstrual cycle and disappears if fertilization does not occur
- corpus luteum secretes estrogens and progesterone.
how do luteinizing hormones reach target cells?
hypothalamus + gonadotrophin releasing hormone –> anterior pituitary gland –> ovaries/testes (target cells)
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
- targets the adrenal cortex
- produces two main classes of hormones; mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids
- mineralocorticoid hormone = aldosterone which secretes in response to a drop in blood pressure or blood volume
- glucocorticoid hormone = cortisol which is releases in response to stressful situations
how do adrenocorticotropic hormones reach target cells?
hypothalamus + corticotropin releasing hormone –> anterior pituitary gland –> adrenal cortex = corticosteroids (target cells)
thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
-targets the thyroid gland to stimulate thyroid hormones
the effects of hormone include:
- increased basal metabolic rate
- regulation of tissue growth and development
how do thyroid-stimulating hormones reach target cells?
hypothalamus + thyrotropin-releasing hormone –> anterior pituitary gland –> thyroid gland (target cell)
prolactin hormone (PRL)
- only non tropic hormone
- stimulates the production of milk
does prolactin have a role in males?
no, there is no known role for prolactin however, there are health impacts in males who have high levels of prolactin such as erectile dysfunction, impotence and thyroid issues
growth hormone (GH)
- decreased levels of hormone causes dwarfism
- increased levels of hormone causes giantism in children or acromegaly in adults