Lecture 36: Cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and the stress response

Question 1

Cortisol is released from the…

Answer 1

• Adrenal glands

Question 2

The cortex secretes it’s own hormones, and the inner medulla also secretes it’s own hormones. What are the cortex and medulla?

Answer 2

• Outer region

- Inner region of adrenal cortex

Question 3

The adrenal cortex has __ layers and secretes ____ hormones. The middle layer secretes ___.

Answer 3

• 3
• Steroid hormones
• Cortisol

Question 4

In the outermost layer of the adrenal cortex ________ are being secreted, the middle layer: ______, the innermost layer ______. All are synthesised by ____ in the outermost layer.

Answer 4

• Mineralocorticoids
• Glucocorticoids
• Sex steroids
• Cholesterol

Question 5

Cortisol mechanism of action:

Answer 5

• Cortisol bound to carrier protein
• Leaves carrier, enters target cell
• Binds receptor in cytoplasm
• Hormone-receptor complex migrates to nucleus
• Binds to DNA
• Transcription of specific genes is activated
• New proteins made
• Protein alters cellular processes in target cells
• (Minutes to days to develop)

Question 6

Cortisol acts on the ____, _____ cells and _____cells

Answer 6

• Liver
• Muscle
• Fat

Question 7

Abnormal stress stimulates the _______ which stimulates the _____ so that cortisol is secreted from the _____.

Answer 7

• Hypothalamus
• APG
• Adrenal Cortex

Question 8

Cortisol levels rise with the decrease of ______.

Answer 8

• Glucose

Question 9

Cortisol is mainly controlled by…

Answer 9

• Negative feedback

Question 10

Other effects of corisol:

Answer 10

• Helps one to cope with stress
• Essential for maintaining normal blood pressure (can cause contraction of blood vessels)
• Long term; suppresses immune system

Question 11

Low cortisol can cause

Answer 11

• Brain fog
• Low thyroid function
• Blood sugar imbalances
• Sleep disruption
• Low blood pressure
• Lowered immune function
• Fatigue
• Inflammation

Question 12

What is Addison’s Disease?

Answer 12

• Not enough cortisol
• Pigmentation of the skin
• increased ACTH levels

Question 13

What’re the inner medulla hormones?

Answer 13

• Epinephrine, norepinephrine
• These are catecholamines
• Water soluble

Question 14

The adrenal medulla is part of the ______ nervous system.

Answer 14

• Sympathetic

Question 15

The adrenal medulla is activated during times of abnormal stress and release…

Answer 15

• Epinephrine + norepinephrine in the blood stream

- “Fight of flight” response

Question 16

The adrenal medulla pathway can complement the ______ system and also sustain the response.

Answer 16

• Sympathetic Nervous

Question 17

Epinephrine effects:

Answer 17

• Increased breakdown of glycogen and glucose
• Increased breakdown of fat to fatty acids
• Makes fuel more readily available to cells

Question 18

Neural pathways:

Answer 18

• Acute stress
• Neural pathways
• Sympathetic preganglionic fibres
• Epinephrine

Question 19

Adrenal medulla is ___ whereas the adrenal cortex is ___. The medulla secretes ____ whereas the cortex secretes ____.

Answer 19

• Quick
• Slow
• Epinephrine
• Cortisol