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Human Biology > Module 10: The Endocrine System > Flashcards

Module 10: The Endocrine System Flashcards

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1
Q

Summarize the goal of the endocrine system.

A

It is a control system that secretes chemicals within the body in order to control tissues that are far from the source of the secretion. In short, the endocrine system regulates the body.

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2
Q

What two systems of the body regulate it?

A

The nervous and endocrine systems.

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3
Q

What major characteristic do the nervous and endocrine systems share?

A

They are both control centers for feedback systems. When the body detects that a variable is deviating from homeostasis too much, it will initiate a response to bring the variable back in line.

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4
Q

Contrast the speed of response in the nervous and endocrine systems.

A

Nervous: Extremely fast. (milliseconds)
Endocrine: Slow in comparison. (seconds, minutes, or even days)

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5
Q

Contrast the duration of influence in the nervous and endocrine systems.

A

Nervous: Very brief.
Endocrine: Long.

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6
Q

Contrast the effectors under the control of the nervous and endocrine systems.

A

Nervous: Controls only two types of effectors: muscles and glands.
Endocrine: Controls practically all the cells of the body.

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7
Q

Contrast the strength of the signal in the nervous and endocrine systems.

A

Nervous: The signal is the action potential, whose strength is fixed. The strength of a signal is determined by the rate of action potentials, not the size of them.
Endocrine: The strength of the signal varies, and the effectors respond in proportion to the strength. A small amount of hormone makes a small different, and a large amount a large difference.

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8
Q

What two ways can the signal strength of the endocrine system vary?

A
  1. The amount of hormone changes the strength.

2. The number of receptors on the target cells.

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9
Q

What does a cell need in order for a hormone to affect it?

A

Called target cells, they must have receptors for that hormone.

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10
Q

Receptors

A

Proteins made by the target cell that bind like a lock and key to a specific hormone, and, like a key turning a car’s ignition, they cause profound changes in the target cell once a hormone binds to them.

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11
Q

Contrast repair in the nervous and endocrine systems.

A

Nervous: With the exception of olfactory neurons, neurons cannot be replaced. If they die, they are gone forever.
Endocrine: This system is composed of glands, which are epithelial tissue. These glands are made of stable cells that can be repaired.

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12
Q

Summarize the overall scheme of the endocrine system.

A
  1. The endocrine gland makes, stores, and secretes hormones.
  2. The circulatory system carries the secreted hormone to the target cells, possibly via a carrier protein.
  3. The target cell has receptors for the hormone and will produced the desired response.
  4. The liver or kidney disposes of the hormone in the bloodstream.
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13
Q

How does the liver dispose of a hormone in the bloodstream?

A

The liver alters it and puts it into the bile, where it ends up going through the intestine and being excreted in the feces.

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14
Q

How does the kidney dispose of a hormone in the bloodstream?

A

It puts it into the urine so that it is excreted during urination.

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15
Q

Why would a hormone need to bind to a carrier protein?

A

If the hormone is lipid-soluble, it will need a protein to bind it because blood is a watery fluid, and a lipid-soluble chemical is poorly soluble in water. To become a part of the blood, it will have to bind to a special protein that is found in the blood.

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16
Q

Feedback signal

A

The presence of a hormone in the blood may “tell” the original gland that the job is done and does not need more hormone, or it may “tell” the gland that more hormone needs to be secreted.

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17
Q

What two basic types of hormones does the hypothalamus secrete?

A

Releasing (causes the pituitary gland to secrete more hormones) and inhibiting hormones (causes the pituitary gland to secrete fewer hormones).

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18
Q

What do most of the hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary glands have in common?

A

These hormones usually stimulate other endocrine glands. For example, TSH stimulates the thyroid gland and ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands.

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19
Q

Why can antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin be called neurohormones?

A

The hypothalamus is the master of the posterior pituitary. Neurons within the hypothalamus synthesize ADH and OT and are transported down the axons of the neurons, which end in the posterior pituitary.

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20
Q

What happens when a person does not have enough thyroxine?

A

Fatigue, weight gain, diminished mental activity, and accumulation of mucus material in the skin. When a baby is born with too little TH, they will fail to grow well and will develop cretinism.

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21
Q

What are the two parts to the adrenal glands?

A

The inside of each gland is the adrenal medulla, and the outer layer is the adrenal cortex.

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22
Q

Diabetes insipidus

A

A condition in which a person has too little antidiuretic hormone (ADH). If untreated, the person must drink huge amounts of water each day to stay hydrated because they urinate so much.

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23
Q

Name the hormones produced by the hypothalamus.

A

Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), prolactin inhibiting hormone (PIH), and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH).

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24
Q

Name the hormones produced by the anterior pituitary.

A

Growth hormone (GH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), and melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH).

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25
Q

Name the hormones produced by the posterior pituitary.

A

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin (OT).

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26
Q

Name the hormones produced by the thyroid.

A

Thyroxine (TH) and calcitonin.

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27
Q

Name the hormones produced by the parathyroid glands.

A

Parathyroid hormone (PTH).

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28
Q

Name the hormones produced by the adrenal medulla.

A

Epinephrine (E) and Norepinephrine (NE).

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29
Q

Name the hormones produced by the adrenal cortex.

A

Cortisol and aldosterone.

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30
Q

Name the hormones produced by the pancreas.

A

Insulin and glucagon.

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31
Q

Name the hormones produced by the ovaries.

A

Estrogen and progesterone.

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32
Q

Name the hormones produced by the testes.

A

Testosterone.

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33
Q

Name the hormones produced by the pineal body.

A

Melatonin.

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34
Q

Name the hormones produced by the thymus.

A

Thymosin.

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35
Q

What is the function of growth hormone releasing hormone?

A

It increases the release of GH from the anterior pituitary.

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36
Q

What is the function of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)?

A

It increases the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary.

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37
Q

What is the function of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)?

A

It increases the release of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary.

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38
Q

What is the function of prolactin inhibiting hormone (PIH)?

A

It decreases the release of prolactin (PRL) from the anterior pituitary.

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39
Q

What is the function of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)?

A

It increases the release of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone from the anterior pituitary.

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40
Q

What is the function of growth hormone?

A

It increases growth in most tissues.

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41
Q

What is the function of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)?

A

It increases the release of thyroxine from the thyroid gland.

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42
Q

What is the function of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)?

A

It increases the release of cortisol from the adrenal cortex.

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43
Q

What is the function of the luteinizing hormone (LH)?

A

It stimulates ovaries or testes.

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44
Q

What is the function of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)?

A

It stimulates ovaries or testes.

45
Q

What is the function of prolactin (PRL)?

A

It stimulates milk production in the breasts.

46
Q

What is the function of melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)?

A

It increases the synthesis of melanin in melanocytes.

47
Q

What is the function of the hormone oxytocin (OT)?

A

It increases the contractions of the uterus during birth and promotes the release of breast milk.

48
Q

What is the function of the hormone thyroxine (TH)?

A

It increases the metabolic rate of most cells.

49
Q

What is the function of the hormone calcitonin?

A

It lowers blood calcium levels.

50
Q

What is the function of parathyroid hormone (PTH)?

A

It increases blood calcium levels.

51
Q

What is the function of the hormone epinephrine (E)?

A

It increases sympathetic response.

52
Q

What is the function of the hormone norepinephrine (NE)?

A

It increases sympathetic response.

53
Q

What is the function of the hormone cortisol?

A

It increases protein and fat breakdown in most tissues.

54
Q

What is the function of the hormone aldosterone?

A

It increases the retention of sodium and water by the kidneys.

55
Q

What is the function of the hormone insulin?

A

It lowers blood glucose by stimulating cells to take in glucose.

56
Q

What is the function of the hormone glucagon?

A

It raises blood glucose by causing the liver to release glucose.

57
Q

What is the function of the hormone estrogen?

A

It acts as the reproductive hormone in females.

58
Q

What is the function of the hormone testosterone?

A

It acts as the reproductive hormone in males.

59
Q

What is the function of the hormone progesterone?

A

It acts as the reproductive hormone in females.

60
Q

What is the function of the hormone melatonin?

A

It affects release of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) by the hypothalamus; affects day/night sleep cycles.

61
Q

What is the function of the hormone thymosin?

A

It develops immune functions.

62
Q

What three groups can hormones be classified into?

A

Amine, steroid, or protein/peptide.

63
Q

Amines

A

Hormones that have been derived from an amino acid.

64
Q

What are steroid hormones made from?

A

Cholesterol.

65
Q

Protein

A

A long chain of amino acids.

66
Q

Peptide

A

A short chain of amino acids. A “mini-protein.”

67
Q

What happens when hormones are chemically similar?

A

They will have similar characteristics and overlapping functions.

68
Q

If a hormone is from the ovary, the testes, or the adrenal cortex, what type of hormone is it?

A

A steroid.

69
Q

What is the main difference between a protein and a peptide?

A

Proteins are huge molecules (50-several hundred amino acids) while peptides are smaller (about 10 amino acids).

70
Q

What three groups can hormones be classified into?

A

Amine, steroid, or protein/peptide.

71
Q

Amines

A

Hormones that have been derived from an amino acid.

72
Q

What are steroid hormones made from?

A

Cholesterol.

73
Q

Protein

A

A long chain of amino acids.

74
Q

Peptide

A

A short chain of amino acids. A “mini-protein.”

75
Q

What happens when hormones are chemically similar?

A

They will have similar characteristics and overlapping functions.

76
Q

If a hormone is from the ovary, the testes, or the adrenal cortex, what type of hormone is it?

A

A steroid.

77
Q

What is the main difference between a protein and a peptide?

A

Proteins are huge molecules (50-several hundred amino acids) while peptides are smaller (about 10 amino acids).

78
Q

What are the three major ways that hormone release is controlled in the body?

A

Nonhormonal regulation, direct neural control, or hormonal control.

79
Q

What regulates the release of a hormone with nonhormonal regulation?

A

In this process, a chemical other than a hormone is involved in regulating the release of a hormone.

80
Q

How is the release of insulin controlled by the level of glucose in the blood?

A

When blood enters the pancreas, the blood glucose level directly affects the islets. If blood glucose levels are high, the islets secrete more insulin, causing most of the cells of the body to take in glucose and lower blood glucose levels.

81
Q

Neuroendocrinology

A

The field of physiology that focuses on how the nervous system exerts control over the endocrine glands.

82
Q

What regulates hormone release in direct neural control?

A

The nervous system can control the endocrine system via neurotransmitters or neurohormones.

83
Q

How does the adrenal medulla perform direct neural control?

A

When the body is stressed, sympathetic neurons synapse directly with the cells of the adrenal medulla. When action potentials travel down these neurons, they release neurotransmitter at the synapse. In response the cells of the adrenal medulla release E and NE as hormones into the blood.

84
Q

Infundibulum

A

The connection between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.

85
Q

What are the two major neurohormones in the posterior pituitary?

A

Oxytocin (OT) and antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

86
Q

Neurosecretory cells

A

Neurons of the hypothalamus that secrete neurohormones rather than neurotransmitters.

87
Q

What causes the hypothalamus to signal the release of oxytocin (OT) by action potentials on the axons?

A

Neural signals from the uterus or breast are sent to the hypothalamus. In response, the neurosecretory cells that produce oxytocin undergo action potentials, and oxytocin is released into the blood.

88
Q

What causes the hypothalamus to signal the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) by action potentials on the axons?

A

As our body loses water, all cells begin to shrink a bit. That tiny shrinkage of the hypothalamic neurosecretory cells for ADH is the actual signal for these cells to produce ADH.

89
Q

How are the anterior and posterior pituitary glands distinct?

A

The hormones of the posterior gland are secreted into the bloodstream directly by the neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus. In the anterior gland, the hormones are secreted by the cells of the gland itself.

90
Q

Graves’ disease

A

A disease that occurs when antibodies abnormally block the hypothalamus from sensing thyroxine.

91
Q

What are the three distinct patterns of hormonal secretion control?

A

Constant secretion, acute response, and cyclic secretion.

92
Q

What pattern does hormone secretion follow with constant secretion?

A

Hormones are produced by the body in an even amount. The control mechanisms that act on these hormones maintain this constant level of secretion.

93
Q

What pattern of hormone secretion does acute response follow?

A

In this pattern, the hormone is at low levels in the body until a particular stimulus occurs. Then, the production of hormone increases quickly in response to the stimulus. Once the stimulus goes away, the production drops off quickly.

94
Q

What pattern of hormone secretion does cyclic secretion follow?

A

Hormones that follow this pattern are secreted on a regular, predictable cycle.

95
Q

Name an example of constant secretion.

A

Thyroxine levels are normally stable. However, an outside stimulus may cause the hypothalamus to either raise or lower this constant level through changes in TRH.

96
Q

Name an example of acute response.

A

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are produced in response to emotional or physical stress. A stressful stimulus will cause them to be secreted, and the large the stress, the larger the amount of hormone.

97
Q

Name an example of cyclic secretion.

A

Estrogen and progesterone in women are secreted on a monthly cycle, called the menstrual cycle. For males, testosterone is secreted on a daily cycle; the level of testosterone is higher in the morning and lower by evening.

98
Q

What are the two types of hormone receptors?

A

Membrane-bound receptors and nuclear receptors.

99
Q

What type of hormones stimulate membrane-bound receptors?

A

Protein and peptide hormones and amine hormones (except thyroxine).

100
Q

Describe the path of a hormone once it enters a cell with nuclear receptors.

A

The hormone diffuses into the cell and travels through the cytoplasm and nucleus. Then it binds to a receptor protein in the nucleus and the receptor/protein complex activates a specific gene in the DNA.

101
Q

What is the result when a hormone interacts with a nuclear receptor?

A

The activated gene in the DNA is transcribed to make mRNA. The mRNA contains the information necessary to make a protein or enzyme, and that protein or enzyme is what produces the response of the target cell.

102
Q

What type of hormones interact with nuclear receptors?

A

Steroids.

103
Q

Up-regulation

A

The occurrence of target cells making more of a receptor.

104
Q

Compare and contrast Pitocin and Cytotec.

A

Pitocin strengthens contractions of the uterus during labor(it performs the same function as oxytocin), but Cytotec stimulates uterine cells to increase the number of receptors for oxytocin.

105
Q

Prostaglandins

A

Biologically active lipids that produce many effects in the body, including smooth muscle contraction, inflammation, and blood clotting.

106
Q

What do “bad” prostaglandins do?

A

They increase smooth muscle contraction, blood clotting, and inflammation.

107
Q

What do “good” prostaglandins do?

A

They relax smooth muscle, decrease blood clotting, and decrease inflammation.

108
Q

How does aspirin work to maintain heart health?

A

It reduces the formation of prostaglandins (especially the “bad” ones) and helps prevent excess blood clotting and inflammation, both of which are damaging to the circulatory system.

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