(Module 11)Hormonal Coordination

Question 1

What is the endocrine system

Answer 1

This is the system composed of glands that secrete hormones directly into the blood stream

Question 2

How do hormones get around the body to the destinations

Answer 2

The hormones are carried around the body by the blood

Question 3

What gland is often referred to as the ‘master gland’

Answer 3

The pituitary gland secretes hormones into the blood in response to body conditions. Some of theses hormones act on other glands and stimulate the release of other hormones

Question 4

Give the 6 endocrine gland and the role of the hormones

Answer 4

Pituitary: controls growth, stimulates the thyroid gland to control metabolism, stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs and sperm for men
Thyroid: control the metabolic rate of the body using thyroxine
Pancreas:controls the levels of glucose in the blood using insulin and glucagon
Adrenal: prepares the body for stressful situation
Ovaries: controls the development of the female secondary sexual characteristics and the menstrual cycle
Testes: controls the development of the male secondary sexual characteristics and is involved in the production of sperm

Question 5

How are blood glucose levels controlled

Answer 5

The pancreas monitors blood glucose levels. They are normally 90mg of glucose/ 100ml blood

If levels are too low:
The pancreas releases GLUCAGON from the pancreas.
Liver releases stored glycogen to glucose

If levels are too high:
The pancreas releases INSULIN from the pancreas
Cells and the liver store excess glucose as glycogen

Question 6

What causes type 1 diabetes and what are problems caused by it

Answer 6

This is where the pancreas does not make enough, or any insulin. Your blood concentration is not controlled

Blood glucose levels get high after you eat, and eventually your kidneys excrete glucose in your urine
Glucose cannot enter your cells, so you lack energy and feel tired. You break down fat and protein for fuel, so you lose weight
Starts in young people, can be genetic

Question 7

What causes type 2 diabetes and what are problems are caused by it

Answer 7

This is where your body makes less insulin then what the body needs, and your bodies cells stop responding properly to the insulin

Common in the old, and is linked to obesity, lack of exercise or both

Question 8

How is type 1 diabetes treated

Answer 8

You will need replacement insulin, so some is normally injected into the blood for the stomach after meals
The injected insulin acts as normal, so glucose is stored as glycogen.
You have to have regular meals, monitor your carbohydrate intake. You also need to exercise carefully

Question 9

How is type 1 diabetes cured

Answer 9

Doctors can transplant a new pancreas. However, it is difficult and risky. Only a few hundred take place each year in the UK, because of limited amount of donors and a different medicine is still needed

Transplanting pancreatic cells that make insulin from both dead and living donors have been tried with limited success
Embryonic stem cells have been tested, and was successful in mice. Adult stem cells also have been tested

Question 10

How is type 2 diabetes treated

Answer 10

As it is linked to obesity and lack of exercise, it can be treated by
Eating a balanced diet with carefully controlled amounts of carbohydrates
Losing weigh
Doing regular exercise
Or with drugs that
Help insulin work better on cells
Help your pancreas make insulin
Reduces the glucose taken in in the gut 

Insulin shots are a last measure

Question 11

When is adrenaline released and what does it do

Answer 11

Adrenaline is released if you are angry, stressed, excited or frightened, and your body needs to be ready

Adrenaline causes:
Your heart rate and breathing rate to increase
Stored glycogen in the liver is converted to glucose for respiration
The pupil in your eyes to dilate to let in more light
Your mental awareness to increase
Blood to be diverted away from your digestive system to the big muscles of the limbs

Question 12

What is the definition of puberty

Answer 12

Males and females develop secondary characteristics during puberty. This is controlled by hormones

Question 13

Give the first hormone in the menstrual system and what it does

Answer 13

Follide stimulating hormone (FSH)
Secreted by pituitary gland
*It causes an egg to mature in an ovary
*It stimulates the ovaries to release the hormone oestrogen

Question 14

Give the second hormone in the menstrual system and what it does

Answer 14

Oestrogen
Secreted by the ovaries (in response to FSH)
*Stimulates the lining of the uterus to grow again after menstruation in preparation for pregnancy
*inhibits the release of FSH, so that only one egg matures in a cycle
*Stimulates the pituitary gland to release LH

Question 15

Give the third hormone in the menstrual system and what it does

Answer 15

Luteinising hormone (LH)
Secreted by the pituitary gland

*Stimulates the release of a mature egg from the ovary. Levels of LH fall after ovulation

Question 16

Give the last hormone in the menstrual system and what it does

Answer 16

Progesterone
Secreted by the ovaries

• Maintains the lining of the uterus during the second half of the menstrual cycle
• Inhibits both FSH and LH

Question 17

How long does a women’s menstrual cycle last

Answer 17

28 days

Question 18

What is inside the more common contraceptive pill and how does it work

Answer 18

The pill contains low doses of oestrogen and some progesterone

The hormones inhibit the production and release of FSH by the pituitary gland, so no eggs mature. This prevents pregnancy. The uterus lining also does not develop. Mucus is created which stops sperm getting through

Question 19

What else can be inside contraceptive pills

Answer 19

Some pills contain progesterone

Question 20

How do contraceptive implants work, injections and patches work

Answer 20

They are inserted under the skin for up to 3 years, and slowly releases progesterone. 99.95% effective

There also can be injections, but last 12 weeks

The patch contains oestrogen and progesterone. It lasts for a week

Question 21

Give two ‘barrier methods’ for contraception

Answer 21

There is firstly the condom, which prevents the egg and sperm meeting. Also offer some protection against HIV’s
Can get damaged

There is also the diaphragm. It is a thin rubber diaphragm, placed by a doctor, which prevents sperm getting through

Question 22

What is the rhythm method

Answer 22

This is commonly used by religious groups, who aim to prevent pregnancy by monitoring when an egg can be fertilised or not

Question 23

How do surgical procedures prevent contraception

Answer 23

This is where a mans sperm ducts are cut and tied up so that sperm is prevented from reaching the egg. This is a vasectomy

In women the oviducts are cut or tied to prevent the egg reaching the uterus

Question 24

What are intrauterine devices and how do they prevent contraception

Answer 24

These are small structures inserted into the uterus by a doctor for up to 3 - 5 years
Some contain copper and prevent early embryos implanting in the lining of the uterus
Others contain progesterone, which prevents the build up of the lining of the uterus and thicken the muscus

Question 25

How can a women who cannot make enough FSH be treated

Answer 25

Artificial FSH can be used as a fertility drug.
An artificial LH can be used to trigger ovulation
Doses are now controlled

Question 26

What is IVF and how does it work

Answer 26

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
This is used if the oviducts have been damaged or blocked by infection, if a donor egg is being used, or if there is no obvious cause for long term infection. Or if the male cannot make enough sperm

The males sperm and the woman’s egg are fertilised in a laboratory (outside the mothers womb)
They develop into tiny embryos, and are placed back into the mothers uterus, therefore bypassing all the faulty tubes and stuff

Question 27

Advantages of fertility treatment

Answer 27

It helps to overcome infertility and has been a major scientific breakthrough
Eggs can be collected and stored for other people or if the women wants another child later

Question 28

Disadvantages of fertility treatments

Answer 28

It is very expensive, for individuals or the NHS
Not always successful, some are forced to have other peoples eggs
The use of IVF is emotionally and physically stressful for the mother
IVF increases the chances of multiple babies
Ethically wrong for some, especially if eggs are stored, but then the mother dies etc