NEUROHORMONES Flashcards
What are the two interconnected systems in the body?
The neuroendocrine system and the central nervous system (CNS).
What are the major components of the neuroendocrine system?
The hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, thyroid gland, and gonads.
What is the physiological significance of the neuroendocrine system?
Regulation of Hormonal Balance, Integration of Nervous and Endocrine Systems, Response to Stress.
What is the central nervous system (CNS) composed of?
The brain and spinal cord.
What are the functions of the CNS?
Information Processing, Motor Control, Cognition and Emotion, Homeostatic Regulation.
How does communication in the neuroendocrine system differ from the CNS?
The neuroendocrine system communicates through chemical messengers (hormones) released into the bloodstream, while the CNS communicates through electrical signals transmitted along neurons.
What are the key regulators of hormone secretion in the neuroendocrine system?
The hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
What is the location and function of the supraoptic nucleus (SON)?
The SON is located in the anterior hypothalamus and synthesizes and releases vasopressin (ADH), which regulates water balance and blood pressure by acting on the kidneys.
What hormones are synthesized and released by the paraventricular nucleus (PVN)?
The PVN synthesizes and releases oxytocin, involved in uterine contractions and milk ejection, and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which regulates ACTH secretion from the anterior pituitary, leading to cortisol release from the adrenal glands in response to stress.
Where is the arcuate nucleus (ARC) located, and what hormones does it produce?
The ARC is situated at the base of the hypothalamus and produces growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), stimulating GH release from the anterior pituitary, and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), stimulating TSH release to regulate thyroid hormone secretion.
What is the significance of the median eminence?
The median eminence is a specialized area at the base of the hypothalamus, serving as the site of hormone release into the hypophyseal portal system.
How do hormones from hypothalamic nuclei reach the anterior pituitary?
Hormones such as TRH, GHRH, and dopamine travel via the hypophyseal portal system to the anterior pituitary, where they regulate the secretion of pituitary hormones.
How does TRH from the PVN regulate pituitary hormone secretion?
TRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to release TSH, which in turn stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), regulating metabolism and other physiological processes.
What is the role of GHRH from the ARC in pituitary hormone secretion?
GHRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to release GH, which promotes growth and metabolism, regulating various physiological processes such as cell reproduction and regeneration.
How does dopamine from hypothalamic nuclei influence pituitary hormone secretion?
Dopamine inhibits the secretion of prolactin from the anterior pituitary, helping maintain appropriate levels of prolactin involved in lactation and reproduction.
What role does the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) play in the HPA axis?
The PVN of the hypothalamus initiates the HPA axis response to stress by releasing corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) into the hypophyseal portal system when stress is perceived.
How do CRH and AVP from the hypothalamus affect the anterior pituitary?
CRH and AVP stimulate the anterior pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) into the bloodstream, initiating the secretion of glucocorticoids from the adrenal glands in response to stress.
What is the primary role of cortisol in the HPA axis response?
Cortisol, the primary glucocorticoid released from the adrenal glands in response to ACTH stimulation, exerts widespread effects on the body, including increasing blood glucose levels, suppressing the immune system, and modulating metabolism and energy balance.
How does cortisol contribute to the regulation of the HPA axis?
Cortisol provides negative feedback to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, inhibiting further release of CRH and ACTH, thereby regulating the stress response and maintaining homeostasis.
What hormone does the hypothalamus produce in the HPT axis?
The hypothalamus produces thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the periventricular nucleus, releasing it into the hypophyseal portal system in response to low levels of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) or other stimuli.
What is the role of TRH in the HPT axis?
TRH stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) into the bloodstream, initiating the synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) from the thyroid gland in response to low thyroid hormone levels.
How does TSH affect the thyroid gland in the HPT axis?
TSH acts on the thyroid gland to stimulate the synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones, primarily triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which are essential for regulating metabolism, growth, and development throughout the body.
What role do thyroid hormones play in the HPT axis?
Thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) exert negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, inhibiting further release of TRH and TSH when thyroid hormone levels are adequate, thereby regulating the synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones to maintain homeostasis.