Other Glands

Question 1

Pineal gland

Answer 1

-in the epithalamus, (receives input from visual pathways (eyes))
-secretes melatonin on a diurnal (daily) cycle
> regulates the biological clock (sleep, reproduction (fertility))
> highest blood levels at night, lowest at noon

Question 2

Thymus gland

Answer 2

-located in the upper thorax, posterior to the sternum
-most prominent in children (where T lymphocytes mature)
-secretes a variety of hormones (thymulin, thymopoietin, thymosins)
> matures some type of WBC
> important in developing the immune system (goes through positive and negative selection, where 2% survive)

Question 3

Gonadal sex hormones

Answer 3

• female gonads (ovaries) produce eggs, estrogen, progesterone
• male gonads (testes) produce sperm and androgens (testosterone)

Question 4

Testosterone

Answer 4

• responsible for primary and secondary male characteristics (sexual development and sperm production)
• secreted by Leydig cells in response to LH)
• feeds back on AP, limiting GnRH, FSH, and LH release

Question 5

Estrogen

Answer 5

• secreted by follicle or corpus luteum
• maturation of reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics
• regulates menstrual cycle with progesterone

Question 6

Progesterone

Answer 6

• regulates menstrual cycle: lack of progesterone leads to menstruation
• promotes fertilization
• prepares breasts for lactation
• produced by corpus luteum, placenta

Question 7

Hormones of the ovaries

Answer 7

• have a similar negative feedback process to testosterone (but structures that produce hormones of the ovary are temporary, leads to cyclical secretion)
• oral contraceptives may include estrogen, progesterone (inhibits FSH, LH release)