Overview of Endocrinology Flashcards
List some of the major endocrine glands and their secretions. PART 1
- HYPOTHALAMUS: releasing and inhibiting hormones
- PITUITARY GLAND: trophic hormones from anterior lobe, oxytocin and vasopressin from posterior lobe
- THYROID GLAND: thyroxine, tri-iodothyronine
List some of the major endocrine glands and their secretions. PART 2
- ADRENAL GLAND: cortisol and aldosterone from cortex, adrenaline and noradrenaline from medulla
- GONADS: oestrogens, androgens, progestagens
- PANCREAS: insulin, glucagon
- PARATHYROID GLAND: parathyroid hormone
List some of the major endocrine glands and their secretions. PART 3
- Kidney: Vitamin D, Erythropoietin
- CVS: ANP, endothelins
- Pineal Gland: melatonin
List some of the major endocrine glands and their secretions. PART 4
- Thymus Gland: thymic hormones
- Bone: phosphate
- Adipose Tissue: leptin
Describe endocrine signalling
- Hormones released by an endocrine cell into the general circulation
- Act on distant target sites.
Describe paracrine signalling
Hormones are released by an endocrine cell and act locally on adjacent cells.
Describe autocrine signalling
Hormones are released act back on the same cell.
Describe intracrine signalling.
Conversion of an inactive hormone to an active hormone that acts within the cell.
What are some general functions of hormones?
- reproduction, growth and development
- maintenance of the internal environment
- energy production, utilisation and storage
List the four main chemical classifications of hormones (based on structure), and list some examples. PART 1
- PROTEIN/ PEPTIDE HORMONES: hypothalamic hormones, pituitary hormones, insulin,
- STEROID HORMONES: cortisol, aldosterone, oestrogens, androgens, Vitamin D
List the four main chemical classifications of hormones (based on structure), and list some examples. PART 2
- AMINO ACID DERIVATIVES (TYROSINE/TRYPTOPHAN): adrenaline, noradrenaline (tyrosine), thyroid hormone (tyrosine), melatonin (tryptophan)
- FATTY ACID DERIVATIVES: prostaglandins, thromboxanes, prostacyclin
Cholesterol is the precursor of all steroid hormones.
List some major steroids.
- cortisol
- aldosterone
- oestrogens
- progestagens
- androgens
- Vitamin D
For proteins and peptides, tyrosine derivatives/thyroid hormones and cholesterol derivatives, list their half-life in the circulation and how they’re transported through it. PART 1
- PROTEINS/PEPTIDES: half-life is in minutes, and they’re transported mainly unbound
- CHOLESTEROL DERIVATIVES: half-life is from hours to days, and they’re transported bound to plasma proteins
For proteins and peptides, tyrosine derivatives/thyroid hormones and cholesterol derivatives, list their half-life in the circulation and how they’re transported through it. PART 2
- TYROSIN DERIVATIVES (CA’s)/ THYROID HORMONES: half-life is seconds for CA’s and hours for thyroid hormones
- Transported bound to plasma proteins
The hypothalamus controls anterior pituitary secretions. It does so by releasing hormones that affect the expression of hormones from the anterior pituitary gland.
List some of these hormones, what hormone they affect and whether they affect it positively or negatively. PART 1
- Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone (CRH) positively affects ACTH.
- TRH positively affects TSH.
- Growth Hormone Inhibiting Hormone (GHIH) negatively affects TSH
