P2B7 - Hormones, homeostasis Flashcards
What are hormones?
Chemical substances which act as ‘messenger’ molecules in body.
Where are hormones produced?
Endocrine glands
Where are hormones released?
Into the blood
What are the 6 Endocrine glands?
Testis
Ovaries
Thyroid
Adrenal
Pituitary
Pancreas
Where are the testis and what hormone do they produce?
Testosterone produced in the scrotum
Where are the ovaries and what hormone do they produce?
Oestrogen + Progesterone produced in the female reproductive system
Where is the thyroid and what hormone do they produce?
Thyroxine produced in the throat
Where is the adrenal pituitary and what hormone do they produce?
Adrenaline growth hormone produced in the kidneys
What does the pancreas produce?
The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon, both of which are involved in regulating blood glucose levels.
What is insulin and glucagon involved in?
Regulating blood glucose levels.
What does thyroxine regulate?
Thyroxine regulates our metabolism, heart rate and temperature.
What does the endocrine system coordinate?
The body’s response to changes in the environment using chemical messengers (hormones).
What does oestrogen control?
Puberty
One of the main hormones that regulate the period.
What does testosterone control?
Puberty
Sperm production
What is the main gland/master gland?
Pituitary gland
What is the master gland linked to?
Hypothalamus
Whats the differences between CNS and the Endocrine system?
CNS :
- Triggers rapid response.
- Uses electrical signals that are carried by neurones.
- Response is very short.
- Acts on a very precise part of the body.
ES :
- Triggers a slower response.
- Uses chemical messengers that are carried by blood.
- Response can be long-lasting.
- Can act on large areas of the body.
What happens if the conc of thyroxine in the blood is low?
- Hypothalamus produces TRH (Thyrotropin releasing hormone)
- Which causes pituitary to produce TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone),
- Stimulating the release of thyroxine by the thyroid gland.
- Once thyroxine is regulated, TRH reduces, which reduces TSH and thyroxine.
What is vasoconstriction and what does it do during adrenaline?
When blood vessels constrict.
- Increases heartrate and blood pressure.
- Increase in blood flow
How does the liver respond when adrenaline is secreted?
The liver converts stored glycogen back into glucose, raising the blood sugar levels.
What 4 hormones control the menstrual cycle?
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Oestrogen
Luteinising Hormone (LH)
Progesterone
What does FSH stand for?
Follicle stimulating hormone
Where is FSH and LH released?
Pituitary gland
What does FSH cause?
An egg to mature
Also stimulates oestrogen production
Where is oestrogen and progesterone produced?
Ovaries
(Progesterone is produced after ovulation)
What does oestrogen cause?
The development of a thick, spongy uterus lining.
Also stimulates the production of luteinising hormone (LH) and inhibits production of FSH
What does inhibit mean?
Stops
What does LH stand for?
Luteinising hormone
What does LH cause?
Stimulates release of mature egg on Day 14 which is called ovulation.
What is ovulation?
The release of a mature egg on day 14 of menstrual cycle.
What is progesterone responsible for?
Maintaining uterus lining on days 14-28.
What happens when progesterone levels drop?
This triggers the breakdown of the lining. (This marks day 1 of the next menstrual cycle.)
Progesterone also inhibits release of LH and FSH.
What are the stages of the menstrual cycle?
Stage 1 (days1-4) : Uterus lining breaks down (Period)
Stage 2: (days 4-14) : Uterus lining builds a thick, spongy layer full of blood vessels again.
Stage 3 (day 14) : Mature egg is released from ovaries. (Ovulation)
Stage 4 (day 15-28) : Uterus lining is maintained by progesterone where it waits for a fertilised egg.
If no fertilised egg is attached to the uterus lining, it breaks down and the cycle begins again.
What are the two main types of contraceptive pill?
- Progesterone only pill
- Combined pill
What does the progesterone only pill do?
Stimulates the production of thick, sticky mucus, which is difficult for sperm to penetrate.
Inhibits the release of FSH, so eggs don’t mature.
Fewer side effects than combined.
What does the combined pill contain and what does it do?
Contains both oestrogen and progesterone.
By taking it every day, enough oestrogen builds up in the female body to inhibit the production of FSH so that no eggs mature.
What are the 3 other contraceptive options?
Contraceptive patch
Contraceptive implant
Contraceptive injection
How does the contraceptive patch work?
It steadily releases progesterone.
Only needs to be changed once a week
How does the contraceptive implant work?
Its inserted under the skin and continuously releases small amounts of progesterone.
Can last for 3 years.
How does the contraceptive injection work?
Contains progesterone and can last for 3 months.
What are 2 contraceptive methods that are inserted into the womans body?
Diaphragm
IUD (Intrauterine devices)
What is a diaphragm?
A shallow plastic cup, which is inserted into the vagina prior to sexual intercourse and sits at the entrance to the uterus.
It is designed to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg.
It can also be covered in a spermicide to kill the sperm.
What is an IUD?
This is also known as the coil.
They are small t-shaped devices that are inserted into the uterus.
They work by preventing implantation of an embryo (fertilised egg).
Some intrauterine devices also release progesterone.