The endocrine system

Question 1

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 1

A system of hormones that controls many aspects of physiology and that work with different organs and all have different functions.

Question 2

What is the endocrine system responsible for?

Answer 2

Regulating growth and development
Regulating reproductive system
Regulating internal environments of the body

Question 3

Give the meaning of the word ‘gland’

Answer 3

Group of cells that makes chemicals such as hormones or enzymes

Question 4

Give the meaning of the word hormone

Answer 4

Chemical messenger released into blood by endocrine gland that acts on a target tissue

Question 5

What will exocrine glands do?

Answer 5

Release anything they produce into ducts or onto body surface

Question 6

Give the components of the endocrine system

Answer 6

Pineal gland
Parathyroid gland
Thymus
Adrenal glands
Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland
Thyroid gland
Pancreas

Question 7

Give the role of the hypothalamus

Answer 7

Reponsible for body temp control and water balance. it contains most homeostaic mechanisms and controls pituitary and thyroid gland.

Question 8

What two sections are the pituitary gland split into?

Answer 8

Posterior and anterior lobes

Question 9

Give the role of the growth hormone

Answer 9

Stimulates muscle and bone cells to divide and stimulate intestines to absorb calcium and the pituitary gland is responsible for this

Question 10

Give the role of the pineal gland

Answer 10

Produces melatonin that regulates sleep and body circadian rhythms

Question 11

Give the meaning of the word ‘metabolism’

Answer 11

Describes all chemical reactions that take place in the body

Question 12

What does metabolic rate mean?

Answer 12

Rate at which energy from food is transferred by metabolic reactions that take place in the body.

Question 13

What 4 hormones are involved withinn thyroid function?

Answer 13

Thyrotropin-releasing-hormone (TRH)
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
triiodothyronine & thryoxine (T3 & T4)

Question 14

What does the parathyroid secrete?

Answer 14

PTH that increases concentraton of C02 ions in blood and targets bone and kidneys

Question 15

Give the role of G cells

Answer 15

Gastrin is released into the stomach and targets it stimulating the hydrochloric acid, digestive enzymes, stomach muscle contraction.

Question 16

Give the role of the adrenal glands

Answer 16

Adrenaline is produced in the adrenal medulla and preps body for fight or flight response

Question 17

What does adrenaline do?

Answer 17

Works on sympathetic nervous system
Increases heart rate
Increases blood flow to the muscles and brain
Decreases blood flow to the gut and skin
Stimulates liver cells to convert glycogen to glucose
Dilates pupils

Question 18

What is the pancreas endocrine function?

Answer 18

Islets of Langerhans that produces insulin and glucagon

Question 19

What is the pancreas exocrine function?

Answer 19

Produces digestive enzymes that are taken to the duodenum via duct. The enzymes are inactive until they reach the small intestines.

Question 20

Thyroxine storage and role

Answer 20

In the thyroid and regulates metabolic rate

Question 21

Cortisol storage and role

Answer 21

Adrenal cortex
Response to stress and acts on the liver and muscle cells.

Question 22

Oestrogen storage and role

Answer 22

Ovaries
Involved in menstruation cycle regulation

Question 23

Testosterone storage and role

Answer 23

Testes
Sex organs

Question 24

Gastrin storage and role

Answer 24

Stomach
Several actions in digestion involving stomach and small intestines

Question 25

Growth hormone storage and role

Answer 25

Pituitary Responsible for normal growth

Question 26

FSH storage and role

Answer 26

Secreated by pituitary gland and acts on ovaries. Stimulates growth and developments of egg follicles during the first half of the menstral cycle.

Question 27

What are the kidneys in charge of doing?

Answer 27

Regulating water balance

Question 28

What happens if there is low water potential?

Answer 28

It leads to dehydration

Question 29

What happens if there is a high water potential?

Answer 29

The body becomes over-hydrated

Question 30

What is the amount of water lost in urine controlled by?

Answer 30

The hypothalamus through ADH

Question 31

What happens when water potential is low?

Answer 31

Hypothalamus stimulates release of ADH from posterior pituitary. ADH then causes more water to be absorbed by kidney and water potential returns to normal.

Question 32

What happens when water potential is too high?

Answer 32

Hypothalamus inhibits release of ADH and less water is reabsorbed by the kidney and reduces water potential to normal level

Question 33

What is the cause of type 1 diabetes?

Answer 33

Destruction of beta cells in the pancreas leading to insulin defiency caused by an autoimmune response.

Question 34

What is the cause of type 2 diabetes?

Answer 34

Insulin resistance so liver and muscle cells no longer respomd to insulin

Question 35

What are risk factors of type 2 diabetes?

Answer 35

Obesity Lack of physical activity Poor diet

Question 36

Give the meaning of hyperglycaemia

Answer 36

Blood glucose rises above normal level

Question 37

Give the meaning of hypoglycaemia

Answer 37

Blood glucose falls below normal

Question 38

What can type 1 diabetes lead to?

Answer 38

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Question 39

What can happen long-term caused by type 2 diabetes?

Answer 39

Hyperglycaemia can damage small blood vessels leading to long-term complications

Question 40

Give complications of diabetes

Answer 40

Diabetic retinopathy - damage to capillaries in the retina Diabetic neuropathy - damage to blood vessels supplying nerves Diabetic kidney disease - damage to capillaries in the glomerulus Increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Question 41

How can type 1 diabetes be treated?

Answer 41

By replacing missing insulin via injections

Question 42

How can type 2 and gestational diabetes be treated?

Answer 42

Lifestyle changes e.g. healthy eating and exercise

Question 43

What is advised for those with gestational diabetes?

Answer 43

To keep consumption of sugar, fat and salt to a minimum

Question 44

What does metformin do?

Answer 44

Treat high blood sugar levels and is taken as a tablet

Question 45

In some cases, how can gestational diabetes be treated?

Answer 45

Insulin injections if needed and other medications if these do not work adequately.