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Physiology with Pharmacology > The Endocrine System > Flashcards

The Endocrine System Flashcards

1
Q

What does the endocrine system regulate?

A

Development, growth, reproduction, parturition, lactation, metabolism, BP, blood ion conc, behaviour

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2
Q

What is endocrine signalling?

A

Signalling mediators are released into the bloodstream from endocrine cells
- Enables cell signalling across long distances to target tissues
- Slow
- Specific to receptors but not tissues
- Endocrine glands do not have ducts

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3
Q

Where are endocrine cells located?

A
  • Close proximity to capillary beds
  • Found in endocrine tissues or glands
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4
Q

What are hormones?

A

Signalling mediators
Can be:
- Protein e.g. insulin
- Amino acid derived e.g. adrenaline
- Steroid e.g. estradiol

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5
Q

What does the type of hormone influence?

A

Its cells membrane permeability

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6
Q

How are peptide hormones synthesised?

A

From amino acids

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7
Q

How are AA derived hormones synthesised?

A

Derivatives of tyrosine
Requires specific enzymes

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8
Q

How are steroid hormones synthesised?

A

Metabolites of cholesterol
Requires specific enzymes

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9
Q

How are peptide hormones released?

A

Secretory granules by exocytosis

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10
Q

How are AA derived hormones released?

A

Vesicles via exocytosis
(except thyroid hormone)

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11
Q

How are steroid hormones released?

A

Lipid soluble so can cross membranes directly

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12
Q

Where do peptide and AA derived hormones bind to receptors?

A

On cell surface membrane
(except thyroid)

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13
Q

Where do steroid hormones bind to receptors?

A

Diffuse into cells and bind to intracellular/nuclear receptors

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14
Q

What is the response time of peptide and AA derived hormones?

A

Seconds to minutes
(except thyroid)

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15
Q

What is the response time of steroid hormones?

A

Hours to days

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16
Q

What are the 7 classic endocrine glands?

A

Anterior and posterior pituitary
Thyroid
Parathyroids
Adrenals (cortex and medulla)
Ovaries
Testes
Endocrine pancreas

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17
Q

What are the endocrine tissues?

A

Hypothalamus
Kidneys
GI tract
Heart
liver
Adipose tissue

18
Q

What could locally acting hormones be classed as?

A

Paracrine factors or neuropeptides

19
Q

What is the adenohypophysis?

A

Anterior lobe of pituitary gland
Develops from an upward projection of the pharynx

20
Q

What is the neurohypophysis?

A

Posterior lobe of pituitary gland
Develops from a downward projection of the brain

21
Q

How are hormones released from adenohypophysis?

A
  • Neurohormones released into portal system
  • Releasing hormones move in bloodstream into anterior pituitary
  • Stimulates troph cells within anterior pituitary
  • Depending on the releasing hormone - acts on different troph cells to release different tropic hormones - go round body in systemic circulation
22
Q

What is the structure of the adenohypophysis?

A

Smaller diameter hypothalamic neurones with shorter axons that terminate on blood vessels around pituitary stalk

23
Q

What is the structure of the neurohypophysis?

A
  • Hypothalamus has lots of different nuclei within it
  • Cell bodies sit in the hypothalamus in the different nuclei
  • They send axonal projections down through the pituitary stalk and into posterior pituitary
24
Q

How are hormones released from the neurohypophysis?

A

Neural hormones released from the large diameter neurones directly into systemic circulation

25
Q

What hormones are released by the neurohypophysis?

A

ADH, Oxytocin

26
Q

What hormones are released by adenohypophysis?

A

In response to releasing hormones:
- Growth hormone
- TSH
- FSH, LH
- Prolactin

27
Q

What does the thyroid gland release?

A

T3 and T4 AA derived hormones

28
Q

What is required for the synthesis and release of thyroid hormones?

A

Hypothalamic pituitary hormones
Iodine

29
Q

How are thyroid hormones transported?

A

Facilitated diffusion

30
Q

What does thyroid hormone bind to?

A

Nuclear receptors - bind to DNA and regulate transcription

31
Q

What does thyroid hormone regulate?

A

Metabolism
Development and growth

32
Q

What hormone does the parathyroid gland secrete?

A

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) (peptide hormone)

33
Q

What does PTH regulate

A

Vital parameters of plasma calcium and phosphate
Targets - bone, kidneys, intestines

34
Q

What is the plasma calcium -ve feedback loop?

A

Plasma [Ca2+] sensed by chief cells
- Increased [Ca2+]
Causes decreased PTH release
- Decreases kidney tubule reabsorption (so more Ca2+ excreted)
- Decreases bone Ca2+ resorption
- Decreases intestinal Ca2+ absorption
Eventually lowers plasma [Ca2+]

35
Q

What are the parts of the adrenal gland?

A

Adrenal medulla
Adrenal cortex

36
Q

What does the adrenal medulla secrete?

A

Chromaffin cells release adrenaline by exocytosis in vesicles

37
Q

What is the adrenal medulla a target of?

A

The ANS

38
Q

What does the adrenal cortex secrete?

A

Steroid hormones
Glucocorticoids e.g. cortisol (from zona glomerulosa)
Mineralocorticoids e.g. aldosterone (from zona fasciculata)

39
Q

What do beta cells release?

A

Insulin

40
Q

What do alpha cells release?

A

Glucagon

41
Q

What hormones do the ovaries release?

A

Steroid hormones - oestrogen and progesterone from cells within the developing follicles
- Can switch between +ve and -ve feedback

42
Q

Which cells produce testosterone?

A

Leydig cells in the testes
- Testosterone stimulates protein synthesis - can lead to development and growth

Physiology with Pharmacology (11 decks)

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