The endocrine system

Question 1

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 1

A network of glands throughout the body that manufacture and secrete chemical messengers known as hormones

Question 2

What does the endocrine system and the nervous system work together to do?

Answer 2

They work together to regulate the physiological processes of the human body

Question 3

What is the difference between the endocrine system and the nervous system?

Answer 3

Instead of using nerves to transit information, the endocrine system uses blood vessels to deliver hormones to target areas in the body

Question 4

What are endocrine glands?

Answer 4

Special groups of cells within the endocrine system, whose function is to produce and discharge hormones

Question 5

what are the 3 major glands of the endocrine system?

Answer 5

1: the pituitary gland
2: the adrenal glands
3: the reproductive organs (ovaries and testes)

Question 6

What are hormones?

Answer 6

The body’s chemical messengers.

They travel through the bloodstream and influence many processes including mood, the stress response, and infant/caregiver bonding.

Question 7

Why do target cells only respond to particular hormones?

Answer 7

Because they have receptors for that hormone, and cannot be influenced directly by hormones they do not have receptors for

Question 8

Which gland produces stimulating hormones into the bloodstream, which signals other glands to release hormones?

Answer 8

The pituitary gland

Question 9

What is the pituitary glands primary function?

Answer 9

The ‘master gland’

To influence the release of hormones from other glands

Question 10

What are the two parts of the pituitary gland?

Answer 10

1: the anterior
2: the posterior

Question 11

What does the anterior release? and what does it produce?

Answer 11

it releases ACTH (as a response to stress)

and it produces hormones that stimulate the production of oestrogen & testosterone

Question 12

What does the posterior pituitary release?

Answer 12

oxytocin (which stimulates contractions during birth)

Question 13

What does the adrenal cortex produce in response to stress?

Answer 13

cortisol

Question 14

what does the adrenal medulla release to prepare for fight or flight?

Answer 14

adrenaline

Question 15

What are ovaries and what do they do?

Answer 15

A part of the female reproductive system.

they release oestrogen and progesterone

Question 16

What are testes and what do they do?

Answer 16

A part of the male reproductive system

They release testosterone