The Endocrine system Flashcards
What is the role of the pancreas?
Controls blood glucose level (sugar)
secretes insulin and glucagon
What does glucagon do?
It does the opposite to insulin, and enables cells to release glucose so that it can be used in raising it’s level in the blood
What does insulin do?
insulin regulates the body’s blood glucose level helping cells to use it, this lowers it
What is the role of the pituitary gland?
Produces many hormones
It also affects fat distribution in the body
What does the Growth Hormone do in the pituitary gland?
Growth Hormone (GH) stimulates growth in childhood. In adults it is important to maintain muscle mass and bone mass
What does Thyroid-stimulating hormone do in the pituitary gland? (TSH)
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, energy balance, growth and nervous system activity
What is the role of the adrenal glands?
They are small glands in the top of each kidney
They secrete adrenaline (fight vs flight response)
Increases heart rate and rushes blood to muscles and brain
Spikes blood sugar level by converting glycogen to glucose in the liver (glycogen is the liver’s storage form of glucose)
What is the role of the thyroid glands?
This is the endocrine gland in the neck
Thyroxine is secreted directly into the blood stream by the thyroid gland and it influences the metabolism of your body cells
In other words, it regulates the speed at which your body cells work
