The Endocrine System Flashcards
The endocrine system consists of multiple organs that secrete ____ directly into the bloodstream to control body processes and maintain ____, the state in which the body’s hormones and nutrient levels are balanced.
hormones; homeostasis
Hormones then travel through the bloodstream and bind to ____ on their target, triggering a response by the target tissue.
receptors
____ are fat soluble and can pass freely through the plasma membrane and bind to receptors inside the cell. They induce changes in cellular gene expression, so their effects are longer lasting.
steroid hormones
____ are water soluble and bind to receptors on the surface of target cells. They induce a signaling cascade that leads to a rapid, but short-lived, response.
peptide hormones
The body maintains homeostasis through a variety of feedback loops. In ____, the response to a deviation will lead to a larger response. These are very rare and often lead to large physiological changes, such as delivery of a baby.
positive feedback
Most feedback loops operate under ____, a process in which a deviation from normal is detected, a response is made, and the response alleviates need for further action to address the deviation.
negative feedback
The master regulatory gland of the endocrine system is the ____, which is located in the brain under the thalamus. It serves as the link between the nervous system and the endocrine system by releasing hormones that control other endocrine glands in response to different stimuli.
hypothalamus
The master regulatory gland of the endocrine system is the ____, which is located in the brain under the thalamus. It serves as the link between the nervous system and the endocrine system by releasing hormones that control other endocrine glands in response to different stimuli.
hypothalamus
____ induces water reabsorption in the kidney.
vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone)
____ stimulates uterine contractions during labor.
oxytocin
The anterior pituitary releases both ____, which stimulate a response directly at a target organ, and ____, which induce hormone release by other glands.
direct hormones; tropic hormones
The anterior pituitary releases how many hormones?
7
___ In females, induces the maturation of an ovarian follicle; in males; stimulates spermatogenesis.
FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)
____ In females, induces ovulation; in males; stimulates testosterone production.
LH (luteinizing hormone)
____ Stimulates the adrenal glands to release hormones.
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
____ Stimulates the thyroid gland to release thyroid hormones.
TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)
____ Induces milk production at the mammary glands in females.
Prolactin
____ Inhibit the perception of pain.
Endorphins
____ Induces growth of the body and increases metabolic rate.
Growth hormone
The pineal gland, located in the center of the brain, secretes ____ to regulate sleep cycles. The release of this is governed by light-dark cycles. Supplements of which are readily available at drugstores and can be used to induce sleep.
melatonin
The parathyroid gland releases ____ in response to low blood calcium. It induces the breakdown of bone to ____ blood calcium levels.
parathyroid hormone; increase
The thyroid gland, upon stimulation by ___, will absorb iodine and produce ____ (i.e. T3 and T4) to regulate metabolic rate.
TSH; thyroid hormones
The thyroid also releases ____ in response to high blood calcium levels and induces the storage of calcium in bone. It “tones down” blood calcium.
calcitonin
The thyroid also releases ____ in response to high blood calcium levels and induces the storage of calcium in bone. It “tones down” blood calcium.
calcitonin
The ___ is responsible for regulating blood glucose levels. It releases 2 main hormones: insulin and glucagon.
pancreas
____ is released in response to high blood glucose. It induces the storage of glucose in glycogen and stimulates glucose uptake by cells.
Insulin
____ is released in response to low blood glucose. It induces the release of glucose from glycogen stores and gluconeogenesis. A mnemonic for remembering its function is that it is released when the “glucose is gone.”
Glucagon
The adrenal medulla secretes ____, which induces the “fight or flight” response.
epinephrine
The adrenal cortex secretes hormones that regulate salt and sugar balance in the body, including the hormone ____, which regulates salt balance.
aldosterone
