Topic 11 Endocrine System: Endocrine Glands Flashcards
- Hypothalamus
- Anterior Pituitary
- Posterior Pituitary
- Pineal Gland
- Thyroid
- Parathyroid
- Thymus
- Adrenal Gland
- Pancreas
- Testis
- Ovaries
- Gastrointestinal Hormones
Types of Endocrine Glands
a. Monitors the external environment and internal conditions of the body. The hypothalamus contains neurosecretory cells that link the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland, and is therefore considered the link between the endocrine and nervous system
b. The hypothalamus helps to regulate the pituitary via negative feedback mechanisms and by the secretion of releasing and inhibiting hormones.
c. Hormones Secreted:
d. ADH (vasopressin) and oxytocin to be stored in the posterior pituitary
e. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) from neurons, which stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete FSH and LH
- Hypothalamus
- Mainly regulates hormone production by other glands and is regulated itself by the hypothalamus
- Anterior Pituitary
a. Direct (non-topic) hormones: directly stimulate organs
b. Tropic Hormones
Hormones in Anterior Pituitary
- hGH - aka somatotropin, stimulates bone and muscle growth. Stimulates growth in almost all cells of the body, and does by increasing episodes of mitosis, cell size, rate of protein synthesis, and use of fatty acids for energy. hGH also mobilizes fat stores, decreases use of glucose, increases protein transcription/translation, and decreases protein/amino acid breakdown
a. Direct (non-topic) hormones: directly stimulate organs
- Prolactin
- Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)
- Endorphins
Types of Direct (non-topic) hormones
- Stimulates milk production in females from mammary gland cells. The hypothalamus can inhibit prolactin release. Suckling stimulates the hypothalamus, which stimulates the anterior pituitary → release of prolactin. There is no milk production before birth due to inhibitory effects on it by progesterone and estrogen
Prolactin
- Stimulates melanocytes to produce and release melanin
Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)
- Inhibit perception of pain (is technically a neurohormone)
Endorphins
- Stimulate other endocrine glands
b. Tropic Hormones
- ACTH
- TSH
- LH
- FSH
Types of Tropic Hormones
- Release glucocorticoids via second messenger cAMP. Release of ACTH is stimulated by many types of biological stress, and glucocorticoids are stress hormones
ACTH
- Stimulates thyroid gland which in turn increases in size, cell number, and rate of secretion of hormones T3 and T4. T3 and T4 concentrations have a negative feedback effect on TSH release at both the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus
TSH
- In females, stimulates formation of corpus luteum, and in males, it stimulates interstitial cells of testes to produce testosterone
LH
- In females, stimulates maturation of ovarian follicles to secrete estrogen, and in males, stimulates maturation of seminiferous tubules and sperm production
FSH
- Composed mainly of support tissue from nerve endings extending from the hypothalamus. Does not synthesize hormones, but stores ADH and oxytocin produced by the hypothalamus.
- Posterior Pituitary
a. ADH/Vasopressin
b. Oxytocin
Types of Posterior Pituitary
- Increases reabsorption of water by increasing permeability of the nephron’s collecting duct → water reabsorption and increased blood volume and pressure. Coffee and alcohol block ADH, therefore increasing urine volume
a. ADH/Vasopressin
- Secreted during childbirth, increases strength of uterine contractions and stimulates milk ejection by stimulating contraction of smooth muscle cells in the uterus and mammary glands
b. Oxytocin
- Neural cell bodies of the hypothalamus synthesize the hormones, and are transported down axons to the posterior pituitary where they are released into the blood
Note
- Secretes melatonin which plays a role in the circadian rhythm
- Pineal Gland
- Note that the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and pineal gland are the endocrine glands in the human brain
Note