Topic 5- Hormonal coordination in humans Flashcards

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1
Q

Give the name of the body’s coordination system which involves hormones

A

The endocrine system

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2
Q

What is a hormone?

A

A hormone is a chemical messenger secreted by a gland. It travels in the blood to a target organ, where it causes a response

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3
Q

What type of organ secretes hormones?

A

Glands

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4
Q

Which gland controls many other glans in the body, known as the “master gland”

A

The pituitary gland

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5
Q

Why is the pituitary gland considered a master gland?

A

It secretes a wide range of hormones, some of which may stimulate other endocrine glands

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6
Q

What os the role of the pituitary gland in the endocrine system

A

Secretes human growth hormone
Stimulates the thyroid gland
Stimulates ovulation and the production of oestrogen in the ovaries
Stimulates the production of sperm and testosterone in the testes

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7
Q

What is the role of the thyroid gland in the endocrine system?

A

Secretes the hormone thyroxine- controls metabolism, heart rate and body temperature

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8
Q

What is the role of the pancreas in the endocrine system?

A

Secretes the hormone insulin- controls blood glucose levels

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9
Q

What is the role of the adrenal gland in the endocrine system?

A

Secretes adrenaline- controls the body’s “flight or flight” response

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10
Q

What is the role of the ovaries in the endocrine system?

A

Secrete oestrogen which coordinates the menstrual cycle and the development of female sexual characteristics

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11
Q

What is the role of the testes in the endocrine system

A

Secrete testosterone, which coordinates the production of sperm and the development of male secondary sexual characteristics

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12
Q

Which organ monitors and controls blood glucose concentration

A

The pancreas

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13
Q

How does the pancreas respond when blood glucose levels are too high

A

The pancreas secretes the hormone insulin.
insulin binds to the receptors on the liver and muscles, causing excess glucose to be converted into glycogen and stored

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14
Q

Why does the pancreas respond when blood glucose levels are too low

A

The pancreas secretes the hormone glucagon. Glucagon binds to the liver cells, causing glycogen to be converted into glucose and released into the blood

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15
Q

How is blood glucose glucose concentration controlled using a negative feedback loop

A

-When the blood glucose concentration rises or falls below the optimum, a hormone is secreted by the pancreas
-The action of either hormone (insulin or glucagon) helps bring back the concentration to the correct level

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16
Q

What is type 1 diabetes

A

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the pancreas doesn’t produce sufficient insulin to control the blood glucose concentration
As a result, blood glucose levels are often very high, leading to excessive urination, tiredness and weight loss

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17
Q

How can Type 1 diabetes be treated?

A

Insulin injections before meals- allows glucose to be converted into glycogen
Limiting carbohydrate intake
-Attempts using pancreas and pancreatic cell transplants; investigations into genetic engineering of pancreatic cells

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18
Q

What is Type 2 diabetes

A

Type 2 diabetes is a disorder in which the body’s cells stop responding to insulin, leading to an uncontrolled blood glucose concentration. Its onset is linked with increasing age and obesity

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19
Q

How can Type 2 diabetes be treated

A

-Following a carefully controlled diet
-Doing regular excercise
-Loosing weight
-Use of drugs which increase insulin production and effectiveness

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20
Q

In what ways is water lost from the body

A

-During exhalation via lungs
-Sweating
-Urine (some reabsorbed in the kidney)

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21
Q

In what ways are ions lost from the body

A

-Sweating
-Urine (some reabsorbed in the kidney)

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22
Q

How are excess amino acids excreted from the body?

A

-Excess amino acids are deaminated in the liver to form ammonia
-Ammonia is toxic, therefore it is converted into urea
-Urea is excreted from the body via sweat and urine

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23
Q

How do the kidneys maintain the balance of water and other substances in the body

A

-Filter blood in order to remove waste products (like Urea)
-Selectively reabsorb useful molecules (like glucose, water, ions)

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24
Q

What is the full name of the hormone ADH

A

Anti-diuretic hormone

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25
Q

Where is ADH secreted in the body?

A

The pituitary gland of the brain

26
Q

How does ADH affect the reabsorption of water in the kidneys?

A

-When the blood is too concentrated, the pituitary gland secretes more ADH
-ADH travels in the bloodstream to the kidney and increases the permeability of kidney tubules to water
-More water is reabsorbed in the kidneys, resulting in a smaller volume of more concentrated urine

27
Q

Why is kidney failure dangerous?

A

When the kidneys are damaged, they may be unable to filter the blood properly. This may lead to:
- A build-up of toxic molecule (eg urea) in the body
-An uncontrolled ion and water balance and cells being damaged as a result of osmosis

28
Q

What are the two main ways of treating kidney failure?

A

-Dialysis
-Transplant

29
Q

What is kidney dialysis?

A

Kidney dialysis is the use of a specialist machine to carry out the function of kidneys. Dialysis fluid contains the same concentration of glucose and ions as healthy blood. As a result, only excess and waste molecules are lost from the blood, and glucose and ions remains

30
Q

What is the function of reproductive hormones

A

Males: cause development of secondary sexual characteristics
Females: cause the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the maturation of eggs

31
Q

What is the main male reproductive hormone?

A

Testosterone- produced by the testes and controls sperm production

32
Q

What is the main female reproductive hormone?

A

Oestrogen- produced by the ovaries and is involved in the menstrual cycle

33
Q

What is the menstrual cycle?

A

The monthly cycle of physiological changes that occur in females, involving the shedding of the uterus lining (menstruation) and ovulation

34
Q

Describe the events of the menstrual cycle

A

-Uterus lining thickens and eggs begin to mature in the ovaries
-An egg is released from one of the ovaries (ovulation) (uterus lining remains thick)
- If the egg is fertilised, pregnancy may occur. If not, both the egg and uterus lining are shed during menstruation

35
Q

What is ovulation?

A

Ovulation, is the release of a mature egg from the ovaries, which occurs approximately every 28 days

36
Q

Name the four main hormones involved in the menstrual cycle

A

-Oestrogen
-Progesterone
-Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
-Luteinising hormone (LH)

37
Q

What is the role of FSH in the menstrual cycle?

A

FSH is secreted by the pituitary gland. It controls the maturation of eggs within the ovaries (inside a follicle) and triggers the production of oestrogen by the ovaries

38
Q

What is the role of oestrogen in the menstrual cycle?

A

Oestrogen is produced by the ovaries and released due to the action of FSH - it causes the regrowth of the uterus lining.
It triggers the production of LH and restricts the release of more FSH

39
Q

What is the role of LH in the menstrual cycle?

A

LH is produced in the pituitary gland as a result of oestrogen. Its release triggers ovulation

40
Q

What is the role of progesterone in the menstrual cycle?

A

Progesterone is secreted from the follicle of the ovary. It sustains the uterus lining and inhibits FSH and LH

41
Q

What is contraception?

A

Contraception refers to any method of preventing pregnancy

42
Q

What are the two types of oral contraceptives?

A

-Combined contraceptive pill (contains oestrogen and progesterone)
-Mini pill (contains only progesterone)

43
Q

How does the contraceptive pill prevent pregnancy?

A

-Inhibits FSH- eggs do not mature
-Prevents the development of the uterus lining- eggs cannot implant
-Increases the thickness of cervical mucus- immobilises sperm cells

44
Q

What is the contraceptive patch?

A

-Contains both oestrogen and progesterone
-It is a patch that is placed onto the skin for 7 days at a time

45
Q

What is the contraceptive implant?

A

A small rod inserted under the skin which continuously releases the hormone progesterone- lasts for 3 years

46
Q

What is the contraceptive injection?

A

An injection containing the hormone progesterone- lasts for approximately 3 months

47
Q

What is the IUS?

A

The IUS (intrauterine system) is a small plastic device that is inserted into the uterus. It releases progesterone which thickens cervical mucus and prevents the build-up of the uterine lining

48
Q

What is the IUD?

A

The IUD (intrauterine device) is a small copper-containing device inserted into the uterus, which prevents the implantation of embryos

49
Q

What is a spermicide

A

A spermicide is a chemical that kills or immobilises sperm cells- however, they are not very effective, and work better when combined with barrier methods

50
Q

What is a barrier method of contraception?

A

A barrier method of contraception involves a physical separation between the sperm and the egg. They include:
-Condoms- thin sheath worn on the penis or inside the vagina- protects against STIs but may tear/break
-Diaphragms- a thin cap placed over the cervix- prevent entry of sperm

51
Q

What surgical methods of contraception are available

A

Sterilisation- in males, the sperm ducts are tied (vasectomy) and in females, the oviducts are tied

52
Q

What is abstinence?

A

Abstinence is the practice of not having sex, which also avoids pregnancy. Some people abstain from sex around the time of ovulation- known as the rhythm method, but its quite unreliable

53
Q

How do fertility drugs increase the chance of pregnancy?

A

Many fertility drugs contain FSH- which stimulates oestrogen production and the maturation of eggs in the ovary. They also contain LH which triggers ovulation

54
Q

What is IVF?

A

IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is type of fertility treatment:
-Mother is given FSH and LH- stimulates maturation of eggs and ovulation
-Eggs are fertilised using sperm in a laboratory- develop into embryos
-1 or 2 embryos are inserted into the mother’s womb

55
Q

What are the advantages of fertility treatment

A

-Allows infertile couples to have children
-Can store a woman’s eggs for later

56
Q

What are the disadvantages of fertility treatments?

A

-It can be very expensive
- It has a low success rate- especially for older couples
-Increases chance of multiple pregnancies- dangerous for mother and babies
-Side effects of fertility drugs

57
Q

What is negative feedback?

A

Negative feedback is a type of control where the body responds to an increase or decrease in a factor by returning it to the optimum level

58
Q

What is thyroxine?

A

Thyroxine is a hormone released by the thyroid gland. Its release is triggered by the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Thyroxine controls the body’s metabolic rate, growth and development

59
Q

How is the release of thyroxine controlled by negative feedback?

A

-Levels of blood thyroxine falls- detected by receptors in brain
-Pituitary gland releases more TSH
-More thyroxine produced and released by the thyroid gland
-Blood thyroxine level returns to normal

60
Q

What is adrenaline?

A

Adrenaline is a hormone secreted by the adrenal gland in times of stress. It is responsible for the “fight or flight response”

61
Q

What are the effects of adrenaline

A

-Increase in heart and breathing rate- delivers oxygen and glucose to the body
-Stored glycogen converted to glucose
-Dilation of pupils
-Increased mental awareness
-Blood diverted away from digestive system to muscles