Topic 7: Endocrinology Flashcards
What are hormones
chemical signals that are secreted into the circulatory system and communicate regulatory messages within the body
What is the function of the endocrine system?
chemical signaling by hormones
What is the function of the nervous system?
a network of specialized cells–neurons– that transmit signals along dedicated pathways
Why are two criteria for cell signaling?
- type of secreting cell
- route taken by the signal in reaching its target
How do hormones reach their targets?
hormones secreted into extra cellular fluids by endocrine cells reach their targets via the bloodstream
What is the function of endocrine signaling (4)?
- maintains homeostasis
- mediates responses to stimuli
- regulates growth
- development
What are local regulators?
molecules that act over short distances, reaching target cells solely by diffusion
What is paracrine signaling?
the target cells lie near the secreting cells (i.e. growth factors)
What is autocrine signaling?
the target cell is also the secreting cell (i.e. cytokines)
What are synapses?
specialized junctions with target cells
What are neurotransmitters?
molecules that diffuse short distances and bind to receptors on target cells
What are neurohormones?
molecules that travel to target cells via the bloodstream
What are the three major classes of hormones?
- polypeptides
- steroids
- amines
What is the solubility of each of the three major classes of hormones?
- polypeptides are water-soluble
- amines are water-soluble
- steroid hormones and other largely nonpolar hormones are lipid-soluble
How do water soluble hormones move?
secreted by exocytosis, travel freely in the blood stream, and bind to cell-surface receptors
How do lipid-soluble hormones move?
diffuse across cell membranes, travel in the bloodstream bound to transport proteins, and diffuse through the membrane of target cells; they bind to receptors in the cytoplasm or nucleus of the target cells
What initiates from the binding of a hormone to its receptor?
a signal transduction pathway that can lead to changes in the cytoskeleton, enzyme activation or gene expression
What is epinephrine?
a hormone that has multiple effects in mediating the body’s response to short-term stress
What does epinephrine bind to?
receptors on the plasma membrane of liver cells
What happens when epinephrine binds to receptors?
triggers the release of messenger molecules that activate enzymes and result in the release of glucose in the bloodstream
What is usually the response to lipid-soluble hormones?
a change in gene expression
What happens when a steroid hormone binds to its cytosolic receptor?
a hormone-receptor complex forms that moves into the nucleus; the receptor part of the complex acts as transcriptional regulator of specific target genes
What are 5 characteristics of steroid hormones?
- lipid soluble, chemically derived from cholesterol
- enter target cells
- bind to intracellular receptor
- activate specific genes to produce specific proteins
- slower acting than nonsteorid hormones; minutes to hours
Why do steroid hormones act slowly?
they need to activate DNA and form new proteins
Why do steroid hormones last for a long time?
they activate DNA and form new proteins
What are 5 characteristics of nonsteroid hormones?
- water soluble
- bind to receptors on target cell membranes
- work through intermediate mechanisms to activate existing enzymes
- may involve a “second messenger” within the cell, such as cyclic AMP (cAMP)
- faster action than steroid hormones; seconds to minutes
Why do nonsteroid hormones act quickly?
they only need to change existing proteins
Why do nonsteroid hormones last for a short time?
they only change existing proteins
Can the same hormone have the same effects?
True
What are endocrine glands?
ductless organs that contain endocrine cells
What are examples of endocrine glands (4)?
- thyroid gland
- parathyroid gland
- testes
- ovaries
What are exocrine glands?
ducts to carry secreted substances on body surfaces or into body cavities
What is an example of exocrine glands?
salivary glands
What does the pineal gland release?
melatonin: participates in regulation of biological rhythms
What does the anterior pituitary gland release?
- follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH): stimulate ovaries and testes
- thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): stimulates thyroid gland
- adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): stimulates adrenal cortex
- prolactin: stimulates mammary gland cells
- growth hormone (GH): stimulate growth and metabolic functions
What does the posterior pituitary gland release?
- oxytocin: stimulates contraction of smooth muscle cells in uterus and mammary glands
- vasopressin (also called antidiuretic hormone, ADH): promotes retention of water by kidneys; influences social behavior and bonding
What does the thyroid gland release?
- thyroid hormone (T3 and T4): stimulates and maintains metabolic processes
- calcitonin: lowers blood calcium level
What do parathyroid glands release?
- parathyroid hormone (PTH): raises blood calcium level
What do adrenal medulla glands release?
epinephrine and norepinephrine: raise blood glucose level; increase metabolic activities: constrict certain blood vessels
What do adrenal cortex glands release?
- glucocorticoids: raise blood glucose level
- mineralocorticoids: promote reabsorption of Na+ and excretion of K+ in kidneys
What does the pancreas release?
- insulin: lowers blood glucose level
- glucagon: raises blood glucose level
What do ovaries release?
- estrogens: stimulate uterine lining growth; promote development and maintenance of female secondary sex characteristics
- progestins: promote uterine lining growth