WEEK 7 Flashcards
What regulatory systems does the endocrine system control? (HINT: there’s 5)
- Regulation of cellular metabolism 2. Maintenance of homeostasis (e.g. Ca++) 3. Sexual development and reproduction 4. Growth and development from childhood to adult 5. Modulates long term behaviour (mood, sleep)
What is the difference between an endocrine and exocrine gland?
ENDOCRINE glands have no ducts they secrete and release hormones directly into the blood. (Endo = internal, crime = secretion.) EXOCRINE glands = Epithelial cells form ducts to carry secretions onto the surface of the epithelium (e.g. salivary, sebaceous and sweat glands open onto the skin, Pancreatic duct opens into the duodenum)
Describe paracrine secretion.
Paracrine factors (polypeptides) diffuse over short distances. Cell - cell communication: inducing changes in adjacent cells (e.g. peptide neurotransmitters). Important in embryogenesis where gradients of polypeptides influence developmental change: - Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family - Hedgehog family (sonic hedgehog) - WnT family - TGF-β superfamily
Name, and distinguish between, the three classes of hormones.
- PROTEINS = chains of aa’s (usually injected) 2. STEROIDS = Synthesised from cholesterol (oral administration) 3. AMINO ACID DERIVATIVES = thyroid hormones, catecholamines (adrenalin, dopamine, noradrenalin)
Explain how the endocrine system is controlled including the concept of negative feedback loops.
- EndocrineAxes/Cascades = the target tissue of one hormone is another endocrine gland - allows amplification and fine control 2. Hypothalamus secretes hormones that control the secretion and release of pituitary hormones, which stimulate/control many other endocrine glands E.g. hypothalamus releases GnRH, which stimulates secretion of FSH that stimulates gonad to secrete oestrogen/testosterone (which inhibits GnRH) CONCEPT OF -VE FEEDBACK = The final product of a cascade acts to inhibit a hormone higher up the cascade
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
- Controls release of ANTERIOR pituitary hormones by RELEASING hormones ( NB prolactin is controlled by a hypothalamic inhibiting factor) 2. It also secretes hormones that are stored and released by the POSTERIOR lobe of the pituitary gland (oxytocin and Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) )
What hormones does the (i) Anterior pituitary (ii) posterior pituitary secrete? (HINT: there’s 6 anterior and 2 posterior)
(i) Growth hormone Thyroid stimulating hormone Adrenocorticotropic hormone Follicle stimulating hormone Luteinising hormone Prolactin (ii) Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin
What are the anterior and posterior pituitary made up of?
ANTERIOR - develops from epithelium of the mouth POSTERIOR - a down growth of the hypothalamus (neural tissue)
Describe the THYROID GLAND, (i) Where is it? (ii) What hormones does it produce? (iii) What effect does the hormone (s) have?
(i) develops as a down growth of the epithelium of the tongue (leaves a pit at the back of the tongue - the foramen caecum). Lies ANTERIOR to the trachea in the neck (ii) Follicular cells secrete TRI-IODOTHYRONINE (T3) and THYROXINE (T4), both secretions require iodine. These are stored in colloid (thyroglobulin). Parafollicular (akaC) cells produce CALCITONIN (iii) T4 is a prohormone (must be converted by target cells into T3 to become active). Thyroxin regulates: – energy use by body cells = rate of metabolism – protein production = growth and development – Regulates sensitivity of cells to other hormones Calcitonin regulates calcium homeostasis, stimulates osteoblasts to lay down more bone and so reduce blood calcium levels.
Describe the PARATHYROID GLAND, (i) Where is it? (ii) What hormones does it produce? (iii) What effect does the hormone (s) have?
(i) Develops from the wall of the pharynx and forms two pairs of glands which are embedded in the posterior aspect of the thyroid (ii) Parathyroid hormone (iii) Regulates calcium homeostasis by stimulating osteoclasts to breakdown bone matrix and therefore increases blood calcium levels.
Describe the ADRENAL GLANDS, (i) Where is it? (ii) What hormones does it produce?
(i) Cortex develops from mesoderm of the posterior abdominal wall, has three layers of epithelial cells (zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis). Medulla is made up of natural crest cells (neuroectoderm). (ii) Cortex Produces STEROID hormones. Glomerulosa produces mineralocorticoids – e.g. Aldosterone. Fasciculata produces glucocorticoids – e.g. Cortisol. Reticularis produces sex steroids – Androgens Medulla contains chromaffin cells which produce catecholamines - epinephrine, dopamine, norepinephrine NOTE: the medulla has a direct connection with the SNS (controlling fight or flight response)
Describe the PANCREATIC ISLETS (Islets of langerhans), (i) Where is it? (ii) What hormones does it produce? (iii) What effect does the hormone (s) have?
(i) Develops as an out growth of the gut tube, closely associated with the development of the gall bladder. Ducts join before entering the duodenum. Composed of an exocrine component and an endocrine component. (ii) Exocrine PANCREATIC ACINI produce pancreatic amylase etc (disorder –pancreatitis) Endocrine ISLETS OF LANGERHANS produce hormones (disorder = Diabetes mellitus) – Alpha cells = glucagon – Beta cells = insulin
What are the 2 basic building blocks of the nervous system? Describe them.
- NEURONES - Axon, dendrites and the cell body (powerhouse of the nervous system). Communicate via synapses 2. GLIA - in the central nervous system these are oligodendrocytes (from myelin), astrocytes (from radiological cells), and microglia (specialised macrophages of NS)
What does (i) gray matter (ii) white matter consist of?
(i) Cell bodies of neurons reside in the gray matter (CNS = ‘nuclei’, PNS = ‘ganglia’) (ii) Axons reside in white matter
What are the 2 anatomical divisions of the NS?
Peripheral NS - cranial and spinal nerves, and ganglia Central NS - brain and spinal cord
What does the Peripheral Nervous System consist of? Describe (i) Cranial nerves (ii) Spinal nerves.
Consists of sensory receptors, nerves conducting impulses to and from the CNS, their associated ganglia, and motor endings. (i) Twelve pairs of cranial nerves originate from the brain and travel through the skull to innervate the head and neck. (The Vagus Nerve (X) is the exception, extending into the thoracic and abdominal cavities.) (ii) The 31 pairs of spinal nerves (mixed nerves) are numbered successively according to the region of the spinal cord from which they originate. Spinal nerves are formed by the union of dorsal and ventral roots of the spinal cord and are short, confined to the intervertebral foramina.
What are the 2 major functional divisions of the nervous system? Describe what they do.
- Sensory (afferent – impulses/info going towards the CNS) – responsible for acquiring and processing information from the environment 2. Motor (efferent – impulses/info from CNS going to effector organs) - responsible for generating movements and other behaviours The efferent division includes the somatic (voluntary) system, which serves skeletal muscles, and the autonomic (involuntary) system (ANS), which innervates smooth and cardiac muscles and glands, it is important for internal homeostasis
What are the 2 divisions of the ANS? Describe these divisions.
- PARASYMPATHETIC - conserves body energy and maintains activities at basal levels (‘Rest-and-Digest’). Parasympathetic (Craniosacral) Division - Parasympathetic preganglionic neurons arise from the brain stem and from the sacral (S2-S4) region of the cord. 2. SYMPATHETIC - activates the body under conditions of emergency and is called the ‘Fight-or-Flight’ System. Sympathetic (Thoracolumbar) Division – Preganglionic sympathetic neurons arise from the lateral horn of the spinal cord from the level of T1 to L2.
Compare the somatic and autonomic nervous systems
In the somatic division, a single motor neuron forms the efferent pathway from the CNS to the effectors. The efferent pathway of the autonomic division consists of a two-neuron chain: the cell body of the preganglionic neurons in the CNS and the cell body of the postganglionic neuron in a ganglion.
What 4 things is the brain protected by?
Bone Meninges Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Blood-brain barrier
What are the meninges, from superficial to deep? What is their function?
Dura mater Arachnoid mater Pia mater Enclose the brain and SC and their BVs Inward fold of the dura mater secure the brain to the skull, dampening movement of the brain in the cranial cavity
The brain contains 4 ventricles filled with CSF, what are the names of these 4 ventricles and where are they located?
(a) 2 LATERAL ventricles in cerebral hemispheres (b) 3RD VENTRICLE in the diencephalon (c) 4TH VENTRICLE in the brain stem (connects with the central canal of the SC)
What 4 functions does the brain provide us with?
Voluntary movements Interpretation and integration of sensation Consciousness Cognitive function
What 4 parts does the brain consist of? What are they composed of?
Cerebral hemispheres Diencephalon Brain stem Cerebellum Cerebral hemispheres & diencephalon have internal grey matter nuclei surrounded by white matter and an outer cortex of grey matter. The diencephalon and brain stem lack an outer cortex of grey matter.
What does each cerebral hemisphere consist of? Describe how it receives sensory impulses & dispatches motor impulses.
Cerebral cortex, cerebral white matter and nuclei Receives sensory impulses from, and dispatches motor impulses to, the opposite side of the body. The body is represented in an upside down fashion in the sensory and motor cortices
What are the 4 functional areas of the cerebral cortex? Where are they located?
a. Motor areas: primary motor cortex and premotor of FRONTAL lobe b. Sensory areas: primary somatosensory cortex and somatosensory association cortex of PARIETAL lobe c. Visual areas in the OCCIPITAL lobe d. Auditory and Olfactory areas in the TEMPORAL lobe
The cerebral hemispheres show lateralization of cortical function. Describe this.
In most people, the left hemisphere is dominant (i.e., specialized for language and mathematical skills), the right hemisphere is specialized for visual-spatial skills and creativity
What does the diencephalon consist of?
Thalamus hypothalamus encloses the 3rd ventricle
What is the thalamus the major relay station for? What is the function of the hypothalamus?
a. sensory impulses ascending to the sensory cortex b. inputs from subcortical nuclei and the cerebellum travelling to the cerebral motor cortex HYPOTHALAMUS = an important autonomic nervous system (ANS) control centre. It maintains water balance and regulates thirst, eating behaviour, gastrointestinal activity, body temperature, and the activity of the anterior pituitary gland.
What 3 parts does the brain stem consist of? Describe each part.
MIDBRAIN contains Superior & inferior colliculi (visual & auditory reflex centres) • Red nucleus (subcortical motor centre) • Pyramidal tracts (on ventral surface of cerebral peduncles) • Substantia nigra • Motor nuclei of CN III, IV • Surrounds cerebral aqueduct The mid-brain surrounds the cerebral aqueduct. PONS is mainly a conduction area. Its nuclei contribute to regulation of respiration and cranial nerves V-VII. MEDULLA OBLONGATA has pyramids on its ventral surface (descending corticospinal tracts). The fibres cross-over at the decussation of the pyramids before entering the spinal cord. Important nuclei in the medulla oblongata regulate respiratory rhythm, heart rate, and blood pressure and serve cranial nerves VIII-XII. The cough, sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting centres are in the medulla.
Describe the cerebellum, (i) what does it consist of? (ii) How is it connected to the brainstem? (iii) What is its function?
(i) consists of two hemispheres marked by convolutions. (ii) connected to the brain stem by sup, middle, and inf cerebellar peduncles. (iii) processes and interprets impulses from the motor cortex and sensory pathways and coordinates motor activity so that smooth, well- timed movements can occur. It is also important in balance.
What is the spinal cord? Where is it located and where does it extend from and to? What is it protected by?
The spinal cord is a two-way impulse conduction pathway and reflex centre. It resides within the vertebral column and extends from foramen magnum to end of L1 vertebra. It is protected by meninges and CSF.
Where is the spinal cord enlarged? Why is this the case?
In cervical and lumbar regions - where spinal nerves serving the limbs arise
What do dorsal and ventral rami serve?
Dorsal rami serve the muscles and skin of posterior body trunk Ventral rami within the cervical and lumbar spinal cord form plexuses that serve the limbs. T1-T12 ventral rami give rise to intercostal nerves that serve the thorax wall and abdominal surface.
Describe the cross sectional anatomy of the spinal cord
The central grey matter of the cord is H shaped. Anterior horns mainly contain somatic motor neurons. Lateral horns contain visceral (autonomic) motor neurons. Axons of neurons of the lateral and anterior horns emerge from the cord via the ventral roots. Posterior horns contain interneurons. Axons of sensory neurons (with cell bodies located in the dorsal root ganglion – DRG) enter the posterior aspect of the cord and form dorsal roots. Each side of the white matter of the cord has posterior, lateral, and anterior columns, and each column contains ascending and descending tracts. All tracts are paired and most decussate.
What is a lipid? What are the 3 functions of a lipid?
Lipids have low solubility in water They include phospholipids, fats, sterols and some vitamins Sources of energy, forms membranes, participates in cell signalling
What are the 4 types of sterols?
bile acids steroid hormones vitamins cell membranes
What are 2 disorders inherited in lipid pathways? Explain, generally, how they come about. (including what they affect within the body)
Gaucher’s (most common) Fabry disease Defects in enzymes which metabolise lipids leading to lipid accumulation Largely affect neurological system, liver, spleen and bone marrow Failure to thrive
Describe the lipid bilayer in terms of the 2 conflicting forces and how they are resolved.
it has a hydrophilic head which is attracted to water and a hydrophobic tail which dislikes water and looks to aggregate with other hydrophobic molecules Hydrophilic heads face water and hydrophobic tails are shielded from the water and lie next to each other