Intro to Endocrinology Flashcards
What is an endocrine gland?
What is the general function of endocrine organs?
To coordinate and integrate cellular and organ functions throughout life and maintaining homeostasis
What are some key specific functions executed by endocrine glands?
What is a hormone and a target organ?
What are the 3 different categories of hormones types?
Peptide
Steroid
Amino acid derivatives of tyrosine
True/false: most hormones are steroid hormones.
False - most are peptide hormones.
Peptide hormones are synthesized as […]
Pre-pro-hormones that have to undergo post-translational processing to become the effective hormone.
True/false: peptide hormones are synthesized on demand.
False - they’re synthesized and then stored intracellularly in secretory granules that are released when there is a signal telling the cell to do so.
Describe the solubility of peptide hormones and the implications this has for their function.
Soluble in blood so they can circulate easily without needing to be bound to transport proteins. However, they do require extracellular receptors and transporters to enter the cell since they can’t diffuse across lipid membrane.
Steroid hormones are derived from […]
Cholesterol
True/false: lipid hormones are synthesized on demand.
True
Since they’re derived from cholesterol, which can be made as needed or taken from circulation as needed, these hormones don’t need to be made in advance and stored.
Discuss the solubility of steroid hormones and the effect it has on their function.
Cannot travel in blood freely b/c not soluble. Must be bound to transport protein. Easily absorbed through membranes, so receptors are intracellular (nuclear receptors).
Where are the receptors for tyrosine derived hormones?
Nuclear receptors
Discuss the half-life of peptide vs. steroid vs. tyrosine hormones.
What is the significance of binding proteins on hormone function?
What are the fates of hormones once they’re made?
The cellular effects of hormones are mainly influenced by their […] and […]
Affinity and Specificity
What factors control the rate/pattern of hormone release?
Control mechanisms (hormonal, neural, nutritional, environmental)
Ex: sleep and cortisol/GH
What are the types of stimuli that can result in endocrine gland response?
How can endocrine function be assessed?
True/false: you can measure any hormone at any point during the day and the information will be clinically useful.
False - timing matters for many hormones.
What sort of test would you do if you suspect that a patient has hypo-functional endocrine function?
What sort of test would you do if you suspect a person has hyper-functional endocrine function?
