BB Flashcards
(158 cards)
What makes up the endocrine system?
Glands
What are glands?
Glands produce, store, and secrete chemical molecules (hormones) that act as messengers.
What are hormones?
Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and stimulate a physiological response further from point of origin.
Endocrine gland versus exocrine gland?
Endocrine gland
Always secrete into bloodstream
act far from point of origin
Exocrine gland
Secrete through ducts
example (sweat, mammary, digestive)
Autocrine versus Paracrine
Autocrine hormones act on the same cell that produces them (immune system)
Paracrine hormones act on organs or cells that are close by (hypothalamus on pituitary gland)
Hypothalamus in the endocrine system?
Main control center for the endocrine system.
Link the endocrine and nervous systems, and send signals to the pituitary gland that guides most of the endocrine glands.
It releases hormones that act on the pituitary to release another hormone that affects another gland.
What hormones does the hypothalamus produce (make)?
ADH (anti-diuretic hormone)
Oxytocin
What does ADH do?
ANTI-diuretic hormone means LESS production of urine
Less urine means an increase in blood volume
What does Oxytocin do?
Act during labor and delivery (cervical dilation, uterine contraction, milk release for the baby to feed)
What is the pituitary gland?
Produces all the other hormones in the endocrine gland.
It has two portions: anterior and posterior, hypothalamus acts on both
Thyroid gland function?
Produces two hormones called T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine).
They both regulate metabolism.
Parathyroid gland function?
Have 4 small glands
Produces PTH (parathyroid hormone) and it regulates the body’s calcium level
Adrenal gland function?
Found on top of the kidneys
Divided into an outer cortex and inner medulla
What is the adrenal cortex’s function?
Make steroid hormones: mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens
What do mineralocorticoids do?
Help regulate electrolyte (salt) balance and hence fluid volume (for example aldosterone)
What do Glucocorticoids do?
They function in the regulation of metabolism and inflammation (for example cortisol;
aka cortex produces cortisol)
What do androgens do?
Sex hormones are produced in precursor forms and then converted by the gonads later on.
What is the adrenal medulla’s function?
The medulla produces catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline or epinephrine and norepinephrine),
They play a role in your body’s fight-or-flight response.
What is the pancreas’ function?
The pancreas hormones help regulate blood sugar, through two hormones: insulin and glucagon.
What are the gonad’s functions?
in females, ovaries make estrogen and progesterone
in males, the testes make testosterone
These are important for secondary sexual characteristics.
How does the hypothalamus send signals to the anterior pituitary?
Through a network of capillaries, called the hypophyseal portal system (that is a paracrine system since glands are next to each other)
How does the hypothalamus communicate with the posterior pituitary?
Through nerves called the hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract.
GONADOTROPIN RELEASING HORMONE (GnRH)
GnRH released by the hypothalamus leads the anterior pituitary to release follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone (FSH and LH). FSH and LH act on the gonads to release sex hormones.
CORTICOTROPIN RELEASING HORMONE (CRH)
CRH released by the hypothalamus leads the anterior pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which acts on the adrenal glands to release its hormones.