biological terms for psychology Flashcards
sit atop our kidneys and secrete hormones involved in the stress response, such as epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline).
adrenal gland
people who suffer from this do not produce enough insulin; therefore, they must take medications that stimulate or replace insulin production, and they must closely control the amount of sugars and carbohydrates they consume.
diabetes
consists of a series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones that talk to other glands and other parts of the body (muscles, stomach, blood vessels)
endocrine system
allows the body access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that it might fight off a threat or run away to safety.
fight or flight response
secrete sexual hormones, which are important in reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation and behavior. The female version are called ovaries; the male version are called the testes.
gonad
a state of equilibrium, or balance, in which biological conditions (such as body temperature) are maintained at optimal levels.
homeostasis
secreted by your glands, flow through the bloodstream; are chemical messengers that must bind to a receptor in order to send their signal. However, unlike neurotransmitters, which are released in close proximity to cells with their receptors, these are secreted into the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, affecting any cells that contain receptors for them. Thus, whereas neurotransmitters’ effects are localized, the effects of these are widespread. Also, they are slower to take effect, and tend to be longer lasting.
hormone
what neurons use to communicate with each other or their effector organs, across a synapse
neurotransmitter
Together with adrenaline, this increases heart rate and blood pumping from the heart. It also increases blood pressure and helps break down fat and increase blood sugar levels to provide more energy to the body.
norepinephrine
an internal organ that secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar levels: insulin and glucagon. These hormones are essential for maintaining stable levels of blood sugar throughout the day by lowering blood glucose levels (insulin) or raising them (glucagon).
pancreas
keeps things real/helps brain understand what is going on through our senses, like a spy
peripheral nervous system
descends from the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and acts in close association with it. This is often referred to as the “master gland” because its messenger hormones control all the other glands in the endocrine system, although it mostly carries out instructions from the hypothalamus. In addition to messenger hormones, this also secretes growth hormones, endorphins for pain relief, and a number of key hormones that regulate fluid levels in the body.
pituitary gland
releases hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite.
thyroid glands
controls the heart and digestive tract among other functions
vagus nerve in the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)
