Endocrine

Question 1

What are the major endocrine glands?

Answer 1

Parathyroid, Pineal, Pituitary, Thyroid, Adrenal, Pancreas, Ovaries, Testes.

Question 2

What do endocrine glands do?

Answer 2

They secrete hormones into the blood that travel to target organs to cause metabolic effects.

Question 3

What is a hormone?

Answer 3

A chemical substance secreted into the blood that affects certain organs of the body.

Question 4

What are the two types of hormones?

Answer 4

Protein-based (made from amino acids) and steroid-based (made from cholesterol and fat).

Question 5

What are the three types of hormone secretion triggers?

Answer 5

Humoral stimuli, Neural stimuli, Hormonal stimuli.

Question 6

What are examples of humoral stimuli?

Answer 6

Changes in blood levels of ions/nutrients (e.g., Ca, Na, glucose).

Question 7

What are examples of neural stimuli?

Answer 7

Nerve fibers stimulate hormone release (e.g., adrenaline release by the sympathetic nervous system).

Question 8

What are examples of hormonal stimuli?

Answer 8

One hormone stimulates another gland to release a hormone (e.g., pituitary signals thyroid to release thyroid hormone).

Question 9

How does an endocrine gland stop secreting hormones?

Answer 9

Through negative feedback – when the hormone corrects the issue, the gland stops secretion.

Question 10

What are the two lobes of the pituitary gland?

Answer 10

Anterior Pituitary (5 hormones) & Posterior Pituitary (2 hormones).

Question 11

What are the five hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary?

Answer 11

Growth Hormone (GH), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), Gonadotropins (FSH & LH), Prolactin (PRL).

Question 12

What are the two hormones secreted by the posterior pituitary?

Answer 12

Oxytocin and Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH).

Question 13

What does oxytocin do?

Answer 13

Stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth & milk ejection during breastfeeding.

Question 14

What does ADH do?

Answer 14

Prevents dehydration by retaining water in the body.

Question 15

What happens when alcohol blocks ADH?

Answer 15

Increased urination, dehydration, hangover.

Question 16

What happens when excess ADH is secreted?

Answer 16

SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH secretion) – decreased urination, water retention, headache, weight gain.

Question 17

What are the two thyroid hormones?

Answer 17

Thyroid Hormone (TH) (T3 & T4) and Calcitonin.

Question 18

What does thyroid hormone do?

Answer 18

Increases metabolism & body heat production. Needs iodine.

Question 19

What does calcitonin do?

Answer 19

Lowers blood calcium by storing it in bones.

Question 20

What are symptoms of hyperthyroidism?

Answer 20

Increased metabolism, sweating, nervousness, weight loss, protruding eyes (exophthalmos).

Question 21

What are symptoms of hypothyroidism?

Answer 21

Low metabolism, fatigue, constipation, dry skin, goiter (if due to iodine deficiency).

Question 22

What does the parathyroid gland secrete?

Answer 22

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) – Raises blood calcium levels.

Question 23

Why do we need calcium?

Answer 23

Bone strength, Muscle contraction, Nerve signaling.

Question 24

What are the two parts of the adrenal glands, and what do they secrete?

Answer 24

Adrenal Cortex (corticosteroids) and Adrenal Medulla (epinephrine & norepinephrine).

Question 25

What does the adrenal cortex secrete?

Answer 25

Mineralocorticoids, Glucocorticoids, Gonadocorticoids.

Question 26

What is the function of adrenaline?

Answer 26

Triggers 'fight-or-flight' response: Increases blood glucose, Raises blood pressure, Increases heart rate, Dilates lung bronchioles.

Question 27

Which part of the adrenal gland controls short-term stress and which controls long-term stress?

Answer 27

Medulla – Short-term (fight-or-flight), Cortex – Long-term (cortisol).

Question 28

What two hormones does the pancreas produce?

Answer 28

Insulin and Glucagon.

Question 29

What does insulin do?

Answer 29

Lowers blood sugar by moving glucose into cells.

Question 30

What does glucagon do?

Answer 30

Raises blood sugar by releasing stored glucose from the liver.

Question 31

What is the difference between glucose and glycogen?

Answer 31

Glycogen is a storage form of glucose.

Question 32

What happens if the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use it properly?

Answer 32

Diabetes mellitus (high blood sugar).

Question 33

What are symptoms of diabetes?

Answer 33

Polyuria, Polydipsia, Polyphagia.

Question 34

What happens if diabetics take too much insulin?

Answer 34

Hypoglycemia – Low blood sugar, causing dizziness, sweating, and fainting.

Question 35

What hormone does the pineal gland secrete?

Answer 35

Melatonin – Regulates sleep-wake cycle.

Question 36

When does melatonin increase?

Answer 36

At night, making us sleepy.

Question 37

How does the nervous system differ from the endocrine system?

Answer 37

Nervous System uses electrical signals, while Endocrine System uses chemical signals (hormones).

Question 38

What are the key concepts to remember about the endocrine system?

Answer 38

Negative feedback controls hormone secretion, The pituitary gland is the master gland, The adrenal gland is the stress gland, Insulin & glucagon regulate blood sugar, Calcitonin & PTH regulate blood calcium.