Endocrine Glands

Question 1

Anterior Pituitary Gland - Hormones

Answer 1

• Human Growth Hormone (hGH)
• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
• Prolactin
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
• Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone (ICSH)

Question 2

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Answer 2

Anterior Pituitary Gland
Target Organ: Ovaries and Testes
- Females: Stimulates ovarian follicle maturation and production of estrogens
- Males: Stimulates sperm production
Hyposecretion - Failure of sexual maturation

Question 3

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

Answer 3

Anterior Pituitary Gland
Target Organ: Ovaries and testes
- Females: Triggers ovulation, stimulates ovarian production of estrogens and progesterone
- Males: Promotes testosterone production
Hyposecretion - Failure of sexual maturation

Question 4

Prolactin (PRL)

Answer 4

Anterior Pituitary Gland
Target Organ: Breast secretory tissue
- Promotes lactation
Hyposecretion - Poor milk production in nursing women
Hypersecretion - Inappropriate milk production, cessation of menses in females, impotence in males

Question 5

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Answer 5

Anterior Pituitary Gland
Target Organ: Thyroid gland
- Stimulates release of thyroid hormone
Hyposecretion - Cretinism in children; myxedema in adults
Hypersecretion - Similar to Graves’ disease, antibodies mimic TSH

Question 6

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)

Answer 6

Anterior Pituitary Gland
Target Organ: Adrenal cortex
-Promotes release of glucocorticoids and androgens
Hypersecretion - Cushing’s Disease

Question 7

Human Growth Hormone (hGH) | Location, target, effects and imbalances

Answer 7

Anterior Pituitary Gland
Target Organ: Liver, muscle, bone, cartilage, tissues, etc
- Stimulates somatic growth, mobilizes fats, spares glucose
Hyposecretion - Pituitary dwarfism in children
Hypersecretion - Gigantism in children; acromegaly in adults

Question 8

Posterior Pituitary Gland - Hormones

Answer 8

• Oxytocin
• Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) = Vasopressin

Question 9

Oxytocin

Answer 9

Posterior Pituitary
Target Organ: Uterus, breast
-Stimulates uterine contractions; initiates labor
-Initiates milk ejection
No known effects of hypo/hypersecretion

Question 10

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) or Vasopressin | Location, Target, Effects & Imbalances

Answer 10

Posterior Pituitary
Target Organ: Kidneys
- Stimulate kidney tubule cells to reabsorb water
Hyposecretion - Diabetes insipidus
Hypersecretion - Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH)

Question 11

Pineal Gland

Answer 11

Melatonin

Question 12

Pancreas

Answer 12

• Glucagon: Prevents blood sugar dropping too low
• Insulin: Prevents blood sugar rising too high

Question 13

Adrenal Gland

Answer 13

Mineralocorticoids
Glucocorticoids
Gonadocorticoids
Epinephrine
Norepinephrine

Question 14

Ovaries

Answer 14

Estrogen
Progesterone

Question 15

Testes

Answer 15

Testosterone

Question 16

Thyroid Hormone (TH): Functions

Answer 16

• Major metabolic hormone, increases metabolic rate
• Maintenance of blood pressure
• Regulation of tissue growth
• Development of skeletal and nervous system
• Reproductive Capabilities

Question 17

Thyroid Hormone (TH): Imbalances

Answer 17

Hypo secretion in adults - myxedema; endemic goiter if due to lack of iodine
Hyposecretion in infants - cretinism
Hypersecretion - Graves’ disease

Question 18

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH): Functions

Answer 18

• Stimulates osteoclasts to digest bone matrix
• Enhances reabsorption of Ca2+ and secretion of phosphate by the kidneys
  -Promotes activation of Vitamin D
• Negative feedback control: Rising Ca2+ inhibits PTH release

Question 19

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH):

Answer 19

Hyperparathyroidism - Bones soften and deform; elevated Ca2+ depresses nervous system and contributes to formation of kidney stones
Hypoparathyroidism - Tetany, respiratory paralysis and death

Question 20

Adrenal Glands: Structure

Answer 20

Adrenal Medulla and Adrenal Cortex
Medulla: Nervous tissue; sympathetic nervous system
Cortex: Three layers of glandular tissue, synthesize and secrete corticosteroids
-Paired organs atop the kidneys
- 2 glands in 1, structurally and functionally

Question 21

Mineralocorticoids (Aldosterone)

Answer 21

Adrenal Gland
Target Organ: Kidney
- Maintain blood volume and pressure
- Maintain circulating potassium
- Hypersecretion = hyperaldosteronism

Question 22

Glucocorticoids (Cortisol)

Answer 22

Adrenal Cortex
Target Organ: Liver, muscle
- Keep blood sugar constant
- Maintain blood pressure, increase action of vasoconstrictors
- Gluconeogenesis - formation of glucose from fats and proteins

Question 23

Glucocorticoids (Cortisol) Imbalances

Answer 23

Adrenal Cortex
Hypersecretion - Cushing’s Syndrome
- Depresses cartilage and bone formation
- Inhibits inflammation
- Depresses immune system
-Promotes change in cardiovascular, neural and gastrointestinal function
Hyposecretion - Addison’s disease & Deficits in mineralocorticoids
- Decrease in glucose
- Weight loss, severe dehydration and hypotension

Question 24

Gonadocorticoids

Answer 24

Adrenal Cortex
- Mostly androgens
- Converted to testosterone in tissue cells / estrogen in females
Contributes to
- Onset of puberty
- Appearance of secondary sex characteristics, etc

Question 25

Adrenal Medulla

Answer 25

Chromaffin cells secrete epinephrine (80%) and norepinephrine (20%)
- Blood glucose levels rise
- Blood vessels constrict
-Heart beats faster
-Blood diverted to brain, heart and skeletal muscle
- Epinephrine stimulates metabolic activities, bronchial dilation and blood flow to muscles and heart