Endocrine System Flashcards
(152 cards)
The endocrine system influences metabolic activity by means of _________.
hormones
Steroidal or amino acid-based molecules released to the blood that act as chemical messengers to regulate specific body functions. Long-distance chemical signals that travel in blood or lymph throughout the body.
Hormones
- Initiates responses rapidly
- Short-duration responses
- Acts via action potentials and neurotransmitters
- Acts at specific locations determined by axon pathways
- Neurotransmitters act over very short distances
Nervous System
- Initiates responses slowly
- Long-duration responses
- Acts via hormones released into the blood
- Acts at diffuse locations-targets can be anywhere blood reaches
- Hormones act over long distances
Endocrine System
The scientific study of hormones and the endocrine organs is called
Endocrinology
Two kinds of glands are:
Endocrine Glands
Exocrine Glands
Produce nonhormonal substances, such as sweat and saliva, and have ducts that carry these substances to a membrane surface.
Exocrine glands
Also called ductless glands, produce hormones and lack ducts. They release their hormones into the surrounding tissue fluid, and typically have a rich vascular and lymphatic drainage that receives their hormones.
Endocrine glands
Most of the hormone-producing cells in ________ _______ are arranged in cords and branching networks, which maximizes contact between them and the surrounding capillaries.
endocrine glands
The hypothalamus, along with its neural functions, also produces and releases hormones, so we consider the hypothalamus a ________ _________
neuroendocrine organ
The endocrine glands include:
- Pituitary
- Thyroid
- Parathyroid
- Adrenal
- Pineal Glands
Organs that contain endocrine tissue include:
- Pancreas
- Gonads (ovaries/testes)
- Placenta
The major processes that hormones control and integrate include:
- Reproduction
- Growth and development
- Maintenance of electrolyte, water, and nutrient balance of the blood
- Regulation of cellular metabolism and energy
- Mobilization of body defenses
Short-distance chemical signals that exert their effects on the same cells that secrete them. For example, certain prostaglandins released by smooth muscle cells cause those smooth muscle cells to contract.
Autocrines
Short-distance chemical signals. They act locally (within the same tissue) but affect cell types other than those releasing the paracrine chemicals. For example, somatostatin released by one population of pancreatic cells inhibits the release of insulin by a different population of pancreatic cells.
Paracrines
A hormone’s chemical structure determines one of its critical properties: its ________ in water
solubility
A hormones ______ _______ affects how that hormone is transported in the blood, how long it lasts before it is degraded, and what receptors it can act upon.
water solubility
Most hormones are based on _____ ______. Molecular size varies widely in this group—from simple amino acid derivatives, to peptides, to proteins. These hormones are usually water soluble and cannot cross the plasma membrane.
amino acids
Include biogenetic amines (e.g. epinephrine) and thyroxine.
amino acid derivatives
Short chains of amino acids
peptides
Long polymers of amino acids
proteins
A class of lipids derived from (and including) cholesterol; act as hormones and as constituents of phospholipid bilayer membranes.
Steroids
Of the hormones produced by the major endocrine organs, only ______ and __________ hormones are steroids. These hormones are all lipid soluble and can cross the plasma membrane.
gonadal; adrenocortical
Signaling chemicals that mediate inflammation and some allergic reactions
Leukotrienes