Endocrine System Flashcards
Name some examples of endocrine glands
Hypothalamus Anterior/posterior pituitary Thyroid Parathyroid Adrenal cortex and medulla Pineal gland Testes/ovaries/placenta Pancrease Kidneys/liver/GIT/thymus
True or false
The endocrine system has ducts
FALSE
the endocrine system is a group of ductless glands
What are the functions of the endocrine system
Maintaining homeostasis
Driving change (growth/lactation/pregnancy)
How does the endocrine system fulfill its functions
By releasing hormones
Endocrine glands ____, ___ and then ___ hormones directly into the bloodstream
Synthesize
Store
Secrete
What are hormones
Chemical messengers
Communication and control molecules
When are hormones secreted
In response to a stimulus
True or false
Any hormone can bind to any receptor
FALSE
hormones have specific receptors at specific target organs (these receptors only respond to their specific hormone)
Secretion of hormones is mainly controlled by
Negative feedback
What is negative feedback
A feedback mechanism resulting in the inhibition or slowing of a process
Ex. Signals are sent to stop or decrease production/release of hormones
What else can secretion of hormones be controlled by
Positive feedback
Nervous stimulation
What is positive feedback
Senses something which increases production/secretion
Ex. Nursing stimulates prolactin release with stimulates more milk production
What is nervous stimulation in hormone secretion
The sympathetic nervous system causes a release of adrenalin (epinephrine) during the fight or flight response
Or
Physical stimulation causes the release of a hormone (oxytocin)
What are some characteristics of the hypothalamus
Part of the base of the brain
Links the cerebrum to the endocrine
system (consciousness of hormones)
Regulates appetite, body temp, and sleep and wake cycles
How is the hypothalamus connected to the pituitary gland
The pituitary is a gland attached to the base of the hypothalamus by a thin stalk of nerves and blood vessels
What is the “master gland” of the endocrine system
The pituitary gland
The blood vessels form a portal system between the ____ pituitary and the hypothalamus
Anterior
Explain the portal system between the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary
When the hypothalamus recieves a stimulus from the CNS it secretes hormones into its portal system to regulate pituitary hormone secretion
What is a portal system
Vessels that begin and end in the capillaries, a way to transport secretions directly from one tissue to another
The nervous connection between the posterior pituitary and the hypothalamus allows
Direct transport of oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
(These are made in the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary and released on stimulation by nerve impulses from the hypothalamus)
What kind of hormones does the hypothalamus release
Releasing or inhibiting hormones that affect the secretion of another hormone
What are some characteristics of the pituitary gland (hypophysis)
Controls other endocrine glands
Size of a small pea/bean
Attached to hypothalamus by a stalk and seated in a pocket of the sphenoid bone of the skull
Has a glandular anterior portion and a nervous posterior portion
How many hormones does the anterior pituitary produce and what are they
7 Growth hormone Prolactin Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) Luteinizing hormone (LH) Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)
The release of hormones from the anterior pituitary is controlled by what
The appropriate releasing or inhibiting hormone from the hypothalamus