Endocrine System Flashcards
1
Q
Hormones?
A
- Chemical messengers
- Carry instructions from cell to cell
- Controls energy used, salt and sugar levels
- Control emotions, cycles, impulses
- Transfers signals to organs, skin, tissue via blood
2
Q
How do hormones work?
A
- Released from gland and travels through bloodstream throughout the body until it reaches target destination
- Hormones attach to a receptor cell and controls that specific cell
- Receptor cells are paired with hormones by shape
3
Q
Endocrine system
A
- A hormone system
- Consists of glands which release hormones
4
Q
Principal endocrine glands
A
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary
- Thyroid
- Parathyroids
- Adrenals
- Pineal
- Reproductive glands
5
Q
Hypothalamus
A
- Located in the lower central part of the brain
- Links endocrine and nervous system
- Controls all states of the body by releasing hormones
- Controls hunger, thirst, sleep, emotion, sex drive, etc
- Keeps body in stable state known as homeostasis
- Regulates heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature
6
Q
Link between the endocrine system and the nervous system
A
- Part of the brain therefore part of the nervous system
- Releases some important hormones that control the pituitary gland hormone release
- Produces hormones which stop and start the production of other hormones in the body
7
Q
Pituitary Gland
A
- Pea-sized
- Located at the base of the brain under the hypothalamus
- Creates many essential hormones: growth hormone, metabolism, reproduction
- ‘Master gland’
- Regulates the system by controlling several other endocrine glands
8
Q
Thyroid
A
- Located at the front part of lower neck
- Creates thyroid hormones: thyroxine and triiodothyronine
- Controls rate cells burn fuel from food
- Thyroid hormones increase rate of chemical reactions in the body
- Helps develop adolescent bones, nervous system, brain
9
Q
Parathyroids
A
- Four tiny glands connected to the bottom of thyroid gland
- Releases parathyroid hormone: calcitonin (which controls calcium levels of blood)
10
Q
Adrenals
A
- 2 in the body, each on top of a kidney
- Triangular
- Creates several hormones to regulate functions: metabolism, blood pressure, response to stress
11
Q
Pineal
A
- Middle of the brain
- Releases melatonin hormone, regulates sleep schedule
12
Q
Reproductive glands
A
- Testes (men) Ovaries (women)
- Control: Puberty, menstrual cycle, reproduction
13
Q
Important hormones
A
Glucagon, Insulin, Growth hormone, Adrenaline
14
Q
Insulin
A
- Regulates blood sugar levels/controls amount of glucose in bloodstream
- Created by pancreas
- Allows glucose to enter cells to generate energy
- Stores glucose in the body
- Released when blood sugar levels are high
15
Q
Glucagon
A
- Regulates blood sugar levels/controls amount of glucose in bloodstream
- Created by pancreas
- Released when blood sugar levels are low
- Instructs liver to release stored glucose when sugar levels are low
