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Endocrine System Flashcards

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1
Q

Define Chemical Coordination:

A

Chemical coordination is described as a slow, prolonged process of communicating information through the body.

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2
Q

What is responsible for chemical coordination?

A

The endocrine system is responsible for chemical coordination.

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3
Q

What releases hormones?

A

Endocrine glands release hormones.

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4
Q

The endocrine system works with the ____?

A

The endocrine system works with the nervous system.

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5
Q

What does the nervous system use to send messages?

A

The nervous system uses electrical impulses to send messages.

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6
Q

Define a hormone:

A

A hormone is an organic chemical substance that is used to carry information from one part of the body to another, to regulate metabolic function.

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7
Q

What secretes hormones, and where are they released into?

A

Endocrine glands secrete hormones, which are released into bodily fluids like blood, which carry the hormones to the target cells.

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8
Q

What responds to hormones?

A

Target cells that express a specific receptor for that hormone respond.

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9
Q

What can hormones be made out of?

A

-Some are made of proteins - insulin, thyroxine.
-Some are made of fats - steroids -> testosterone.

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10
Q

What are the properties of hormones?

A
  • Either a fat or a protein.
  • Powerful in small concentrations.
  • Very short life.
  • Can stimulate target cells to release another hormone.
  • Do not operate in isolation but in conjunction with other hormones and the central nervous system.
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11
Q

What is an endocrine gland & how many different types are there?

A

An endocrine gland is a vascular, ductless gland that secretes hormones.

  • There are nine different types.
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12
Q

What does vascular mean?

A

Vascular relates to vessels of the body, especially the arteries & veins that carry blood and lymph.

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13
Q

What is the difference between endocrine & exocrine glands?

A
  • Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the blood -> bypassing the ducts.
  • Exocrine glands secrete chemical substances through the ducts onto your body’s surface. (outside the body)
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14
Q

Define homeostasis?

A

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment despite changes in the external environment of the organism.

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15
Q

Why is it important for organisms to remain in homeostasis?

A

For cells, therefore, the body to function properly, the internal environment needs to stay stable in terms of temperature, water concentrations, electrolytes, carbon dioxide, oxygen, glucose, and other solutes and pH.

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16
Q

How is homeostasis maintained?

A

Any non-ideal changes that occur need to be detected and then changed in order to return to ideal state.

  • This is done through negative feedback.
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17
Q

Define negative feedback:

A
  • A major mechanism that allows for the detection and correction that occurs during homeostasis.

∴ Negative feedback is the mechanism by which animals maintain a constant state.

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18
Q

When does negative feedback occur & what does it do?

A
  • Negative feedback occurs when the system is disturbed.
  • It sets off a sequence of events which counteract the disturbance & tends to restore system to original state.
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19
Q

List the nine endocrine glands:

A
  • Pineal
  • Hypothalamus
  • Pituitary gland
  • thyroid gland
  • thymus
  • pancreas
  • adrenal glands
  • kidneys
  • gonads
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20
Q

Name the two different parts of the pituitary gland:

A

Anterior lobe - releases hormones through blood.

Posterior lobe - releases hormones through nerves.

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21
Q

What hormones does the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland release?

A
  • growth hormone
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • prolactin
  • thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
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22
Q

What does LH (Luteinizing hormone) do?
- in males?
- in females?

A

IN males -> it stimulates the cell of Leydig to produce testosterone.

IN females -> it stimulates ovulation.

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23
Q

What does STH (growth hormone/somatotropin) do?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Promotes growth by stimulating protein synthesis.
  • Promotes skeletal & muscular growth.
24
Q

What does TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) do?

Study These Flashcards
A

Stimulates the thyroid to produce thyroxin.

25
What does FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone) do? - in males? - in females?
IN males -> it activates epithelial cells to produce sperm cells. IN females -> it stimulates the formation of the primary follicle.
26
What does prolactin do?
It stimulates the mammary glands to produce milk after birth.
27
What are the hormones of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland?
- ADH (Antidiuretic hormone) - Oxytocin
28
Where is ADH (Antidiuretic hormone) produced and stored?
ADH is produced and stored in the hypothalamus & stored in the posterior lobe.
29
What does ADH (Antidiuretic hormone) do?
ADH controls water reabsorption in the kidneys.
30
When is ADH (Antidiuretic hormone) released?
ADH is released when dehydrated -> the hypothalamus stimulates the posterior lobe to release ADH.
31
Where is oxytocin produced & where is it released from?
Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus & released by the posterior lobe.
32
What is the function of oxytocin?
Oxytocin causes contractions of the uterus during labour.
33
Define a positive feedback loop:
A process where an initial change stimulates further changes in the same direction, amplifying the effect and potentially destabilising the system.
34
Does oxytocin produce a positive or negative feedback loop and why?
A positive feedback loop is caused as the release of oxytocin stimulates the pituitary gland to release more of it.
35
What happens if there is an irregular amount of STH (growth hormone/somatotropin) released?
- too little in babies -> pituitary dwarfism (underdeveloped skeleton) - too much in babies -> gigantism - too much in adults -> acromegaly
36
What is Acromegaly & what causes it?
It is the overproduction of growth hormones in adults. - Normally caused by a rare tumor in the pituitary gland. - The bones can only thicken due to inactive growth plates, which results in large hands, jawbone, and brows.
37
What does the thyroid produce?
The thyroid produces thyroxin.
38
What does thyroxin do?
- It increases metabolic rate (energy needed to function at rest) - It increases breathing & heart rate. - Stimulates the growth & development of your organs. - Essential for the functioning of the nervous system.
39
Does thyroxin cause a negative or positive feedback loop?
A negative feedback loop that regulates thyroid hormone levels and maintains homeostasis.
40
What is hyperthyroidism & what are the symptoms?
- Overproduction of the thyroid hormone. - Symptoms: -enlarged thyroid -exophthalmos -heart intolerance -anxiety
41
Name two parts of the adrenal gland:
-Adrenal Cortex -Adrenal Medulla
42
What does the adrenal medulla produce?
It produces adrenaline - released during times of high stress (fight or flight hormone)
43
What effect does adrenaline have on your body?
- Accelerate heart rate - increases blood pressure - increases the conversion of glycogen to glucose - increased breathing rate - increased muscle tone - increased sweat production - dilated pupils
44
What are two different cells in the pancreas?
- Alpha cells - Beta cells
45
What do the alpha cells release, and what do they do?
It releases glucagon Process: - glucagon is released - converts glycogen to glucose - glucose released from liver & muscles - blood glucose levels increase.
46
What do the beta cells produce, and what does it do?
Beta cells produce insulin. Process: - insulin is secreted when blood glucose levels are high. - causes blood glucose levels to drop. - stimulates the conversion of glucose to glycogen. - glycogen is stored in the liver & muscles. - stimulates the absorption of glucose by the body cells. - cellular respiration.
47
When does type 1 diabetes occur?
It occurs in young adults & children as a result of an autoimmune response leading to a deficiency or absence of insulin.
48
How is type 1 diabetes treated?
- It is treated with daily insulin injections after meals and by management of diet. - Testing sugar levels regularly with a fingerprick. - Treatment can now also involve pancreas transplants & by using stem cells to produce functioning beta cells.
49
What is type II diabetes, and what causes it?
- It is insulin resistance - Caused by poor lifestyle habits, and therefore is the most common type of diabetes.
50
List diabetic complications:
- Retinopathy -> blood vessels distort in retina & impair vision. - Glaucoma -> build up of pressure in eye, damaging optic nerve. - Nerve damage. - Body ulcers & lack of circulation to extremities. - Elevated blood glucose levels responsible for blood vessels clogging & damage & elevated blood pressure.
51
What are the different types of Gonads?
Testis -> males Ovary -> females
52
What are the different parts of the testis?
- Seminiferous tubules - Epididymis - Leydig cells
53
What do the Leydig cells produce & what does it do?
Produces testosterone - stimulates secondary sexual characteristics - development of male sex organ - necessary for maturation of sperm & quality of sperm.
54
What are the different parts of the ovary?
- Follicles - Corpus Luteum
55
What do the Follicles produce & what does it do?
It produces Oestrogen. - promotes secondary sexual characteristics - development of female sex organs - thickens endometrium - inhibits FSH
56
What does the corpus luteum produce, and what does it do?
Progesterone - thickens & maintains endometrium - inhibits the production of FSH and LH
57
What is male hypergonadism?
Too little testosterone is produced - results in decrease in sperm count or irregular sperm. - causes infertility.

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