Endocrine System

Question 1

What glands make up the endocrine system?

Answer 1

The thyroid, pancreas, adrenal glands, and pituitary gland.

Question 2

What do glands in the endocrine system produce?

Answer 2

Hormones that control body functions like metabolism, growth, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood.

Question 3

What are hormones?

Answer 3

Chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream, carrying messages between cells (e.g., from the brain to the ovaries or testes).

Question 4

Name three common illnesses related to the endocrine system.

Answer 4

Diabetes, hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

Question 5

What is hyperthyroidism?

Answer 5

An overactive thyroid.

Question 6

What is hypothyroidism?

Answer 6

An underactive thyroid.

Question 7

Who treats hormone-related diseases?

Answer 7

An endocrinologist.

Question 8

What is the main role of the endocrine system?

Answer 8

To produce hormones that help maintain homeostasis—the body’s internal balance.

Question 9

How do hormones from the endocrine system reach their target?

Answer 9

They are released into the bloodstream and affect specific target organs or tissues.

Question 10

Name 5 main functions the endocrine system helps regulate.

Answer 10

Chemical composition and volume of internal environment, metabolism and energy balance, contraction of smooth and cardiac muscle fibres, glandular secretions, and immune system activity.

Question 11

What are three other key functions of the endocrine system?

Answer 11

Helping establish circadian rhythms, regulating reproductive systems, and controlling growth and development.

Question 12

How do hormones reach their target cells?

Answer 12

By traveling through the bloodstream and binding to hormone receptors on or inside the target cell.

Question 13

Where are hormone receptors found on target cells?

Answer 13

On the outside or inside of the target cell.

Question 14

What is up-regulation in hormone sensitivity?

Answer 14

The body makes more receptors, making it more sensitive to the hormone.

Question 15

What is down-regulation in hormone sensitivity?

Answer 15

The body makes fewer receptors, making it less sensitive to the hormone.

Question 16

What types of signals regulate when and how much hormone is released?

Answer 16

Ions and proteins in the blood, blood glucose levels, levels of other hormones, and nervous system signals.

Question 17

How do ions and proteins in the blood regulate hormone release?

Answer 17

For example, calcium levels affect parathyroid hormone release.

Question 18

How does blood glucose level affect hormone release?

Answer 18

High glucose levels trigger insulin release.

Question 19

How do levels of other hormones regulate hormone release?

Answer 19

Hormones can stimulate or stop the release of other hormones.

Question 20

How does the nervous system influence hormone release?

Answer 20

Stress signals from the brain can trigger adrenaline release.

Question 21

What is autocrine signalling?

Answer 21

When a cell releases a chemical that acts on itself to regulate its own activity.

Question 22

What is paracrine signalling?

Answer 22

Chemicals are released to affect nearby cells in the local area, coordinating functions among neighbouring cells.

Question 23

What is endocrine signalling?

Answer 23

Hormones are released into the bloodstream and travel to distant cells or organs to cause a response.

Question 24

Why is endocrine signalling important?

Answer 24

It enables long-distance communication in the body, controlling functions like growth, metabolism, and reproduction.

Question 25

What is the function of tears?

Answer 25

Produced by glands near the eyes to protect and lubricate the eye surface.

Question 26

What is the role of hydrochloric acid in the body?

Answer 26

Secreted by stomach cells to help digest food and kill bacteria.

Question 27

What does bile do, and where is it made and stored?

Answer 27

Made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, bile helps digest fats in the small intestine.

Question 28

Which glands produce hormones, and give two examples?

Answer 28

Produced by endocrine glands like the thyroid, adrenal glands, and pancreas. Examples include insulin (controls blood sugar) and adrenaline (prepares the body for ‘fight or flight’).

Question 29

What are endocrine glands?

Answer 29

Ductless glands that secrete hormones into blood capillaries, which the bloodstream carries to target cells throughout the body.

Question 30

Name some examples of endocrine glands.

Answer 30

Pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pineal gland, and also pancreas, ovaries, and testes in some functions.

Question 31

What are exocrine glands?

Answer 31

Glands that secrete products into ducts, which carry secretions to body cavities, organ lumens, or the body's surface; these secretions do not enter the bloodstream directly.

Question 32

Name some examples of exocrine glands.

Answer 32

Sudoriferous glands (sweat), sebaceous glands (oil), mucous glands, digestive glands (e.g., salivary glands, gastric glands, pancreas – exocrine part).

Question 33

What are the main functions of the thyroid gland?

Answer 33

Regulating basal metabolic rate (BMR), body temperature, use of glucose/fatty acids/cholesterol, increasing beta receptors for sympathetic nervous system activity, and affecting growth with human growth hormone.

Question 34

What structures in the thyroid gland produce hormones?

Answer 34

Small sacs called follicles.

Question 35

What hormones are produced by the thyroid gland follicles?

Answer 35

Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3).

Question 36

What cells in the thyroid gland produce calcitonin?

Answer 36

Parafollicular cells (also called C cells).

Question 37

Which hormone does the hypothalamus secrete to regulate the thyroid?

Answer 37

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH).

Question 38

What is the role of TRH in thyroid hormone regulation?

Answer 38

TRH stimulates the pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).

Question 39

What does thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) do?

Answer 39

It stimulates the thyroid gland to produce and release T3 and T4 hormones.

Question 40

What happens when thyroid hormone levels (T3 and T4) are high?

Answer 40

They send a negative feedback signal to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.

Question 41

What is the effect of the negative feedback signal on TRH and TSH secretion?

Answer 41

It reduces secretion of TRH and TSH, lowering stimulation of the thyroid gland.

Question 42

What happens to the thyroid gland when TSH stimulation decreases?

Answer 42

The thyroid gland stops secreting hormones.

Question 43

What is the role of the pituitary gland in the endocrine system?

Answer 43

It controls many other endocrine glands by releasing hormones that regulate their activity.

Question 44

How does the hypothalamus interact with the pituitary gland?

Answer 44

The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland and links the nervous system to the endocrine system.

Question 45

What body functions does the hypothalamus regulate?

Answer 45

Temperature, hunger, and thirst.

Question 46

What is the primary hormone produced by the parathyroid glands?

Answer 46

Parathyroid hormone (PTH).

Question 47

What does parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulate?

Answer 47

Calcium levels in the blood.

Question 48

Besides calcium, what else does PTH help regulate?

Answer 48

Levels of phosphorus and vitamin D in both the blood and bones.

Question 49

Why is calcium important in the body?

Answer 49

It is one of the most important and common minerals in the body.

Question 50

What happens when blood calcium levels decrease?

Answer 50

The parathyroid glands detect the drop and secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH).

Question 51

How does parathyroid hormone (PTH) respond to low blood calcium?

Answer 51

It causes calcium release from bones and increases calcium reabsorption from the kidneys into the bloodstream.

Question 52

What happens if blood calcium levels become too high?

Answer 52

The parathyroid glands reduce PTH production.

Question 53

Why is blood calcium homeostasis an example of negative feedback?

Answer 53

Because the response (adjusting PTH) opposes the original change to maintain balance.