Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Anatomy > Endocrine System > Flashcards

Endocrine System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the endocrine system’s actions mediated by?

A

Hormones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Which regulatory systems does the endocrine system control?

A

1- Regulation of cellular metabolism
2- Maintenance of homeostasis
3- Sexual development and reproduction
4- Growth and development from child to adult
5- Modulating long term behaviour such as sleep and mood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the two types of glands?

A

1- Endocrine glands

2- Exocrine glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the main differences between endocrine and exocrine glands?

A

1- Endocrine glands have no ducts and secrete hormone directly into the blood
2- Exocrine glands contains ducts formed by epithelial cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are hormones?

A

1- Chemical messengers

2- Act on target cells through specific receptors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the three classes of hormones?

A

1- Proteins
2- Steroids
3- Amino acid derivatives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe the structure of an exocrine gland.

A

1- Secretory cells
2- Acinus
3- Basement membrane
4- Duct with lumen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What do salivary glands, sebaceous glands and sweat glands all open onto?

A

Skin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What does the pancreatic duct open into?

A

Duodenum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is paracrine secretion?

A

1- Cell-to-cell communication
2- Cell secretes factors which induce changes only in adjacent cells
3- Paracrine factors diffuse over short distances

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are paracrine factors made of?

A

Polypeptides

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why is paracrine secretion relevant/important in embryogenesis?

A

1- Gradients of polypeptides influence developmental change

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the four families of paracrine receptors?

A

1- Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family
2- Hedgehog family
3- WnT family
4- TGF-β superfamily

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the ten organs of the endocrine system?

A 
1- Pineal gland
2- Pituitary gland
3- Hypothalamus
4- Thyroid glands
5- Parathyroid glands
6- Thymus
7- Adrenal glands
8- Pancreas
9- Ovaries
10- Testes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How are steroid and thyroid hormones carried in the blood and why?

A 
1- Via specific carrier/binding proteins
2- Improved solubility
3- Increased half-life
4- Provides a reserve in the blood
5- Inactive until freed from carrier
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How do hormones act?

A

By binding onto receptor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Where can hormone receptors be found?

A

1- Cell membrane receptors

2- Intracellular receptors in the nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What types of hormones bind to cell membrane receptors?

A

1- Peptides
2- Glycoproteins
3- Catecholamines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What types of hormones bind to intracellular receptors in the nucleus?

A

1- Steroids

2- Thyroid hormones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

hat are steroid hormones synthesised from?

A

Cholesterol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are amino acid derived hormones?

A

1- Thyroid hormones

2- E.g. catecholamines such as adrenalin, dopamine and noradrenaline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What does the anterior pituitary develop from?

A

Epithelium of mouth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What does the posterior pituitary develop from?

A

1- Downgrowth of the hypothalamus

2- Consists of nerve fibres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the main endocrine axis/regulation?

A

1- Hypothalamus stimulates pituitary gland

2- Pituitary gland stimulates other distant endocrine organs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Why are target tissues of one hormone another endocrine gland? (What does this allow?)
Allows for amplification and fine control
26
What is the role of the hypothalamus?
1- Stimulates and controls the secretion and release of pituitary hormones 2- Releases hormones to control release of anterior pituitary hormones 3- Secretes hormones which are stored and released by posterior lobe of posterior pituitary gland
27
What is the role of pituitary hormones?
1- Stimulated by pituitary hormones | 2- Stimulate and control other endocrine glands
28
How does the hypothalamus control the anterior pituitary gland?
1- Releases hormones which stimulate anterior pituitary gland 2- E.g. prolactin release is controlled by hypothalamic inhibiting factor
29
What hormones does the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland store and release?
1- Oxytocin | 2- Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) (also called Vasopressin)
30
What six hormones does the anterior pituitary gland secrete?
``` 1- Growth hormone (GH) 2- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) 3- Adrenocortitropic hormone (ACTH) 4- Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) 5- Luteinising hormone (LH) 6- Prolactin ```
31
What does the growth hormone affect?
Stimulates growth of body by increasing levels of glucose free fatty acids to increase cell division
32
What is TSH's target organ?
Thyroid
33
What does prolactin effect?
Lactation/milk production
34
What is ACTH's target organ?
Adrenal glands
35
What is LH's target organ?
Gonads (ovaries or testes)
36
What is FSH's target organ?
Gonads (ovaries or testes)
37
What tissue does the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland consist of?
Neural tissue
38
What is the role of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland?
1- Stores hormones which are secreted when stimulated by neurosecretory hormones from the hypothalamus 2- These hormones are transported via neuronal axis in the stalk to the posterior lobe 3- Releases two hormones: ADH and oxytocin
39
What is the effect of oxytocin?
``` 1- Helps with birth 2- Social bonding 3- Bonding to baby 4- Helps with breastfeeding 5-Helps with contractions when delivering a child ```
40
What is the target organ of ADH?
1- Kidney | 2- Retains water
41
What are the steps of the hypothaamo-hypophyseal-gonadal axis?
1- Hypothalamus secretes GnRH 2- GnRH stimulates hypophysis (pituitary gland) to secrete gonadotrophins 3- Gonadotrophins stimulate gonads to release steroids
42
How is GnRH inhibited?
1- Negative feedback | 2- Inhibited by high levels of gonadal steroids
43
What is a pituitary adenoma?
Tumour which may occur in the pituitary gland
44
What can pituitary adenomas lead to?
``` 1- Acromegaly 2- Excess production of GH 3- Leads to excessive growth 4- Typical features include: a. Large hands and feet b. Large and prominent facial features c. Enlarged tongue d. Abnormally tall height ```
45
What is the cause of acromegaly?
1- Pituitary adenoma | 2- Excess production of GH
46
What are typical features of acromegaly?
1- Large hands and feet 2- Large and prominent facial features 3- Enlarged tongue 4- Abnormally tall height
47
What is the position of the thyroid gland?
Anterior to the trachea in the neck
48
What does the thyroid gland develop from?
Down growth from the tongue, leaves behind foramen caecum
49
Describe the histology of thyroid cells
1- Follicle 2- Follicular cells 3- Colloid
50
What do follicular cells secrete?
1- Tri-iodothyronine (T3) 2- Thyroxine (T4) 3- Secretion requires iodine
51
What substance to follicular cells need to secrete their hormones?
Iodine
52
Where are T3 and T4 stored?
1- In colloid of thyroid cells | 2- Colloid is made of thyrobglobulin
53
What does thyroxin regulate?
1- Rate of metabolism 2- Protein development for growth and development 3- Sensitivity of cells to other hormones
54
What do parafollicular cells produce?
Calcitonin
55
What does calcitonin regulate?
1- Calcium homeostasis | 2- Stimulates osteoblasts
56
What do parathyroid glands develop from?
Wall of the pharynx
57
How many parathyroid glands are there?
Two pairs of glands
58
Where are the parathyroid glands positioned?
Embedded in the posterior aspect of the thyroid
59
What do the parathyroid glands produce?
Parathyroid hormone
60
What does the parathyroid hormone regulate?
1- Calcium homeostasis | 2- Stimulates osteoclasts to break down bone matrix to increase Ca2+ levels in blood
61
Describe the structure and layers of the adrenal glands.
``` 1- Medulla contains neural crest cells 2- Cortex contains three layers: a. Zona glomerulosa b. Zona fasciculata c. Zona reticulatis ```
62
Where does the adrenal cortex develop from?
Mesoderm of posterior abdominal wall
63
What kind of hormones does the adrenal cortex produce?
Steroids
64
What does Z. glomerulosa produce?
1- Mineralocorticoids | 2- E.g. Aldosterone
65
What does Z. fasciculata produce?
1- Glucocorticoids | 2- E.g. cortisol
66
What does Z. reticularis produce?
reticularis produce? 1- Sex steroids 2- E.g. androgens
67
Where does the adrenal medulla develop from?
From neural crest cells or from neuroectoderm
68
What are chromaffin cells?
1- Cells in the adrenal medulla | 2- Produce catecholamines e.g. epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine
69
What does the adrenal medulla have a direct connection with?
1- Sympathetic nervous system | 2- Helps control fight or flight response
70
What do chromaffin cells produce?
1- Catecholamines: 2- Epinephrine 3- Norepinephrine 4- Dopamine
71
What is Cushing's syndrome?
``` 1- Condition caused by overproduction of cortisol 2- Typical indications: a. hypertension b. round red face c. abdominal obesity ```
72
What are indications of Cushing's syndrome?
1- Hypertension 2- Round, red face 3- Abdominal obesity
73
What does the pancreas develop from?
1- Outgrowth of the gut tube | 2- Closely associated with development of gall bladder
74
Where do pancreatic ducts empty into?
Duodenum
75
What does the exocrine pancreas produce?
1- Pancreatic amylase | 2- By acinar cells
76
What does the endocrine pancreas produce?
1- Glucagon 2- By alpha cells in islets of Langerhans 3- Insulin 4- By beta cells in islets of Langerhans
77
What is an excretory duct?
Generally excretes waste products
78
What is the structure of the intestinal glands?
Simple tubular
79
What is the structure of the sweat glands?
Simple coiled tubular
80
What is the structure of the stomach and uterus?
Simple tubular branched
81
What is the structure of the sebaceous glands of the skin?
Simple acinar or alveolar gland
82
What are colloid cells made of
Thyroglobulin

Anatomy (20 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions