Hormonal Communication Flashcards
(22 cards)
Why are hormones called ‘chemical messengers’
They carry information from one part of the body to another
Compare the adrenal cortex to the medulla
Adrenal cortex is the outer region - produces hormones that are vital for life e.g. Cortisol and aldosterone
Adrenal medulla is the inner region- produces non-essential hormones e.g. Adrenaline
Describe the journey of a hormone around the body
- Hormones are transported in blood plasma
- Diffuse out of blood and bind to specific receptors, found on membranes
- Once bound hormones stimulate target cells to produced response
What are the hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex
Glucocorticoids
Mineralocorticoids
Androgens
What are glucocorticoids
Help to regulate metabolism, blood pressure and cardio vascular function in response to stress
What are mineralcorticoids
Help to control blood pressure
What are androgens
Small amounts of male and female sex hormones
What 2 hormones are secreted by the medulla
Adrenaline
Noradrenaline
What’s the role of adrenaline
Increases heart rate sending blood quickly to muscles and brain, rapidly increasing blood glucose levels
What’s the role of noradrenaline
Response to stress, increases heart rate, widens pupils and narrows blood vessels to non-essential organs
Describe a steroid hormone
Lipid - soluble
Pass through lipid component of plasma membrane and bind to form hormone-receptors
Hormone-receptor complex formed acts as transcript
e.g. Oestrogen
Describe non-steroid hormones
Hydrophilic so cannot pass directly through membrane
They bind to specific receptors on the plasma membrane
Triggers cascade reaction mediated by second messenger
Eg. Adrenaline
What is exocrine tissue
Exocrine glands are digestive enzymes
Composed of exocrine tissue- acini
Produces digestive enzymes and pancreatic juice secreted into duodenum via pancreatic duct
Eg. Pancreatic amylase, trypsin & lipase
What is endocrine tissue
Small regions called lets of langerhan
Produces hormones
Eg. Insulin and glucagon
Secreted into the bloodstream
Describe how the lets of langerhan can be distinguished
Lightly stained
Large spherical clusters
Produce/ secrete hormones
Alpha cells = glucagon
Beta cells = insulin
Describe how the pancreatic ancient can be distinguished
Dark stained
Small berry-like clusters
Produce and secrete enzymes
There’s move of these as they’re needed for digestion, less hormones required
How can you increase your blood glucose levels
Diet: carbs are broken down into glucose then absorbed into bloodstream
Glycogenisis
Gluconeogenisis
Define glycogenlysis
Glycogen is broken down into glucose
Define gluconeogenisis
Production of glucose from a non-carb source
How can you decrease your blood glucose levels
Respiration
Glycogenisis
Define glycogenisis
Production of glycogen for storage
Describe the role of alpha cells in the lets of langerhan
Detects a fall in glucose levels
Produces glucagon
Response: secrete into bloodstream, glucose is not absorbed by cells, when it raises above a level, secretion stops
Specific processes: glycoenolysis, gluconeogenisis
