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Endocrinology > Intro to Endocrinology - Lecture 1 > Flashcards

Intro to Endocrinology - Lecture 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the two major communication systems in the body?

A

The Endocrine and Nervous systems

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2
Q

Cellular communication is essential to maintain what?

A

Homeostasis

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3
Q

List processes/ that contribute to Homeostasis

A

Oxygen, nutrients, temperature regulation, hormones

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4
Q

What does the Endocrine system communicate between?

A

Communication between cells and organs using messengers (Hormones)

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5
Q

What is Endocrinology?

A

Endocrinology is the study of hormones

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6
Q

What are hormones and how do they function?

A

Hormones are chemical messengers (are extracellular signalling molecules) which are secreted into the blood and which exert their effect on a distal target. Hormones arouse cellular activity. They increase or decrease the rate of a normal metabolic process

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7
Q

What functions do hormones regulate?

A

Hormones regulate growth, development, metabolism, temperature, H2O balance, reproduction, nutrient metabolism, changes to help body cope with stressful situations, digestive system etc.

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8
Q

Do hormones exert their effects at low or high concentration?

A

Low concentrations as they are very potent.

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9
Q

Name the 3 stages of Endocrine signalling

A
  1. Regulated secretion into the extracellular fluid
  2. Diffusion of the hormone INTO the vasculature and its circulation throughout the body.
  3. Diffusion of the hormone OUT of the vascular compartment into the extracellular space and binding to a specific receptor within cells of a target organ
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10
Q

List the 3 mechanisms (or different ways) of cell to cell communication/signalling via hormones.

A

Endocrine, Autocrine and Paracrine

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11
Q

What is Endocrine signalling?

A

Chemical messenger released from cell which travels via the blood and acts on a DISTANT target cell via receptors and then influences the endocrine cell.

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12
Q

What is Autocrine signalling?

A

Chemical messenger released from cell and acts on the SAME cell. There are receptors on that same gland that is producing the hormones.

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13
Q

What is Paracrine signalling?

A

Chemical messenger released for cell and acts on a target cell a SHORT distance away. The hormone is released form organ and tissue and travels a little way to a neighbouring organ or tissue.

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14
Q

What are feedback mechanisms and why are they used?

A

A feedback mechanism is a LOOP in which a product feeds back to control its functions

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15
Q

Why does Negative Feedback take place for Insulin and Glucose?

A

To ensure the levels of Glucose in the blood do not become too high

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16
Q

Describe Negative Feedback

A

To DECREASE a product by INHIBITING a process

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17
Q

Is Insulin and Glucose positive or negative feedback?

A

Negative

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18
Q

What breaks to Positive Feedback cycle of Oxytocin and childbirth?

A

Birth breaks the cycle

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19
Q

What types of cells are Hormones secreted from?

A
  1. Endocrine CELLS - specialised cells that secrete hormones.
  2. Neuroendocrine CELLS - neurohormones released from neurons into the blood.
  3. Endocrine GLANDS/TISSUES - specialised structures or groups of cells which secrete hormones.
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20
Q

List the 10 major Endocrine Glands/Tissues

A
  1. Pineal Gland
  2. Pituitary Gland
  3. Hypothalamus
  4. Thyroid
  5. Parathyroid
  6. Thymus
  7. Pancreas
  8. Adrenal Glands
  9. Ovaries
  10. Testes
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21
Q

Describe the location, shape and size of the Pineal Gland and which hormone it releases for what purpose.

A

The Pineal gland is located behind the 3rd ventricle of the brain.
It is the size of a pea and shaped like a small pine cone.
The Pineal gland releases MELATONIN which helps the body recognise when it is time to sleep.

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22
Q

Describe the location and size of the Pituitary gland?

A

The Pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain surrounded by bone, the Sphenoid, and it is pea-sized.

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23
Q

Which gland has an alternate name and what is that name?

A

The Pituitary gland is often called the ‘Master gland’.

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24
Q

Which gland is responsible for controlling growth and development?

A

The Pituitary gland

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25
Name one of the hormones the Pituitary gland produces
Growth hormone
26
What important role does the Hypothalamus have?
It synthesises and secretes Pituitary hormones
27
List 4 of the hormones the Hypothalamus releases
1. Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) 2. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) 3. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) 4. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GRH)
28
Describe the location of the Thyroid gland and its important role.
The Thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck and it secretes several hormones which are collectively called Thyroid hormones. Its important role is to control METABOLISM.
29
Name the 2 main Thyroid hormones
1. Thyroxine (T4) | 2. Triiodothyronine (T3)
30
Describe the location of the Parathyroid gland and what it consists of.
The Parathyroid gland is located behind the Thyroid gland and consists of a group of 4 small glands.
31
What is the name of the hormone released by the Parathyroid hormone and what does this hormone control?
The name of the Parathyroid hormone is Parathyroid hormone and it controls the Calcium and Phosphorus levels in the body.
32
What process in the body is the Parathyroid gland important for?
Bone development - through the control of Calcium and Phosphorus
33
Which gland is important for the production and maturation of T Cells (T Lymphocytes)?
The Thymus gland
34
Where is the Thymus gland located and when is its active life span?
The Thymus is located behind the sternum and between the lungs and it is only active from before birth and until puberty.
35
What is the name of the hormone the Thymus gland secretes and what is its role?
The hormone is Thymosin and it stimulates the development of T Cells.
36
Describe the size and location of the Pancreas and its main function.
The Pancreas is a large gland and is located behind the stomach. Its main role is to control and maintain blood glucose levels.
37
Name the 2 hormones released by the Pancreas.
Insulin and Glucagon
38
Name the location of the Adrenal glands and what they control.
The Adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys and they are important for: 1. Water balance/blood pressure 2. Fat/carbohydrate metabolism 3. Reproduction
39
List 4 hormones secreted by the Adrenal glands
1. Cortisol 2. Adrenaline 3. Noradrenaline 4. Androgens
40
What 2 hormones do the ovaries produce?
Oestrogen and Progesteron
41
What is the role of Oestrogen and Progesterone?
1. To promote the development of secondary sexual characteristic, such as breasts. 2. To maintain a healthy menstrual cycle in women.
42
Which hormone is produced by the Testes?
Testosterone
43
What is the role of Testosterone?
In early age, it promotes growth of the penis, facial and body hair and it deepens the male voice at a certain age. Later on it is responsible for maintaining the sex drive, production of sperm and maintaining muscle and bone mass.
44
What are the 2 main types of hormones?
1. Water soluble - amino acids | 2. Lipid soluble - steroids
45
Which of the two types of hormones are NOT able to diffuse through the cell membrane?
Water soluble
46
Give examples of water soluble hormones
Adrenaline and Noradrenaline
47
Give examples of Lipid soluble hormones
Steroids, Thyroid hormones, Vitamine D
48
How do hormones exert their effects?
By binding to cells which have specific receptors
49
Describe the location of receptors of both water and lipid soluble hormones
Receptors for water soluble hormones are present on the cell surface. Receptors for Lipid soluble hormones are present inside the cell.
50
List 2 receptors for water soluble hormones
G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR) and Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTK)
51
Are the effects of receptors for water soluble hormones fast or slow?
Effects are fast
52
What do GPCR's act via?
G-Proteins
53
What do RTK's act via?
Phosphorylation
54
What are the two chemical classifications of hormones?
1. Peptide/proteins which are water soluble | 2. Steroids which are lipid soluble
55
Explain the difference between Endocrine & Exocrine glands.
Endocrine secretes products directly into the blood stream. Exocrine secretes products into ducts that will lead to a target tissue.
56
Both Water and Lipid soluble hormones are derived from single amino acids (tyrosine /tryptophan). True or False?
True
57
Are peptide hormones long or short chains of amino acids?
Short
58
When first made, are peptide/protein hormones ACTIVE or INACTIVE and what are they called?
They are inactive and they are called INACTIVE PROHORMONES
59
Where are peptide hormones synthesized?
In the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
60
Do peptide/protein hormones bypass the Golgi system?
No they do not
61
Can Prohormones be activated before their release?
Yes they are
62
Do peptide hormones remain in the circulatory system for long or short periods of time?
For relatively short periods of time
63
Why can’t peptide hormones pass through cell membranes?
They are hydrophilic and the cell membrane has a lipid bilayer.
64
Why can steroid/lipid hormones pass through cell membranes?
They are lipid soluble and the cell membranes are lipid bilayers.
65
Are lipid hormones stored in endocrine cells?
No they are not because they are lipophilic and intracellular environments are hydrophilic. So they are made on demand and then diffuse out of the endocrine cell.
66
Why do some steroid/lipid hormones bind to membrane receptors that use second messenger systems?
To create a rapid cellular response.
67
What types of receptors do peptide/protein hormones attach to and where are these located?
- G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR) - Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTK) and they are located on the cell membrane. These receptors are protein & are a binding site for the hormone.
68
What are steroid hormones derived from?
Cholesterol
69
Where are receptors for steroid hormones located?
Inside the cell. In the cytoplasm or nucleus. Some steroids can act on receptors located on the cell membrane.
70
Why are steroid hormones carried through blood bound to proteins?
Steroid hormones are insoluble, they are lipophilic, so they need to be 'carried' by proteins (carrier molecules).
71
Where are steroid/lipid hormones made?
In the smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
72
Where are peptide/protein hormones made?
In the Endoplasmic Reticulum - as an inactive hormone (prohormone) - and then enters the Golgi complex.
73
Where are the active peptide hormones stored?
In secretory vesicles.
74
The process of releasing a peptide process from a cell (secretion) is called?
Exocytosis
75
There are 3 chemical classifications of hormones. The first two being peptide and lipid. What is the third classification?
Single amino acid derived hormones.
76
What are the 2 single amino acids derived from?
1. Tyrosine | 2. Tryptophan
77
What are Tyrosine and Tryptophan?
They are hydrophilic amino acids.
78
What hormones are derived from Tyrosine?
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine (one tyrosine), and the Thyroid hormones (two tyrosine's and iodine).
79
How many tyrosine's do the Adrenal medulla glands have?
One tyrosine.
80
How many tyrosine's do the Thyroid glands have?
Two tyrosine's and one iodine.
81
Which hormone is derived from Tryptophan?
Melatonin. Which is from the Pineal gland
82
What type of receptor does Melatonin bind to?
GPCR (melatonin receptor)
83
What type of receptors do Thyroid hormones bind to?
To an intracellular nuclear receptor. Eg, T3 and T4 bind to the thyroid hormone receptor.
84
What type of receptors do the hormones Epinephrine and Norepinephrine bind to?
GPCR receptors on the cells surface.
85
List the 4 single amino acid hormones and which gland they come from.
- Melatonin, from the Pineal gland - Thyroxine and Triiodothyronine, from the Thyroid gland - Catecholamines from the Adrenal glands
86
Besides the obvious 10 glands/organs that secrete hormones, what other have been found to do so too?
The heart secretes hormones, so do adipose tissue (fat tissue. It is an Endocrine organ.
87
Are STEROID hormones always lipid or water soluble?
Always LIPID soluble. But not all Lipid soluble hormones are steroid hormones.
88
Besides Water and Lipid soluble hormones, what is the 3rd category?
Hormones derived from single AMINO ACIDS.
89
Name the two single amino acids that some hormones derive from.
TYROSINE & TRYPTOPHAN
90
Can single amino acid hormones be water or lipid soluble?
They can be BOTH
91
How are peptide hormones produced in the cell?
- mRNA & the ribosome produce the protein in the Rough ER (translation), as a long polypeptide chain. - as the polypeptide chain proceeds through the rough ER, it gets chopped off, and is then a Prohormone, which is INACTIVE. Note that the prohormone is the polypeptide chain that is going to be snipped up again to become the ACTIVE hormone. - the Prohormone is delivered to the Golgi complex, which further transforms it and ACTIVATES it. The Golgi also packages the hormone up into SECRETORY VESICLES. - In the secretory vesicle, the hormone has already been chopped of and is now an ACTIVE hormone. So now the active hormone is sitting in a vesicle. - when the times comes and the stimulus is appropriate, the hormone moves to the cell membrane and exocytosis occurs (release of hormone) into the blood. - off it goes into the circulation to its target cell.
92
How many times does a G-Protein go through the cell membrane?
7 times
93
What happens when the G-Protein of the GPCR is activated?
It either activates or inhibits the effector protein. The effector protein can either be: - an ion channel OR - an enzyme that produces a second messenger.
94
What ability do RTK receptors have?
It has the ability to phosphorylate tyrosine amino acids when it is activated. RTK's usually use 2 receptors thus they are called 2nd messenger systems.
95
Why are steroid hormones lipid soluble?
Because they are derived from cholesterol
96
The traditional view regarding steroid receptor hormones were that they were found in the cytoplasm and nucleus of a cell. What do we know today however?
That they can be found on the cell membrane also.
97
Do the steroid receptors on the cell membrane produce a slow or rapid response?
A rapid response. The ones located inside the cell take much longer to produce effects.
98
What area of the cell are steroid hormones made?
In the SMOOTH Endoplasmic reticulum, not the rough
99
What are Tyrosine and Tryptophan?
They are single amino acids that hormones derive from
100
Are Thyroid hormones water or lipid soluble?
Lipid soluble.
101
What 2 organs/glands have hormones derived from the single amino acid Tyrosine?
Thyroid | Kidneys
102
Do Thyroid hormones bind to receptors on the cell membrane or intracellular receptors?
Intracellular, the nucleus specifically.
103
Which organ/gland has a hormone derived from the single amino acid Tryptophan?
The Pineal gland - Melatonin
104
Is Melatonin water or lipid soluble
Water soluble and acts on GPCR's

Endocrinology (5 decks)

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