The Endocrine System Flashcards
What is the purpose of the endocrine system
(sistema endocrino)
It makes hormones that are put directly into the blood stream and carried into all parts of body
what are hormones
(hormonas)
- chemical messengers that help control how the body works with certain hormones only acting on specific parts of the body
what is the pituitary gland
(glandula pituitaria)
- gland that makes several hormones that control other endocrine glands and specific body functions
what does the pituitary gland control?
it produces hormones that control how we grow and how our kidneys work
what is thyroid
(tiroides)
- thyroid gland makes a hormone that controls how fast the metabolic processes work
what is the parathyroid gland
(glandulas paratiroides)
- makes a hormone that controls the level of calcium in the body
- calcium is important for bones and teeth
what are the adrenal glands
(glandulas suprarrenales)
- they produce hormones that act on heart rate and blood pressure; they also control the amount of salt in the body and influences the development of sex organs and controls other body functions
what is the function of the pancreas
this organ helps control the glucose blood level using 2 main hormones (insulin and glucagon)
what is the role of insulin in pancreas
insulin makes the body’s cells absorb glucose from blood and store extra glucose in the liver resulting in a decrease of glucose in the blood
what is the role of glucagon from the pancreas
glucagon raises the level of glucose in the blood by causing the liver to release glucose back into the blood
what is the function of the ovaries
ovaries produce 2 female sex hormones
- progesterone (progesterona)
-estrogen (estrogeno)
what does progesterone and estrogen control
they control female physical changes during the menstrual cycle
what is the role of the testicles (testes)
they produce the male sex hormone called testosterone (testosterona)
what is the role of testosterone
they control development of male sex characteristics like deep voice, pubic hair, and male body shape
what is the most common problems related to the endocrine system
hormone imbalances
what is cushing’s syndrome
(Sindrome de Cushing)
- a hormonal disorder due to long term exposure of excess cortisol
symptoms of cushing’s syndrome
- upper body obesity
- thin arms and legs
- severe fatigue and muscle weakness
- high blood pressure
- high blood sugar
- easy bruising
what is diabetes mellitus
diabetes is a disease where the blood glucose (blood sugar) is too high
what are the 2 types of diabetes
- type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes
what is type 1 diabetes
this is when the body does not make insulin
what is type 2 diabetes
when the body does not make or use insulin well
what is hyperthyroidism
(hipertiroidismo)
- condition that occurs when too many thyroid hormones are made; this condition is more common in women
what is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism
Grave’s disease
what is hypothyroidism
(hipotiroidismo)
- when the body does not produce enough thyroid hormones with Hashimoto’s disease being the most common cause
