Week 12 Content Flashcards
(119 cards)
The Endocrine System
Regulates body functions with the nervous system
Ductless glands secrete hormones
Endocrinology: The study of hormones and glands
Endocrine System Functions
Produce, release, and distribute hormones through bloodstream to targets
Regulate mood, growth, metabolism, and reproduction
Hormones
Chemical messenger produced by endocrine glands
- Specific
Maintain homeostasis
Controlled by feedback mechanisms
- Varied effects
Classes of Hormones
- Amino acid-based hormones
- Steroids
Amino Acid-based Hormones
Derived from amino acids
Water soluble
Bind to receptors on cell surface
- ie; Thyroid hormones, insulin
Steroids
Derived from cholesterol
Lipid soluble
Pass through cell membrane to bind to receptors
- ie; Cortisol, estrogen, testosterone
Control of Hormone Secretion
- Humoral stimulus
- Neural stimulus
- Hormonal stimulus
Humoral Stimulus
Simplest
Secretion triggered by ion or nutrient levels in blood
Maintain homeostasis
- Regulate body without external signals
- ie; Parathyroid monitors calcium and secretes a hormone to reverse calcium decline
Feedback Loops
Mechanisms regulate hormone secretion to maintain homeostasis
Adjusting hormone levels based on blood concentrations
- Falls below minimum = More hormone secreted
- Exceeds maximum = Production stops
Negative Feedback
Most common
Hormone secretion inhibited once desired level is reached
- ie; Blood glucose
Positive Feedback
Less common
Stimulus causes release of more hormone until a specific event occurs
- ie; Oxytocin during childbirth
Neural Stimulus
Nerve fibers stimulate endocrine gland to release hormones
Sympathetic fibers stimulate adrenal medulla
- Triggers release of epinephrine and norepinephrine
- ‘Fight or Flight’ response
Hormonal Stimulus
Hormones from one gland trigger release of another
- ie; Hypothalamus secretes hormones - Stimulates pituitary - Stimulates other glands
Different Stimulus Diagram
Pure Endocrine Organs
- Pituitary gland
- Pineal gland
- Thyroid and parathyroid glands
- Adrenal glands (including adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla)
Organs with Many Endocrine Cells
- Pancreas
- Thymus
- Gonads (ovaries and testes)
- Hypothalamus (neuroendocrine organ)
Organs with Some Endocrine Cells
- Heart
- Digestive tract
- Kidneys
- Skin
Pituitary Gland
Master gland
Secretes 9 major hormones
Attached to hypothalamus by the infundibulum
1. Anterior lobe: Adenohypophysis
2. Posterior lobe: Neurohypophysis
Pituitary Gland Function
Secrete hormones that influence…
- Growth
- Metabolism
- Stress response
- Reproduction
- Water balance
Anterior Lobe Divisions
- Pars distalis
- Pars intermedia
- Pars tuberalis
Posterior Lobe Divisions
- Pars nervosa
- Infundibulum
Pars Distalis
Largest
Produces and secretes 6 different hormones
Pars Distalis - Tropic Hormones
Regulate hormone secretion by other glands
1. Growth hormone (GH)
2. Prolactin (PRL)
3. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
4. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
5. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
6. Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Mnemonic: Guys, Please, That Ain’t Freakin’ Love
Pars Intermedia
Thin layer between anterior and posterior lobes
Less active in humans, produces melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) in some animals
Region not well-defined in adults