Week 1Endocrine System Flashcards

(50 cards)

1
Q

What is a gland?

A

A gland is any structure or organ that produces a secretion.

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2
Q

What are endocrine glands?

A

Ductless glands that secrete hormones into the blood or lymph, affecting distant target tissues.

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3
Q

What are exocrine glands?

A

Glands with ducts that transport secretions to specific local areas (e.g., sweat, salivary, mammary glands).

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4
Q

Which organs have both endocrine and exocrine functions?

A

Pancreas (enzymes and insulin/glucagon), stomach, and small intestine.

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5
Q

What is the purpose of hormones?

A

Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate various body functions and maintain homeostasis.

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6
Q

List six general functions of hormones.

A
  1. Stimulate exocrine glands, 2. Stimulate endocrine glands, 3. Affect growth and personality, 4. Regulate metabolism, 5. Control muscle and nerve stimulation, 6. Regulate reproductive processes.
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7
Q

What are the three main stimuli for hormone secretion?

A
  1. Humoral (chemical levels in blood), 2. Hormonal (stimulation by other hormones), 3. Nervous (nerve signals triggering release).
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8
Q

Give an example of humoral stimulus.

A

High blood glucose stimulates insulin release from pancreas (negative feedback).

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9
Q

Give an example of hormonal stimulus.

A

TRH from hypothalamus stimulates TSH from anterior pituitary, which stimulates thyroid hormone release.

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10
Q

Give an example of nervous stimulus.

A

Sympathetic nervous system stimulates adrenal medulla to release epinephrine and norepinephrine.

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11
Q

What are the four structural categories of hormones?

A

Amine, Peptide, Protein, Steroid.

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12
Q

How do lipid-soluble hormones function?

A

They pass through the membrane, bind to intracellular receptors, and initiate gene transcription (e.g., steroid and thyroid hormones).

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13
Q

How do water-soluble hormones function?

A

They bind to membrane receptors and activate a signal cascade via second messengers like cAMP (e.g., epinephrine, insulin).

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14
Q

Why are steroid hormones’ effects longer-lasting?

A

They bind to transport proteins and have longer half-lives in the blood (e.g., cortisol: 60-90 min vs epinephrine: ~1 min).

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15
Q

Compare the endocrine and nervous systems by signaling mechanism and speed.

A

Endocrine uses hormones (slow, long-lasting), nervous uses neurotransmitters (fast, short-duration).

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16
Q

Which system acts faster and which lasts longer?

A

Nervous system acts faster; endocrine effects last longer.

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17
Q

What connects the hypothalamus and pituitary?

A

The infundibulum (pituitary stalk).

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18
Q

What is the hypophyseal portal system?

A

A capillary network allowing hypothalamic hormones to reach the anterior pituitary directly.

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19
Q

List hypothalamic releasing hormones.

A

CRH, TRH, GnRH, GHRH; also PIH and GHIH as inhibiting hormones.

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20
Q

What hormones are stored and released by the posterior pituitary?

A

Oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH), both produced in the hypothalamus.

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21
Q

Which anterior pituitary hormones are non-tropic?

A

Growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL).

22
Q

List the tropic hormones from the anterior pituitary.

A

TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH.

23
Q

What does GH do?

A

Promotes protein synthesis, fat metabolism, and tissue growth; stimulated by GHRH, inhibited by GHIH.

24
Q

What does PRL do?

A

Promotes milk production in mammary glands; regulated by PRH and PIH.

25
What does TSH do?
Stimulates thyroid to release T3 and T4; controlled by TRH and negative feedback.
26
What does ACTH do?
Stimulates adrenal cortex to produce cortisol; regulated by CRH and stress.
27
What do FSH and LH do?
FSH: stimulates gamete production. LH: triggers ovulation and stimulates sex hormone release (testosterone, estrogen).
28
What does oxytocin do?
Triggers uterine contractions, milk ejection, emotional bonding.
29
What does ADH do?
Promotes water reabsorption in kidneys, reduces urine output, and in high doses, vasoconstricts to increase BP.
30
What does the thyroid gland produce?
T3, T4 (thyroid hormone) and calcitonin.
31
What do T3 and T4 do?
Increase basal metabolic rate, promote ATP production, support nervous system development.
32
What stimulates and inhibits thyroid hormone?
Stimulated by TSH, inhibited by high T3/T4 levels (negative feedback).
33
What does calcitonin do?
Lowers blood calcium by inhibiting osteoclasts, increasing calcium excretion, and decreasing intestinal absorption.
34
What hormone does the parathyroid gland produce?
Parathyroid hormone (PTH).
35
What does PTH do?
Raises blood calcium by stimulating osteoclasts, promoting kidney reabsorption and activating vitamin D for gut absorption.
36
What hormones are produced by the adrenal cortex?
Aldosterone (Na+ retention), cortisol (increases glucose), and androgens.
37
What hormones are produced by the adrenal medulla?
Epinephrine and norepinephrine; part of fight-or-flight response.
38
What are the stages of general adaptation syndrome?
Alarm (epinephrine), Resistance (cortisol), Exhaustion (system fails if stress continues).
39
What does insulin do?
Lowers blood glucose by promoting glucose uptake and storage; secreted after meals.
40
What does glucagon do?
Raises blood glucose by promoting glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis; secreted during fasting.
41
Name other counterregulatory hormones.
Epinephrine, cortisol, growth hormone (all raise blood glucose).
42
What is the normal blood glucose range?
70–110 mg/dL.
43
What hormones are produced by ovaries and testes?
Ovaries: estrogen and progesterone; Testes: testosterone.
44
What does gastrin do?
Stimulates stomach exocrine secretions.
45
What does secretin do?
Stimulates pancreas to release bicarbonate-rich fluid.
46
What does thymosin do?
Supports T-cell maturation in the thymus.
47
What does melatonin do?
Regulates sleep-wake cycles; secreted by pineal gland.
48
What does erythropoietin do?
Stimulates red blood cell production; secreted by kidneys.
49
What are prostaglandins?
Lipids produced in many tissues; act locally.
50
List four effects of prostaglandins.
Regulate BP, stomach secretions, uterine contractions, nerve impulse transmission.