A and P Unit 17

How many hormones are produced by the posterior pituitary?

0

Compare and contrast the role of estrogens and progesterone.

Both estrogens and progesterone are steroid hormones produced by the ovaries that help regulate the menstrual cycle. Estrogens play an important role in the development of the female reproductive tract and secondary sex characteristics. They also help maintain pregnancy. Progesterone prepares the body for pregnancy and helps maintain pregnancy.

Compare and contrast endocrine and exocrine glands.

Endocrine glands are ductless. They release their secretion into the surrounding fluid, from which it enters the bloodstream or lymph to travel to distant cells. Moreover, the secretions of endocrine glands are hormones. Exocrine glands release their secretions through a duct that delivers the secretion to the target location. Moreover, the secretions of exocrine glands are not hormones, but compounds that have an immediate physiologic function. For example, pancreatic juice contains enzymes that help digest food

Which of the following statements about insulin is true?

Insulin facilitates the movement of intracellular glucose transporters to the cell membrane.

Distinguish between the effects of menopause and andropause on fertility.

Menopause occurs as the result of a progressive decline in the function of the ovaries, resulting in low estrogen and progesterone levels. Ovulation ceases, and postmenopausal woman can no longer conceive a child. In contrast, andropause is a much more gradual and subtle decline in testosterone levels and functioning. A man typically maintains fertility until very old age, although the quantity, quality, and motility of the sperm he produces may be reduced.

Describe the role of placental secretion of relaxin in preparation for childbirth.

Relaxin produced by the placenta is thought to soften and widen the pubic symphysis. This increases the size of the pelvic outlet, the birth canal through which the fetus passes during vaginal childbirth.

Which of the following is an anterior pituitary hormone?

TSH

The secretion of thyroid hormones is controlled by ________.

TSH from the anterior pituitary

True or false: Neurotransmitters are a special class of paracrines. Explain your answer.

True. Neurotransmitters can be classified as paracrines because, upon their release from a neuron's axon terminals, they travel across a microscopically small cleft to exert their effect on a nearby neuron or muscle cell.

Which of the following hormones contributes to the regulation of the body's fluid and electrolyte balance?

antidiuretic hormone

In the elderly, decreased thyroid function causes ________.

decreased basal metabolic rate

Hormones produced by the thymus play a role in the ________.

development of T cells

The production of melatonin is inhibited by ________.

exposure to bright light

Which of the following can result from hyperparathyroidism?

fractures

The end result of the RAAS is to ________.

increase blood pressure

The production of FSH by the anterior pituitary is reduced by which hormone?

inhibin

The adrenal glands are attached superiorly to which organ?

kidneys

A student is in a car accident, and although not hurt, immediately experiences pupil dilation, increased heart rate, and rapid breathing. What type of endocrine system stimulus did the student receive?

neural

Chemical signaling that affects neighboring cells is called ________.

paracrine

What cells secrete melatonin?

pinealocytes

The function of the placental hormone human placental lactogen (hPL) is to ________.

prepare the breasts for lactation

Which of the following responses s not part of the fight-or-flight response?

reduced mental activity

The gonads produce what class of hormones?

steroid hormones

When blood calcium levels are low, PTH stimulates ________.

the activity of osteoclasts

What would be the physiological consequence of a disease that destroyed the beta cells of the pancreas?

The beta cells produce the hormone insulin, which is important in the regulation of blood glucose levels. All insulin-dependent cells of the body require insulin in order to take up glucose from the bloodstream. Destruction of the beta cells would result in an inability to produce and secrete insulin, leading to abnormally high blood glucose levels and the disease called type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Athletes may take synthetic EPO to boost their ________.

blood oxygen levels

Compare and contrast the thymus gland in infancy and adulthood.

The thymus gland is important for the development and maturation of T cells. During infancy and early childhood, the thymus gland is large and very active, as the immune system is still developing. During adulthood, the thymus gland atrophies because the immune system is already developed.

Endocrine glands ________.

secrete chemical messengers that travel in the bloodstream

Why is foot care extremely important for people with diabetes mellitus?

Excessive blood glucose levels damage the blood vessels and nerves of the body's extremities, increasing the risk for injury, infection, and tissue death. Loss of sensation to the feet means that a diabetic patient will not be able to feel foot trauma, such as from ill-fitting shoes. Even minor injuries commonly lead to infection, which , can progress to tissue death without proper care, requiring amputation.

Which of the following statements about the thyroid gland is true?

It is located anterior to the trachea and inferior to the larynx. The parathyroid glands are embedded within it. It manufactures three hormones. *all of the above

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder characterized by, among other symptoms, increased appetite, sluggishness, and increased sleepiness. It occurs most commonly during the winter months, especially in regions with long winter nights. Propose a role for melatonin in SAD and a possible non-drug therapy.

SAD is thought to occur in part because low levels and duration of sunlight allow excessive and prolonged secretion of melatonin. Light therapy—daytime exposure to very bright lighting—is one common therapy

Describe several main differences in the communication methods used by the endocrine system and the nervous system.

The endocrine system uses chemical signals called hormones to convey information from one part of the body to a distant part of the body. Hormones are released from the endocrine cell into the extracellular environment, but then travel in the bloodstream to target tissues. This communication and response can take seconds to days. In contrast, neurons transmit electrical signals along their axons. At the axon terminal, the electrical signal prompts the release of a chemical signal called a neurotransmitter that carries the message across the synaptic cleft to elicit a response in the neighboring cell. This method of communication is nearly instantaneous, of very brief duration, and is highly specific.