Unit 5 Challengers and Key Terms

Non-steroid Hormones

A class of hormones that are primarily derived from proteins and are water soluble due to their polar nature; non-steroid hormones are transported freely through the blood. Non-steroid hormones interact with receptors on the cell membrane and activate secondary messenger systems that carry out their effects within the cell.

Acromegaly

A condition in which growth hormone levels are too high after growth plates ossify; this causes bones to thicken and extremities to enlarge but bones cannot grow in length. The most prominent signs are enlarged facial features, hands and feet.

Gigantism

A condition in which growth hormone levels are too high at an age before growth plates ossify; this causes bones and other tissues to grow proportionally larger than average.

Pituitary Dwarfism

A condition in which growth hormone levels are too low at a young age and the person is proportionally smaller than normal.

Oviduct

A duct that connects ovaries to the uterus through which egg cells travel; also called "fallopian tubes".

Estrogen

A female sex hormone that plays various roles in the female reproductive system, including preparing the endometrium for pregnancy.

Thymus Gland

A gland located above the heart. It secretes thymosins, which mature the immune system's T-cells.

Pineal Gland

A gland located in the cerebrum that secretes melatonin, an important hormone for regulating sleep/wake cycles.

Parathyroid Glands

A group of glands on the posterior thyroid that secrete parathyroid hormone to increase blood calcium levels by decreasing renal excretion of calcium and increasing osteoclast activity.

Parathyroid Glands

A group of glands on the posterior thyroid that secrete parathyroid hormone. The secretion of parathyroid hormone increases blood calcium levels by decreasing the kidneys' excretion of calcium into the urine, and by increasing osteoclast activity.

Secondary Messenger

A group of signaling molecules located near a hormone receptor on the inside of the cell; when a non-steroid hormone binds to its receptor on the extracellular side of the plasma membrane, it activates secondary messenger systems that carry out specific effects inside of the cell. Non-steroid hormones rely on secondary messenger signaling molecules because they are unable to penetrate the cell membrane and get into the cell.

Glucagon

A hormone released by alpha cells in the pancreas which raises blood sugar levels.

Insulin

A hormone released by beta cells in the pancreas which lowers blood sugar levels.

Progesterone

A hormone released during the menstrual cycle that prepares the endometrium for implantation.

Ovum

A mature egg cell (the plural of "ovum" is "ova").

Simple Goiter

A non-cancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland that can sometimes occur on its own or when a person is lacking in iodine and the thyroid hormones.

Hypothalamus

A part of the forebrain that works closely with the pituitary gland to monitor the body's organs and their functioning.

Which best describes the endocrine system? a. A system that helps distribute oxygen and other nutrients to cells all over the body b. A system of vessels, nodes, glands and nodules that returns excess tissue fluid to the blood c. A system of glands that produces and secretes hormones into the bloodstream d. A system that protects the internal organs from the outside environment

A system of glands that produces and secretes hormones into the bloodstream

Endocrine System

A system of glands that produces and secretes hormones into the bloodstream; the endocrine system is used to communicate on a broad scale to the cells in the body.

Opposing Interaction

A term used to describe hormones that create opposite effects of one another. An example would be: insulin lowers blood glucose while glucagon elevates blood glucose.

Synergistic Interaction

A term used to describe hormones that create similar effects through slightly different mechanisms. An example would be: ADH stimulating kidneys to retain water while aldosterone stimulates kidneys to retain sodium, which in turn retains water.

Menarche

A woman's first menstrual cycle.

Jimmy gets an adrenaline rush after running across a busy street. Which organ is primarily responsible for this? a. Hypothalamus b. Adrenal glands c. Pancreas d. Pituitary gland

Adrenal glands

Which of the following is a part of the adrenal gland? a. Adrenal medulla b. Adrenal oblongata c. Adrenal cerebrum d. Adrenal body

Adrenal medulla

Type II Diabetes

Also called adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), type II diabetes is more of a lifestyle disease that affects people when they are older. People with type II diabetes produce and secrete insulin but, for reasons which are poorly understood, it doesn't work well at maintaining blood sugar at the appropriate level.

Type I Diabetes

Also called juvenile-onset diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), this is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys the pancreas's beta cells. Type I diabetes typically strikes at a young age, and since the beta cells are destroyed, a person cannot produce insulin anymore. They must, therefore, take insulin injections.

Anterior Lobe of Pituitary Gland

Also called the adenohypophysis, the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland started developing in the nasopharynx and migrated up into the skull to join with the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Since the anterior pituitary didn't originate in the brain there are no direct neural connections to it. The anterior pituitary gland secretes six hormones: growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).

Posterior Lobe of Pituitary Gland

Also called the neurohypophysis, the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland developed from brain tissue during embryonic development and therefore is directly innervated by the hypothalamus. The two hormones the posterior pituitary secretes are anitdiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin.

Uterus

An organ of the female reproductive system in which fertilized eggs develop into an embryo.

Which gland produces luteinizing hormone? a. Posterior pituitary b. Hypothalamus c. Anterior pituitary d. Adrenal

Anterior pituitary

Which of the following does the pancreas help regulate? a. Blood sugar levels b. Internal temperature c. Calcium levels d. Bone remodeling

Blood sugar levels

Pituitary Gland

Called the "master gland" because of its effects on other glands; endocrine hormones increase activity/secretion of many major glands of the endocrine system.

Gametes

Cells (eggs in females, sperm in males) which contain half the DNA the rest of the body's (somatic) cells have. Thus, when two gametes (a sperm and an egg) combine, each with half the normal amount of DNA, the resulting embryo has the full complement of DNA.

Alpha Cells

Cells of the pancreas that secrete glucagon.

Beta Cells

Cells of the pancreas which secrete insulin.

Delta Cells

Cells of the pancreas which secrete somatostatin.

Epinephrine

Classified as a catecholamine (adrenaline) and is secreted from the adrenal medulla; epinephrine is found in higher amounts in the blood than its counterpart norepinephrine, and has slightly more of an effect on the heart.

Norepinephrine

Classified as a catecholamine (adrenaline) and is secreted from the adrenal medulla; norepinephrine is found in lower amounts in the blood than its counterpart epinephrine, and has slightly more of an effect on the blood vessels.

Ovaries

Female reproductive organs that produce oocytes.

FSH

Follicle Stimulating Hormone; a major hormone of the reproductive system which stimulates ovulation.

Gland

Glands are clusters of cells that produce and secrete specific molecules. Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream, where they can quickly reach their target cells anywhere in the body.

Which hormone is secreted by alpha cells? a. Somatostatin b. Cortisol c. Glucagon d. Insulin

Glucagon

Which of the following hormones is produced in the adrenal cortex? a. Epinephrine b. Norepinephrine c. Aldosterone d. Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids

Graves Disease

Graves disease is the most common form of hyperthyroidism (where the thyroid glad ecomes overactive). It is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid over-secretes T₃ and T₄ hormones.

Which of the following is a chemical messenger that flows through the bloodstream and allows communication all over the body? a. Platelets b. Neurons c. Hormones d. Lymph

Hormones

Glucocorticoids

Hormones that affect glucose metabolism of the body, the most abundant one being cortisol a.k.a. the stress hormone.

Steroid Hormones

Hormones that have a cholesterol backbone and are not soluble in water due to their lipid structure; steroid hormones are transported through the blood attached to carrier proteins. Steroid hormones penetrate the cell membrane and interact with nuclear receptors that affect the DNA.

Mineralcorticoids

Hormones that maintain mineral homeostasis; aldosterone is a hormone that stimulates the kidneys to retain sodium.

Which blood sugar disorder is characterized by low blood sugar? a. Type I diabetes b. Prediabetes c. Type II diabetes d. Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia

Which gland produces oxytocin? a. Adrenal b. Posterior pituitary c. Hypothalamus d. Anterior pituitary

Hypothalamus

Which organ of the endocrine system is part of the brain? a. Thymus gland b. Hypothalamus c. Thyroid gland d. Adrenal gland

Hypothalamus

Oocytes

Immature form of ova (eggs cells) that are released from ovaries.

Where is the thyroid gland located? a. In the brain b. Below the heart c. In the neck d. On the kidneys

In the neck

Which hormone is secreted by beta cells? a. Insulin b. Glucagon c. Epinephrine d. Somatostatin

Insulin

Samantha is diagnosed with enlarged lobes in her thyroid gland. Which mineral is her diet lacking? a. Phosphorus b. Iron c. Iodine d. Calcium

Iodine

What effect does parathyroid hormone have on the body? a. It signals osteoclasts to break down bone tissue, thereby releasing more calcium into the bloodstream. b. It signals osteoblasts to build new bone tissue, thereby lowering calcium levels in the bloodstream. c. It creates an emergency state caused by dangerously high levels of calcium in which the body works to remove as much as possible from the bloodstream. d. It signals both osteoclasts and osteoblasts to analyze calcium levels in the bloodstream and adjust as needed.

It signals osteoclasts to break down bone tissue, thereby releasing more calcium into the bloodstream.

Thyroid Gland

Located on the anterior trachea, the thyroid gland secretes hormones that regulate metabolism. The thyroid gland also secretes a hormone called calcitonin that lowers blood calcium levels by increasing the kidneys' excretion of calcium into the urine and inhibiting osteoclasts.

Adrenal Glands

Located on top of the kidneys, the adrenal glands have two anatomic divisions: The adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. The adrenal cortex secretes hormones that regulate body mineral levels and metabolism and also aids in the production of sex hormones. The adrenal medulla releases hormones called catecholamines (adrenaline) that elevate our metabolism in response to stress.

LH

Luteinizing hormone; A hormone released from the anterior pituitary gland and plays a large role in the reproductive system.

Menopause

Marks the end of a woman's fertility in which a woman is no longer able to conceive.

Menstrual Cycle

Monthly cycle in which an oocyte matures and is released from a woman's ovary.

Which kind of hormones do not enter the cell's plasma membrane? a. Non-steroid hormones b. Secondary hormones c. Steroid hormones d. Secondary messengers

Non-steroid hormones

Which kind of hormones require the use of secondary messengers? a. All hormones b. Steroid hormones c. Non-steroid hormones d. Secondary hormones

Non-steroid hormones

Which of the following is associated with the adrenal medulla? a. Calcitonin and gastrin b. Glucocorticoids c. Mineralocorticoids d. Norepinephrine

Norepinephrine

What is it called when two hormones trigger contrary responses? a. Permissive interaction b. Synergistic interaction c. Balanced interaction d. Opposing interaction

Opposing interaction

Ovaries

Ovaries are the primary sex organs of females; they are females' primary source of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. The ovaries are also where the eggs are matured and released.

In which part of the female reproductive system does fertilization occur? a. Vagina b. Ovaries c. Uterus d. Oviducts

Oviducts

Which of the following is a mature egg cell? a. Zygote b. Embryo c. Oocyte d. Ovum

Ovum

Jason has to monitor his blood sugar and take insulin because he has diabetes. Which of his organs is supposed to produce insulin? a. Pineal gland b. Pancreas c. Thyroid gland d. Pituitary gland

Pancreas

Which gland stores hormones made in other glands until they're needed? a. Anterior pituitary b. Posterior pituitary c. Hypothalamus d. Adrenal

Posterior pituitary

Pancreatic Islets

Small clusters of cells on the pancreas containing cells that manufacture the hormones insulin and glucagon along, with many secretions for the digestive system; also referred to as the islets of Langerhans.

Which kind of hormones are made from insoluble lipids? a. Steroid hormones b. Non-steroid hormones c. Secondary hormones d. Secondary messengers

Steroid hormones

Testes

Testes are the primary sex organs of males, and are their primary source of testosterone. The testes are also where the sperm is produced and matured.

Adrenal Medulla

The adrenal medulla is the inner ball of cells under the adrenal cortex. The adrenal medulla releases hormones called catecholamines (adrenaline) that elevate our metabolism in response to stress. The adrenal medulla is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).

Target Cell

The cell or group of cells with which a hormone is designed to interact.

Hypoglycemia

The clinical term for low blood sugar.

Hypoglycemia

The clinical term for lower than normal blood glucose levels.

Ovarian Cycle

The cycle in which an oocyte matures as the menstrual cycle advances.

Pancreas

The endocrine functions of the pancreas are to secrete insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose levels.

Somatostatin

The exact function of this hormone is not well understood, but it's believed that it may help regulate alpha and beta cell activity along with some digestive functions.

Female Reproductive System

The female reproductive system's primary job is to mature and release oocytes (eggs) - a process called oogenesis. The secondary functions are to gestate, nourish and deliver the child. The primary organs are the ovaries while the accessory organs are the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and breasts.

Menstruation

The flow of the endometrium out the vagina if the oocyte was not fertilized during the menstrual cycle.

Follicle

The follicle consists of the maturing oocyte, along with surrounding cells that nourish the oocyte along its journey through the ovary.

Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is at the "basement" of the forebrain, between the cerebrum and the midbrain/brainstem. The hypothalamus controls that activity of the pituitary gland.

Endometrium

The inner lining of the uterus.

Cervix

The lower portion of the uterus which opens to the vagina.

Hormones

The major chemical messenger (derived from either amino acids or lipids) of the endocrine system. Hormones are produced, stored and secreted by glands; hormones either increase or decrease activity of the cells with which they interact.

Vagina

The organ of the female reproductive system which serves as the location where sperm enter and also serves as the birth canal.

Adrenal Cortex

The outer covering of the adrenal gland that secretes hormones that regulate body mineral levels, metabolism and aid in the production of sex hormones.

Oogenesis

The process by which egg cells are formed.

Gluconeogenesis

The process of converting amino acids and lipids into glucose, this process takes place in the liver.

Ovulation

The process of expelling the oocyte from the ovary to the oviduct.

Prediabetes

The signs and symptoms leading up to diabetes.

Which blood sugar disorder is characterized by the pancreas not producing insulin? a. Type I diabetes b. Prediabetes c. Hypoglycemia d.Type II diabetes

Type I diabetes

Which blood sugar disorder is characterized by target cells not responding properly to insulin? a. Type I diabetes b. Prediabetes c. Hypoglycemia d. Type II diabetes

Type II diabetes

In which part of the female reproductive system does the fetus develop? a. Vagina b. Ovaries c. Oviducts d. Uterus

Uterus

Permissive Interaction

When one hormone allows another hormone to have its full effect. An example would be: thyroid hormones allowing growth hormone to have its full metabolic effects.

Corpus Luteum

When the oocyte is released into the oviduct, the cells that nourished it remain in the ovary. They supply the uterus progesterone and estrogen, preparing the uterine lining (the endometrium) for a fertilized embryo to implant and develop.