Endocrine System Flash Cards

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

(ACTH) Released from the anterior pituitary gland to target the adrenal cortex. It stimulates the release of hormones involved in stress responses.

Estrogen

A hormone produced by the ovaries that controls the development of eggs and adult female characteristics.

Progesterone

A hormone produced by the ovaries which acts with estrogen to bring about the menstral cycle.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

A hormone released by the pituitary gland that stimulates the production of sperm in the male and growth of the follicle (which produces the egg) in the female.

Oxytocin

A hormone released by the posterior pituitary that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during breastfeeding.

Ghrelin

A hunger-arousing hormone secreted by an empty stomach

Testosterone

A male sex hormone produced by the testes; women secrete smaller amounts of testosterone from the adrenal cortex and ovary.

Adrenal Glands

A pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. They secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress.

Hypothalamus

A portion of the forebrain that controls homeostatic and endocrine functions by controlling the release of pituitary hormones such as Growth Hormone

Catabolic

A process in which large molecules are broken down

Anabolic

A process in which large molecules are built from small molecules

Insulin

A protein hormone secreted by the pancreas that is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates and the regulation of glucose levels in the blood.

Define negative feedback and explain how it regulates blood levels of the various hormones

A system of feedback designed to minimize change. Hormone secretion is triggered - hormone levels increase in the blood - the rising levels inhibit further hormone release - lowered levels can trigger a new release - wash, rinse, repeat.

Define target organ and explain why all organs are not target organs for all hormones.

A target organ is an organ that is the intended recipient of a hormonal signal. It will have specialized receptors on it for that particular hormone. Other cells in other organs (that aren't the target organ) won't have those receptors.

Growth hormone (GH)

Anabolic hormone that stimulates growth of all body tissues but especially skeletal muscle and done; Released by anterior pituitary gland

What is the trend that the researchers saw? You should focus on which group lost more weight and had more successful weight loss maintenance.

By 15 weeks, the Low Calorie diet lost more weight, but when they no longer had to stick to the diet they were not able to maintain the weight. Low Calorie: Lost more weight but was not able to maintain it Desert: Lost Less weight but was able to maintain it.

Target cells

Cells with specific receptors in their membranes to accept specific hormones.

Describe the chemical nature of hormones

Chemical messengers (either amino acid-based molecules or steroids) that regulate processes that go on throughout your body, including regulation of cellular metabolism and energy balance

Hormone

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

Pancreas

Digestive organ that regulates the hormones Insulin and Glucagon

Traits of the Nervous System

Faster acting, Sends Messages through Nerves, Controls things that go on for shorter amounts of time

Anterior Pituitary

Gland in the brain that releases many hormones, including growth hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone.

Ovaries

Glands of the female reproductive system that produce eggs and the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone in the pubic area

Testes

Gonads located in an out pocketing of the abdominal wall called the scrotum and produce testostorone

Speculate about why the dessert for breakfast group saw decreases in cravings and increases in satiety.

Grhelin causes satiety, so the breakfast group saw less of it, so they weren't as hungry.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Hormone produced by the neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus that stimulates water reabsorption from kidney tubule cells into the blood and vasoconstriction of arterioles.

Calcitonin

Hormone produced by the thyroid that reduces blood calcium levels

Glucagon

Hormone released by the pancreas that raises blood sugar.

What does negative feedback do?

Maintains Homeostasis

Negative feedback mechanisms

Most feedback mechanisms are this type - regulating body temperature, blood pressure, blood glucose

Target Organ

Organ with receptor molecules on its cell surfaces that recognise a specific hormone.

Prolactin (PRL)

Promotes milk secretion by mammary glands

Triiodothyronine (T3)

Secondary thyroid hormone that affects body metabolism

Epinephrine & norepinephrine

Secreted from the adrenal gland; Increases heart rate, respiratory rates, blood pressure (fight or flight short term stress hormones) ( Adrenal Medulla)

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Stimulates thyroid gland. Produced by anterior pituitary

Pituitary dwarfism

Symptoms: Average sized trunk, short fingers, arms, and legs. Hormones and Glands Responsible: Growth Hormone, Pituitary Gland. Too much or Too little?: Too little

Diabetes mellitus

Symptoms: High Blood pressure, inablitity to break down glucose. Hormones and Glands Responsible: Pancreas, Insulin Too much or Too little?: Too little

Gigantism

Symptoms: Over sized body Hormones and Glands Responsible: Pituitary Gland, Growth Hormone Too much or Too little?: Too much

Seasonal affective disorder

Symptoms: fatigue, depression, hopelessness, and social withdrawal during the winter and fall months Hormones and Glands Responsible: Serotonin, Pineal gland Too much or Too little?: Too little

Knowing what you do about ghrelin, in which case do you think the researchers saw a greater decrease in ghrelin after eating?

The Breakfast group

Give three ways in which endocrine glands are stimulated to release their hormones, and give one example for each way.

The three different categories are hormonal, humoral, and neural. hormonal - where endocrine organs signal others into action. Example: hypothalamic hormones stimulate the anterior pituitary gland and others to release hormones. Humoral stimuli: refers to changing blood levels of ions and nutrients. Example: Parathyroid hormones are prompted by decreasing blood calcium levels. Neural stimuli come from the nervous system (surprise!). Example: The sympathetic nervous system triggers the adrenal glands.

Adrenaline

a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress, increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and preparing muscles for exertion.

Thyroid

endocrine gland located below the voice box; it produces hormones which control metabolism such as T3 T4 and TSH

Thyroxine (T4)

main hormone secreted into the bloodstream by the thyroid gland which affects your metabolic rate.

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, stimulates ovulation in females and testosterone secretion in males.