Endocrine System Flashcards
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Questions and Answers

What does the prefix 'Endo-' mean?

  • Hormone
  • Out
  • In (correct)
  • Secretion

    • What does the prefix 'Exo-' mean?

  • Out (correct)
  • Secretion
  • In
  • Hormone

    • What does '-Crine' refer to?

    Having to do with secretion

    What does the term 'Endocrine' mean?

    <p>Secreting within</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the endocrine system?

    <p>System of organs that make and secrete hormones into the bloodstream</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are hormones?

    <p>Molecules that travel within the bloodstream and have effects on organs/tissues that have a receptor for them</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are tropic hormones?

    <p>Stimulate other glands to make and release hormones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes swelling in glands related to tropic hormones?

    <p>Stimulation of glands to make and release hormones often causes a small amount of swelling within that gland</p> Signup and view all the answers

    List the three ways an endocrine gland can be stimulated to release a hormone.

    <p>Humoral stimulus, neural stimulus, hormonal stimulus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Hormone levels are controlled by _________

    <p>Feedback loops</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a feedback loop?

    <p>Type of pathway that is regulated by the presence of the hormone itself or of the product of hormone release</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A negative feedback loop turns the pathway off.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A positive feedback loop accelerates the pathway.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The _________ is the president of the endocrine system.

    <p>Hypothalamus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the hypothalamus in the endocrine system?

    <p>Monitors endocrine secretion in all three ways: influences anterior pituitary activity, produces hormones itself, oversees the adrenal medulla</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The pituitary gland is housed within the ___________ of the sphenoid.

    <p>Sella turcica</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary are functionally distinct.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the subdivisions of the anterior pituitary?

    <p>Pars tuberalis, pars intermedia, pars distalis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of the pars tuberalis?

    <p>Portion of the anterior pituitary that wraps around the stalk</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the pars intermedia represent?

    <p>Little slice between the anterior and posterior bulges</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the pars distalis refer to?

    <p>Anterior bulge</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the subdivisions of the posterior pituitary?

    <p>Infundibular stalk, pars nervosa</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the infundibular stalk?

    <p>The stalk itself</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pars nervosa?

    <p>The posterior bulge; the nervous part</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the anterior pituitary?

    <p>Controlled by the hypothalamus; hypothalamus makes tropic hormones that regulate the anterior pituitary</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system?

    <p>Connects the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a portal system?

    <p>Network of blood vessels that connects 2 structures directly, without the rest of the circulatory system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pathway of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system?

    <p>Hypothalamic neurons secrete tropic hormones into the portal system, hormones travel to anterior pituitary, and stimulate/inhibit hormone release</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) do?

    <p>Stimulates release of thyroid hormone from thyroid gland</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is prolactin (PRL) responsible for?

    <p>Regulates breast milk production and secretion of other hormones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)?

    <p>Stimulates adrenal cortex to produce hormones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of growth hormone (GH)?

    <p>Causes growth of bones, muscles, and most body cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What hormones are produced by the anterior pituitary?

    <p>FSH, LH, ACTH, TSH, PRL, GH</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) influence?

    <p>Reproductive functions by regulating hormone synthesis by gonads</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is pituitary dwarfism?

    <p>Inadequate production of growth hormone leading to decreased stature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the mechanism behind pituitary dwarfism?

    <p>Osteoblasts/osteoclasts don't respond to GH, leading to shorter bones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is pituitary gigantism?

    <p>Excessive GH secretion in childhood leads to increased growth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Pituitary dwarfism and pituitary gigantism can occur throughout life.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is acromegaly?

    <p>Excessive GH secretion in adulthood leading to increased growth of cartilage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the posterior pituitary act as?

    <p>Storage vessel for two hormones produced by the hypothalamus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of antidiuretic hormone (ADH)?

    <p>Regulates blood pressure by controlling water output</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does oxytocin regulate?

    <p>Uterine contractions and milk ejection from the breast</p> Signup and view all the answers

    ADH and oxytocin act via a _________ pathway.

    <p>Neural</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The posterior pituitary produces hormones itself.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of axon terminals in the posterior pituitary?

    <p>Really an extension of the hypothalamus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the release process for posterior pituitary hormones?

    <p>Hypothalamic neurons synthesize oxytocin and ADH, stored in axon terminals until released</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of oxytocin?

    <p>Influences parental bonding and modulates stress and anxiety</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Both males and females express oxytocin receptors.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Oxytocin may be a treatment for _________ disorders, including __________.

    <p>Social behavior; autism spectrum disorder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Oxytocin acts on a ________ feedback loop.

    <p>Positive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What describes the oxytocin feedback loop during contractions?

    <p>Pressure on cervix leads to oxytocin release, increasing contractions until baby is born</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the thyroid gland?

    <p>Butterfly-shaped gland found in the neck, just inferior to the adam's apple</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two hormones produced by the thyroid?

    <p>Thyroid hormone and calcitonin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the thyroid hormone (TH) maintain?

    <p>Metabolism/body temperature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of calcitonin?

    <p>Regulates the amount of calcium in our blood by encouraging deposition into bone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What mechanism does calcitonin use?

    <p>Thyroid monitors blood levels of calcium; too much calcium leads to calcitonin secretion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    _______ plays a role in TH production.

    <p>Iodine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Describe the structure of the thyroid gland.

    <p>Isthmus= center part between left and right lobes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of thyroid histology?

    <p>Lakes of pink fluid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is colloid?

    <p>Jelly-like precursor to thyroid hormone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do follicular cells do?

    <p>Make TH</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do parafollicular cells produce?

    <p>Make calcitonin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is hypothyroidism?

    <p>Not enough TH; results in low metabolic rate, weight gain, lethargy, feeling cold</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are goiters?

    <p>Thyroid cannot produce enough TH, but pituitary continues to make TSH; typically due to low iodine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes goiters?

    <p>Excess signaling by TSH leads to target cell growth and thyroid enlargement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Describe thyroid hormone production and regulation.

    <p>TRH from hypothalamus directs TSH from anterior pituitary, which stimulates TH from thyroid, inhibiting tropic hormones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the problem with hypothyroidism?

    <p>Not enough TH leads to no inhibition of tropic hormones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where are the parathyroid glands located?

    <p>On the posterior surface of the thyroid gland</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two types of cells in the parathyroid?

    <p>Parathyroid cells and oxyphil cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do parathyroid cells secrete?

    <p>Parathyroid hormone (PTH)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do oxyphil cells have?

    <p>No known function</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Describe the histology of the parathyroid.

    <p>Parathyroid cells have very little cytoplasm; oxyphil cells have much more cytoplasm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does parathyroid hormone (PTH) do?

    <p>Encourages calcium to be harvested from the bone and released into the blood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Parathyroid hormone is made by __________ cells.

    <p>Parathyroid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is calcium released into the bloodstream?

    <p>Osteoclasts leech away bone matrix, releasing calcium into blood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    __________ facilitates the storage of calcium in bone while ________ encourages the release of calcium from bone.

    <p>Calcitonin; parathyroid hormone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the calcium regulation diagram reference?

    <p>Refers to a salad with no cheese- 'hardly a salad at all'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are adrenal glands?

    <p>Pyramid-shaped glands that sit atop the kidneys</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the parts of the adrenal glands?

    <p>Inner medulla and outer cortex</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Each adrenal gland is essentially 2 glands in 1 chunk of tissue.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Describe adrenal gland histology.

    <p>Glomerulosa- round; fasciculata- bundle of sticks; reticularis- net-like; medulla- round</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The adrenal cortex makes more than 25 different lipid-based hormones called corticosteroids.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do corticosteroids regulate?

    <p>Different ones regulate various substances including minerals and glucose levels in blood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the glomerulosa produce?

    <p>Mineralocorticoids- regulate minerals/electrolytes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the fasciculata produce?

    <p>Glucocorticoids- regulate glucose levels in blood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is cortisol responsible for?

    <p>Stress response regulation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the reticularis produce?

    <p>Gonadocorticoids- androgens, male sex hormones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can one remember corticosteroids?

    <p>Glomerulosa: mineralocorticoids (SALT)= dinner; fasciculata: glucocorticoids (SUGAR)= dessert; reticularis: gonadocorticoids (SEX)= after</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is aldosterone?

    <p>Main mineralocorticoid- regulates blood volume by controlling sodium in urine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is cortisol's role during stress?

    <p>Main glucocorticoid- responds to fasting, anxiety, and trauma, ensuring high blood glucose levels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does cortisol do in terms of inflammation?

    <p>Turns down the inflammatory response</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is DHEA?

    <p>Main gonadocorticoid- precursor to estrogen and testosterone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Cushing syndrome?

    <p>Excess levels of glucocorticoids, often due to corticosteroids or chronic stress</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are symptoms of Cushing's?

    <p>Obesity, abnormal body fat pattern, moon face, hypertension, hair growth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What regulates the release of corticosteroids?

    <p>ACTH</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Endocrine System Overview

    • Endocrine system consists of organs that manufacture and secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
    • Hormones are molecules that affect specific organs or tissues with matching receptors.
    • Tropic hormones stimulate other glands to release hormones, often causing slight gland swelling.

    Stimulation of Endocrine Glands

    • Endocrine glands can release hormones in response to:
      • Humoral stimulus: changes in blood levels (e.g., low blood calcium).
      • Neural stimulus: direct stimulation by neurons.
      • Hormonal stimulus: influenced by other hormones.
    • Feedback loops regulate hormone levels, including negative feedback (turns off pathways) and positive feedback (accelerates pathways).

    Role of the Hypothalamus

    • Hypothalamus acts as the "president" of the endocrine system.
    • Monitors and controls hormone secretion via:
      • Influencing the anterior pituitary (hormonal/tropic stimulus).
      • Producing hormones directly (humoral stimulus).
      • Overseeing secretion by the adrenal medulla (neural stimulus).

    Pituitary Gland Structure

    • Located in the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone.
    • Anterior and posterior lobes have distinct functions.
    • Anterior pituitary subdivided into pars tuberalis, pars intermedia, and pars distalis, while the posterior comprises the infundibular stalk and pars nervosa.
    • Controlled by the hypothalamus through the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system, which connects the two areas without involving the general circulation.

    Hormones of the Anterior Pituitary

    • Produces various hormones:
      • Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) regulates thyroid hormone release.
      • Prolactin (PRL) governs milk production and hormone secretion.
      • Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulates adrenal cortex.
      • Growth hormone (GH) promotes growth in bones and muscles.
      • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) regulate reproductive functions.
    • Pituitary dwarfism: caused by inadequate GH production leading to decreased stature.
    • Pituitary gigantism: excessive GH secretion in childhood results in increased height.
    • Acromegaly: occurs in adulthood from continued GH secretion, causing enlarged soft tissues.

    Posterior Pituitary Function

    • Serves as a storage site for hormones synthesized by the hypothalamus, specifically antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin.
    • ADH regulates water retention in kidneys; oxytocin influences uterine contractions and milk ejection.

    Thyroid Gland and Functions

    • Located in the neck, functioning mainly through:
      • Thyroid hormone (TH): regulates metabolism and body temperature.
      • Calcitonin: lowers blood calcium levels by promoting calcium deposition in bones.

    Calcium Regulation

    • Parathyroid hormone (PTH), produced by parathyroid cells, increases blood calcium by stimulating osteoclasts to release calcium from bones.
    • Calcitonin works antagonistically to PTH.

    Adrenal Glands Structure

    • Located atop the kidneys, comprising an outer cortex and inner medulla, each functioning independently.
    • The cortex produces corticosteroids, including:
      • Mineralocorticoids (e.g., aldosterone) that regulate electrolyte levels.
      • Glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol) that influence glucose metabolism and stress response.
      • Gonadocorticoids (e.g., DHEA) which act as precursors for sex hormones.

    Cushing Syndrome

    • Resulting from excess glucocorticoids, Cushing's syndrome presents with symptoms like obesity, hypertension, and abnormal body fat distribution.

    Key Regulatory Hormones

    • ACTH: Hormone from the anterior pituitary regulating corticosteroid release from the adrenal cortex.

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    Test your knowledge of the endocrine system with these flashcards. Each card features key terms related to hormones and their functions within the body. Perfect for studying anatomy or preparing for exams.

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