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Questions and Answers
What is the main difference in response time between the nervous system and the endocrine system?
Where is the pituitary gland located?
What is the primary function of the parathyroid hormone?
What is the main function of calcitonin?
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What is the primary function of the thyroid hormone?
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What is the location of the thymus gland?
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What is the function of the pituitary gland?
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What is the characteristic of the endocrine system in terms of the exposure of hormone to cells?
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What is the primary function of the endocrine system?
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What is the role of tropic hormones in the endocrine system?
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What is an example of a disorder that involves endocrine system malfunction?
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What is the term for cells that perform various physiological functions in the endocrine system?
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What is the role of the nervous system in relation to the endocrine system?
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What is the term for the organs where hormones are released in the endocrine system?
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What is the definition of hormones in the endocrine system?
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What is the term for the tissues that are located some distance from the endocrine organ, where hormones travel through systemic circulation and bind to receptors?
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Study Notes
The Endocrine System
- The endocrine system is responsible for controlling a large number of homeostatic variables, mediating communication at a slower rate but producing more widespread effects.
Functions of the Endocrine System
- The endocrine system is involved in the control of development, growth, and reproduction functions.
- It regulates development, growth, and reproduction, determining an individual's physical appearance.
Interaction between the Nervous and Endocrine Systems
- There is a close interaction between the nervous system and endocrine system in controlling many body functions.
- The endocrine system has significant effects on brain function, influencing an individual's behavior and personality.
Endocrine System Malfunction and Disorders
- Endocrine system malfunction underlies a large number of disorders that affect humans, such as diabetes, sleep disorders, and some forms of infertility.
- Many drugs used to treat these disorders either mimic or block the actions of hormones.
Key Terms
- Hormones: Chemical messengers produced by the endocrine system.
- Tropic hormones: Influence the activities of other endocrine glands.
- Endocrine glands: Secretory organs that release hormones.
- Endocrine cells: Cells that perform various physiological functions.
- Target tissues: Tissues that are located some distance from the endocrine organ, where hormones bind to receptors.
Differences between the Nervous and Endocrine Systems
- The response time of the endocrine system is slower than the nervous system due to the time taken for hormone synthesis, secretion, transport, receptor binding, and effect on target tissues.
- The endocrine system uses the bloodstream to transport chemical messengers, exposing virtually all cells in the body to hormones.
Major Endocrine Glands
Pituitary Gland
- Located on the base of the brain in a small depression in the sphenoid bone.
- Highly vascular and physically attached to the hypothalamus by a stalk-like structure (infundibulum).
- Master endocrine gland, regulating the growth and function of other endocrine glands.
- Divided into the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) and posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis).
- Secretes 8 hormones.
Parathyroid Gland
- Consists of 4 discrete structures located on the posterior of the thyroid gland.
- Collectively weighs less than 0.5g.
- Secrete parathyroid hormone, responsible for calcium homeostasis.
- Parathyroid hormone acts on bone, digestive tract, and kidneys to increase circulating calcium ion concentration in the blood.
Thyroid Gland
- Bilobed structure located on the anterior and lateral surfaces of the trachea, inferior to the larynx.
- Weighs approximately 20g in adult humans.
- Largest pure endocrine gland in the body.
- Secretes two major hormones: calcitonin and thyroid hormone (thyroxine and triiodothyronine).
- Calcitonin stimulates calcium uptake in the skeleton and decreases blood calcium ion concentration.
- Thyroid hormone affects most tissues in the body and stimulates glucose oxidation and metabolic rate.
Thymus Gland
- Located in the thoracic cavity adjacent to the sternum.
- Reaches maximum size in childhood and gradually declines during adulthood.
- Secretes a number of peptide hormones, responsible for the development and maturation of the immune system.
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Description
Learn about the endocrine system's role in controlling homeostatic variables, development, growth, and reproduction. Understand its interactions with the nervous system and its impact on our physical appearance.
