Adrenal Cortex Hormones and Glucose Metabolism Quiz

Endocrine System Components

• The endocrine system consists of glands that produce and secrete hormones, which are chemical signals that regulate various bodily functions.

Primary Chemical Signal

• The primary chemical signal used by the endocrine system is hormones.

Nervous System

• The nervous system is responsible for voluntary control.

Endocrine System Response Time

• The response time of the endocrine system is slow, taking minutes, hours, or even days to respond.

Homeostasis

• The endocrine system works together with the nervous system to maintain homeostasis.

Hormones and Functions

• Prolactin is responsible for stimulating breast development and milk production in females.
• Thyroid hormone (T4) functions to increase the body's basal metabolic rate and is essential for tissue development and growth, especially the nervous system.
• Calcitonin is released in response to a rise in blood calcium levels and appears to decrease blood calcium concentrations.
• Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is produced by the parathyroid glands and causes calcium release from bones, increased reabsorption of calcium in kidney tubules, and production of calcitriol.
• Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is released by the posterior pituitary and acts on the kidneys to promote water reabsorption and conserve water.

Pituitary Gland

• The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that is anatomically and functionally related to the pituitary gland.
• The posterior pituitary is the part of the pituitary gland that is neural tissue derived from hypothalamic tissue.

Tropic Hormones

• Tropic hormones, produced by the anterior pituitary, are referred to as "tropic" because they "turn on or off" other endocrine glands.

Ovarian Function

• Luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers ovulation and production of oestrogens and progesterone by the ovaries.

Adrenal Gland

• The adrenal cortex is responsible for producing mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens.
• Glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, are produced in the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex and have a major role in glucose metabolism.

Glucocorticoids

• The main function of glucocorticoids in the body is to help the body respond to stress and maintain homeostasis.

Adrenal Medulla

• The adrenal medulla releases epinephrine and norepinephrine in response to acute, short-term stress.

Chronic vs. Acute Stress Response

• The main difference between the chronic stress response and the acute stress response in terms of hormone regulation is the duration and intensity of the response.

Thyroid Gland

• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulates the normal development and secretory activity of the thyroid gland.

Endocrine Glands

• A characteristic of endocrine glands is that they produce and secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Hormone Synthesis

• Insulin is synthesized from a single amino acid.

Hormone Action

• Lipophilic hormones, such as steroids, can diffuse across cell membranes.
• Hydrophilic hormones initiate signaling in target cells by binding to receptors on the cell surface.

Hormone Regulation

• The most common method of hormone regulation is negative feedback.

Uterine Contractions and Milk Ejection Reflex

• Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions and dilation of the cervix, and contributes to the milk ejection reflex (letdown) and parent-newborn bonding.
• Oxytocin also plays a role in feelings of love and closeness.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

• The function of ADH is to promote water reabsorption and conserve water.
• Alcohol decreases ADH secretion, leading to increased urine production.

Test your knowledge of adrenal cortex hormones and their major role in glucose metabolism. Learn about the production of glucocorticoids in the zona fasciculata and their impact on tissue building and nutrient breakdown. Discover how these hormones promote catabolism of glycogen to glucose during long-term stress.