Hormones Practice Assessment PDF

# LS15 Peer Learning | Week 7 Session 2 ## Hormones Practice Assessment 1. Compared to the nervous system, the endocrine system: a) is responsible for focused, single cell delivery of messages. b) is responsible for quick signaling. c) is usually involved in sensing the environment....

# LS15 Peer Learning | Week 7 Session 2 ## Hormones Practice Assessment 1. Compared to the nervous system, the endocrine system: a) is responsible for focused, single cell delivery of messages. b) is responsible for quick signaling. c) is usually involved in sensing the environment. d) controls rapid movement. e) is responsible for long-term regulation. 2. Vitamins are differentiated from minerals because of several key properties. What are some of the characteristics of vitamins? a) are organic compounds. b) may not be synthesized by organisms in sufficient amounts. c) are classified based on their solubility. d) are Carbon containing. e) all of the above. 3. Which of the following is NOT an effect of the hormone oxytocin? a) stimulates uterine contractions. b) increases aggression. c) increases trust between individuals. d) produces breast milk. e) both b) and c) are not properties of oxytocin. 4. Hormones are ____ messengers that travel in the _____. a) chemical; bloodstream. b) chemical; nervous system. c) electrical; digestive system. d) electrical; muscle. e) electrical; nervous system. ## What are vitamins? - **organic compounds** (contain Carbon) that provide nutrients so body can develop/function properly. - 13 vitamins only needed in limited amounts - Too much: bad for you - Excess vitamin A = hair loss in men. - Excess vitamin D = growth retardation. - Too little: also bad for you - Vitamin C deficiency = Scurvy (lemon juice/fresh fruit fed to pirates). ## What are minerals? - Chemical elements/inorganic compound (doesn't contain Carbon), only some are needed for nutrition. - Keep our bones, muscles, heart functioning. ### Examples: - **Sodium** (allows for muscle contraction (heart = muscle!), nerve transmission, fluid balance) - **Calcium** (healthy bones and teeth), potassium, magnesium, etc. - **Iron** (part of hemoglobin in RBC, carries oxygen from lungs to tissues). ## Similarities between vitamins and minerals 1. Don't yield energy. Work with enzymes (catalysts for biochemical reactions) to process macromolecules we eat and catalyze (cause or accelerate) other chemical reactions in body. 2. Must be consumed in smaller amounts than macromolecules. Since they are reaction catalysts they can be recycled/reused over and over again. 3. With a healthy diet we get enough vitamins and minerals through our food (no need for supplements). Vitamins and minerals are components our bodies need but can't make enough of on our own. They work together to perform hundreds of roles in our body. ## What is the endocrine system? - System of glands (organs) that release hormones. From endocrine cells to target cells. - One way in which our cells communicate (besides nervous system). ### Examples of glands: - Hypothalamus, Pituitary Gland, Thyroid, Thymus, Adrenal, Parathyroid - **Pineal gland** - secrete melatonin, which causes you to feel sleepy. - **Pancreas** - insulin, control blood glucose levels. - **Gonads** - sex gland that produces gametes/sex cells and sex hormones (testes and ovaries). ## What are hormones? - Chemical messengers that travel in the bloodstream (Advantageous because you can pretty much get anywhere you want bc bloodstream runs throughout entire body.) ### Characteristics: - Control many major bodily functions (hunger, emotions, reproduction). - Very powerful: a small amount of hormones can enact a huge change on your body. - Only want cells (target cells) that are meant to carry out a certain function to respond. - Have receptors on cell surface hormones can distinguish. ## 2 main categories of hormones | Category | Description | |---|---| | **Steroid** ((derived from cholesterol) | - Travel across membrane to nucleus (changes gene expression).<br>- Fat/lipid-soluble (ex. estrogen). | | **Polypeptide/Peptide (derived from chain of amino acids) | - Bind to receptors on cell membrane that triggers response in target cell.<br>- Water-soluble (ex. insulin). | ## Important Hormones | Hormone | Steroid Hormone | Properties | |---|---|---| | **CORTISOL** | Made by adrenal gland. | - Has to do with stress (fight or flight response).<br> - When you're stressed want to provide more energy for the brain and muscles.<br> - May be beneficial in the short term – why? Helps us respond better to times of stress but long term exposure to stress immune system becomes weaker, bc our bodies can't be alert all the time. | | **OXYTOCIN** | Peptide hormone. | - Produced in hypothalamus released by posterior pituitary gland.<br> - "Cuddle hormone/drug".<br> - Released when people cuddle/skin-to-skin contact or bond socially.<br> - Increases trust in b/w individuals: trust experiment.<br> - Role in female reproduction:<br> - Facilitate childbirth (stimulate uterine contractions) and breastfeeding (prod. of milk). | | **ESTROGEN** | Steroid hormone. | - Produced in ovaries & fat cells/adrenal gland (testes and adrenal gland for males).<br> - Primary female sex/reproductive hormone needed for regulation of menstrual cycle, mating, fertility.<br> - During puberty, develops female secondary sex characteristics (breasts, wider hips, hair).<br> - Improves memory & concentration/motor & verbal tasks. <br> **Mood**<br> - Drops in estrogen associated with depression.<br> - Postpartum depression: After childbirth, women often feel depressed b/c of changes in hormone levels (Menopause hormone replacement therapy). | | **TESTOSTERONE** | Steroid hormone | - Produced in testes and a little in adrenal gland (ovaries & adrenal gland for females). | ## Vitamin A deficiency - blindness in some developing countries. ## Vitamin A, D, E, K - Can be classified into 2 categories based on **solubility** (Capable of being dissolved): ### Water soluble - Vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, biotin, pantothenic acid, folic acid - Excess is excreted in urine ### Fat soluble - Vitamins A, D, E, K - Stored in fatty tissue.