Chapter 17 Review: The Endocrine System

1. What is cell communication important and what are the 4 cell communication
mechanisms? Define them.
-

Cell communication is important for it is necessary for integration of cellular

activities.

4 Mechanisms include:
o -Jap Junctions: Pores in the membrane between a cell and an
adjacent cell. Allows materials of one cell to directly pass through the
cytoplasm of another cell
o -Neurotransmitters: Secreted by neurons, diffuse across a narrow
synaptic cleft and bind to receptors in the post-synaptic cell.
o -Pancrines: Secreted by a cell into the intracellular fluid. Diffuses to a
nearby cell of the same tissue and binds to receptors of that cell.
o -Hormones: Chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream.
Stimulate physiology of cells in another tissue or organ.

2. What are the 4 components of the Endocrine System? Define them.

-

Endocrine Glands & Exocrine Glands:

o Secrete hormones
o Have dense capillaries that absorb and circulate secreted hormones
o Secreted hormones act intracellular (alter the metabolism of their
target organ)
Exocrine Glands:
o Secrete hormones
o Transport secreted hormones via ducts to body surfaces or hollow
organs
o Secreted hormones act extracellular (ie. Digestion of food)
Hormones:
o Secreted by endocrine glands
o Chemical messenger that enters and circulates the blood
Target Cells
o Have SPECIFIC receptor cells for the particular hormone being
secreted.
Endocrine System:
o Endocrine organs (ie. Thyroid, pancreas, testes)
o Hormone producing cells in organs (ie. Brain, stomach, small
intestines)

3. List the 10 main endocrine organs of the body

-

Pineal Gland
Hypothalamus
Pituitary Gland
Thymus
Thyroid

Adrenal Gland
Parathyroid
Pancreas
Testes
Ovaries

4. List 6 other endocrine organs of the body

-

Heart
Skin
Liver
Kidneys
Stomach/Small intestines
Placenta

5. Compare and contrast the nervous system and the endocrine system (10 mark
question!)
Factors
Communication
Speed and persistence

Nervous System
Electrical impulses &
chemical signals (ie.
neurotransmitters)
Reacts quickly to stimulus
(1-10ms)

Stops quickly when

stimulus ends
Adaption to long term
stimuli

Adopts quickly to continual

stimulation

Area of effect

Usually, specific, local

effects (one organ)
Specificity of the nervous
system is determined by
connections of neurons

Specificity

Endocrine System
Chemical signals only (ie.
hormones)
Reacts slowly to stimulus
(hormones take secondsdays to be released) and
effects can continue on for
weeks
May continue to respond
long after stimulus stops
Adopts relatively slowly,
may respond from days to
weeks
Usually widespread effects
(many organs)
Releases hormones into the
bloodstream for general
distribution throughout the
body. Specificity
determined by receptors for
hormones.

6. Describe the anatomy of the hypothalamus

-

Forms the floor and the wall of the third ventricle of the brain
Regulates primitive functions from child birth to water balance
Many functions of the hypothalamus are carried out by the pituitary gland

7. Describe the anatomy of the pituitary gland

Suspended from the hypothalamus from a narrow stalk of tissue

Housed in the sphenoid bone
Size of an olive
Composed of 2 lobes: anterior and posterior

8. How many hormones does the hypothalamus produce?

-

9 hormones

9. How many of the hypothalamus hormones act on the anterior pituitary lobe?
-

7 hormones

10.
How many of the hypothalamus hormones act on the posterior pituitary
lobe?
11.

2 hormones
How are the hypothalamus hormones regulated?

12.

The are regulated by releasing hormones and inhibiting hormones

What does a releasing hypothalamus regulator do? How many are there?

13.

Stimulates the pituitary to release its hormones.

7/9 hypothalamus hormones are releasing
What does an inhibiting hypothalamus regulator do? How many are there?

14.

Suppresses pituitary hormones

2/9 hypothalamus hormones are inhibitory
Where does the posterior pituitary lobe arise from?

15.

The brain
Where does the anterior pituitary lobe arise from?

The hypophyseal pouch

16.
What are the 6 anterior pituitary hormones their function and their target
cells?
-

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

o (Function)
Monthly development of eggs and structure that house them
(follicles) in the ovaries (female)
Stimulates sperm production (continuously)

o (Target cells)
Ovaries
Testes
-

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

o (Function)
Stimulates release of a mature egg from the follicle (ovulation) in
preparation for fertilization or expulsion via the reproductive
tract (female)
Stimulates testes to secrete testosterone (male)
o (Target cells)
Ovaries
Testes

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

o (Function)
Stimulates the secretion of thyroid hormones
o (Target cells)
Thyroid

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)

o (Function)
Secretion of cortisol to regulate glucose, fat and protein
metabolism in response to stress
o (Target cells)
Adrenal Cortex

Prolactin (PRL)
o (Function)
Stimulates mammary glands to produce milk in females (after
child birth)
Increases LH sensitivity which increases testosterone in males
o (Target cells)
Breasts
Testes

Growth Hormone (GH)

o (Function)
Promotes cell differentiation and mitosis
Stimulates liver to secrete IGF I & II
Widespread effects in tissues, bones, cartilage and muscle
growth in children
o (Target cells)
All cells in the body

17.
What are the 2 posterior pituitary hormones and their function and target
cells?
-

Oxytocin (OT)

o (Function)
Labour contractions and lactation (female)
Sperm transport (males)
Emotional bonding (both)
o (Target Cells)
Breasts
Testes
Others?
-

18.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

o (Function)
Increase water retention of kidneys
Decrease urine volume
Helps prevent dehydration
o (Target cells)
Kidneys

What controls the pituitary secretion of hormones?

-

19.

Hypothalamus
Other areas of the brain
Feedback mechanisms from target organs (negative + positive)
What controls anterior pituitary secretion of hormones?

20.

Releasing/Inhibiting hormones
What are 2 controls the posterior pituitary secretion of hormones?

Hormones released in response to nervous system signals

o Ie. A suckling infant stimulates nerve endings hypothalamus
posterior lobe Oxytocin milk ejection

Hormones released in response to higher brain functions

o Ie. A crying infant stimulates ejection of milk

21.

Describe the feedback from target organs to the pituitary.

-

Most signals from target organs are inhibitory (negative)

o Once the target organ has been effected, the signal is sent back to the
pituitary where it stops the secretion of the hormone controlling the
target organ.
Ie. Thyroid Hormones inhibit the release of TSH by anterior
pituitary
Hypothalamus releases TSH to stimulate anterior pituitary
to release TSH
Anterior pituitary releases TSH

22.

TSH stimulates thyroid to secrete TH

TH stimulates metabolism and inhibits the release of
TSH/TRH

Describe the anatomy and physiology of the pineal gland.

-

23.

Small growth in the 3rd ventricle of the brain

Related to regulation of circadian rhythms
What 2 hormones does the pineal gland secrete? Describe them.

24.

Serotonin
o Hormone secreted during the day
Melatonin
o Hormone secreted at night
o Related to amino acid tryptophan + pigment melanin
Melatonin increases in SAD and PMS but can be treated by
phototherapy
What 2 hormones does the thymus secrete?

25.

Thymopoietin
Thymosin
Describe the anatomy of the thyroid gland

26.

Largest endocrine gland

Highest rate of blood flow in this organ
Wrapped around the trachea
Describe the thyroid hormones.

27.

Main hormones = T3 & T4

o Each contain an iodide atom
o Main effects is to increase body metabolism
Increase oxygen consumption
Increase heart rate
Increase respiration
Decrease appetites
Increase digestion of carbs, proteins and fats
Calcitonin
o Promotes calcium deposition into bone
Describe the anatomy of the parathyroid glands

28.

Embedded on the posterior surface of the thyroid

What is the function of the parathyroid gland?

To secrete parathyroid hormone

29.

Describe parathyroid hormone (PTH)

-

30.

Secreted in response to low calcium blood levels

o Increase Ca2+ levels
o Promotes synthesis of calcitriol
Increase absorption of calcium
Decreases excretion of calcium in urine
Increase bone resorption
Describe the anatomy of the adrenal glands

31.

On top of the kidney

2 glands cortex (outer) medulla (inner)
What hormones does the adrenal medulla secrete?

32.

Catacholamines
o Primary members: epinephrine and norepinephrine
o Supports functions of the sympathetic nervous division: increase
alertness, increase HR, increase RR, increase blood glucose levels,
inhibits digestion

What hormones does the adrenal cortex secrete?

-

33.

Synthesizes over 25 hormones called corticosteroids

Name and describe 3 corticosteroids.

Mineralcorticoid
o (function)
control electrolyte balance
Glucocorticoid
o (function)
fat and protein catabolism
gluconeogenesis (production of glucose from other sources to
provide energy)
release of a fatty acid
anti-inflammatory properties body can become immune and is
not good for long term use.
Sex Steroids
o Androgen
(function)
Control male development
Testosterone is a product from a precursor molecule in the
adrenal cortex
o Estrogen

34.

(function)
Only important after menopause

Describe the anatomy of the pancreas

-

35.

Adjacent to the stomach, inferior and dorsal

Describe the pancreas exocrine and endocrine glands

36.

Most of the pancreas is an exocrine gland

o Digestive enzymes are produced in the pancreas and secreted via
ducts to the digestive tract
Some of the pancreas is an endocrine gland
o Endocrine cell = pancreatic islet cell
Pancreatic islet cell secretes 5 hormones. Insulin and glucagen
are the most important.
Describe insulin

37.

Secreted by beta cells of the islets when glucose and amino acid levels in the
blood increase (usually after a meal)
Signals cells to absorb blood nutrients
Signals muscle and adipose tissue to store glycogen and fat.

Describe glucagon
-

38.

Secreted by alpha cells of the islet in response to a drop in glucose blood

concentration levels in between means
In the liver: signals the release of glucose into the bloodstream
In adipose: signals fat catabolism and the release of a free fatty acid
Gonads are both why type of gland? Give examples of each

39.

Endocrine
o Gonadal hormones
Exocrine
o Eggs and sperm
What are the 3 gonadal hormones?

Estradiol
Progesterone
Testosterone

40.
3 other endocrine organs are the skin, the stomach and the placenta. What
are the endocrine functions of each organ?

41.

Steroid hormones are derived from?

-

42.

Cholesterol
What are peptides?

43.

3-200 or more amino acids

What do they include?

44.

Posterior pituitary hormones

Most anterior pituitary hormones
All releasing and inhibiting hormones of the hypothalamus
What are monoamines?

45.

Modified amino acids

What do monoamines they include?

-

46.

Epinephrine,
norepinephrine,
dopamine,
melatonin,
thyroid hormone
How are steroids synthesized?

47.

From cholesterol
How are peptides synthesized?

48.

Like regular proteins

How are monamines synthesized?

49.

The Skin:
o Vitamin D3 is produced by keratinocytes of the skin in the presence of
light. Is the chemical starting component in the synthesis of calcitrion
The Stomach
o Enteric hormones involved in the regulation of the digestive tract
The Placenta
o Regulates pregnancy, stimulates the development of the fetus

From tyrosine
Except melatonin where it is synthesized from tryptophan
What hormones are hydrophilic (mostly)?

50.

Peptides
Monoamines
What hormones are hydrophobic?

51.

Steroids
How do hydrophobic hormones travel?

52.

Travel through the blood attached to transport proteins

How do hydrophilic hormones travel?

53.

Travel freely and mix easily with blood plasma

Define stress

54.

defined by a situation which upsets the bodys homeostasis and threatens

ones physical and emotional well being.
What are examples of physical stress?

55.

Injury, surgery, malnutrition, over exercise, extreme pain, extreme

temperatures
What are examples of emotional stress?

56.

Depression, guilt, anger, anxiety

What is the stress response?

57.

How the body consistently responds to stress.

What are the 3 stages of the stress response?

58.

The alarm reaction

The stage of resistance
The stage of exhaustion
Name and describe the first stress response

59.

The alarm reaction

Initial response to stress/ prepares the body to take action
Increases epinephrine and norepinephrine levels
Increase glucose levels
Water and sodium retention in kidney (aldosterone)
Increase heart rate and blood pressure
Name and describe the second stress response

The stage of resistance

60.

A few hours after stress, glycogen stores are used up

Increase ACTH and cortisol levels
Gluconeogenesis
Anti-inflammatory properties, however the body can become immune so it is
not good for long term use
Name and describe the third stress response

The stage of exhaustion

Fat stores are depleted
Loss of glucose homeostasis
Protein breakdown and muscle wasting
Hypertension and imbalance of eletrolytes
Hypokalemia and alkalosis can lead to death