Endocrine and Reproductive Systems

Flashcards on the endocrine and reproductive systems, covering hormones, glands, and reproductive processes.

The endocrine system produces chemical messenger molecules called __.

hormones

Hormones act only on certain cells, also known as the hormones' __.

target cells

The __ is one of the major glands of the endocrine system and is sometimes called the master gland.

pituitary gland

Endocrine glands are __ organs that secrete their products into interstitial fluid, lymph, and blood.

ductless

__ hormones diffuse through the cell membrane and enter the cell by binding to an intracellular receptor, forming a hormone receptor complex within the cell.

Steroid

Once in the nucleus, the hormone receptor complex attaches to __ and activates specific genes.

DNA

Non steroid hormones bind to __ on the target cell membrane.

receptors

Once a non steroid hormone binds to the receptor on the surface of the cell, they work through a series of intermediate mechanisms to activate existing __.

enzymes

In terms of the endocrine system or hormones, the endocrine glands serve as the __ of the negative feedback loop.

control center

The __ is the homeostatic control center of the brain and an important link between the nervous and endocrine systems.

hypothalamus

The posterior pituitary acts to store the hormones and .

ADH and oxytocin

Nursing stimulates the nerve receptors in the nipples which is an example of a __ reflex.

neuroendocrine

The anterior pituitary produces __ key hormones.

six

Low levels of growth hormone being released during childhood can result in __ dwarfism.

pituitary

The __ secretes glucagon, insulin, and somatostatin, which are three different hormones.

pancreas

__ cells secrete glucagon, and the secretion of glucagon into our bloodstream raises our blood sugar.

Alpha

__ cells secrete insulin, and the secretion of insulin into our bloodstream lowers our blood sugar.

Beta

__ cells secrete somatostatin, and these somatostatin inhibits the secretion of both glucagon and insulin.

Delta

The __ is the outer layer of the adrenal gland and responsible for producing two steroid hormones.

adrenal cortex

The __ is the inner layer of the adrenal gland, which produces two non steroid hormones.

adrenal medulla

The thyroid gland produces two main hormones: which acts to speed up cellular metabolism, and which promotes bone growth.

thyroxin, calcitonin

The four small __ glands are embedded in the back of the thyroid gland and produce parathyroid hormone or PTH, which also helps to regulate blood calcium levels.

parathyroid

Iodine deficiency can result in something called __ because production of active thyroid hormones requires iodine.

GALTA

The testes are responsible for producing __.

testosterone

The ovaries produce and .

estrogen and progesterone

The __ gland is responsible for secreting melatonin.

pineal

__ is a disease of sugar regulation, or blood glucose regulation.

Diabetes mellitus

__ diabetes is caused by the failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin and is known as insulin dependent diabetes.

Type one

__ diabetes occurs when the cells of the person's body fail to respond adequately to the insulin that is being secreted.

Type two

The __ is a sack of skin and smooth muscle that holds the testes.

scrotum

The __ tubules are located within the testes and this is where sperm production takes place.

seminiferous

The and the is where sperm become motile and are stored.

epididymis and the ductus deferens

__ is a thick whitish mixture of both sperm and secretions from the accessory glands.

Semen

The mid piece of a sperm contains a lot of __ that produce the energy that allow the tail to allow motility.

mitochondria

The process of sequential cell division where undifferentiated cells divide and become more specialized towards the surface of the tubules and form into mature sperm is called __.

spermatogenesis

The ovaries release immature eggs, also known as __.

oocytes

The open end of the oviduct has finger like projections called __ and these help move the oocyte into the oviduct.

fimbrae

The hollow, upside down pear shaped organ where the embryo grows and develops is the __.

uterus

The __ is the inner layer lining of the uterus comprised of epithelial tissue, glands, connective tissue, and blood vessels where a fertilized egg attaches.

endometrium

The outer layer of smooth muscles of the uterus is called the __.

myometrium

A rise in __ stimulates lactation.

prolactin

The cycle consists of regular pattern of growth, maturation and release of oocytes from the ovaries, while the is where the uterus is preparing for pregnancy.

ovarian, uterine

The remainder of the follicle after release of secondary oocyte forms what is called the __.

corpus luteum

Embryonic tissue or chorion secretes a hormone called __ which is detected in urine by pregnancy tests.

human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG)