DSA Week 5: Endocrine System

Anterior pituitary gland

growth, prolactin, FSH, LH, thyroid stimulating hormone, ACTH

Posterior pituitary gland

oxytocin, ADH

Thyroid gland

T3, T4

Parathyroid gland

parathyroid hormone (regulates calcium, phosphate, magnesium levels)

Adrenal gland

adrenaline + noradrenaline, cortisol + aldosterone

Pancreas

insulin + glucagon

Gonads

testosterone + estrogen

Humoral stimuli

triggered by ion/nutrient levels in the blood

Neural stimuli

the CNS regulate hormone secretion

Hormonal stimuli

release of hormones in response to hormones produced by other endocrine organs

Antagonistic effect

hormone has the opposite effect of another hormone

Permissive effect

hormone enhances response of target cells to another hormone

Synergistic effect

two or more hormones working together

Transport protein

they transport hormones and evenly distribute them

concentration (half-life)

time it takes for the concentration of hormones to decrease by half

amino acid based hormones

water soluble, must bind to a receptor on the membrane

steroid hormone

fat soluble, carried by a hormone carrier/albumin, binds to receptor in the cell

How does the anterior pituitary gland release hormones?

Hypothalamus releases releasing/inhibiting hormones into the hypophyseal portal system which stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release/inhibit certain hormones

How does the posterior pituitary gland release hormones?

The hypothalamic neurons stimulate the posterior pituitary gland to release/inhibit hormones stored in the axon terminals of the posterior pituitary gland.

Tissue type of anterior pituitary gland and how is it connected to the hypothalamus

glandular tissue connected to the hypothalamus via the hypophyseal portal

Tissue type of the posterior pituitary gland and how is it connected to the hypothalamus

neural tissue connected to hypothalamus via nerve fibres

How is the thyroid gland and hypothalamus connected?

Hypothalamus produces TRH which stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to produce TSH, TSH stimulates thyroid gland to secrete thryoid hormones.