Hormones and the Endocrine System

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, glands, and hormones introduced in Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.

Endocrine System

A system of scattered glands and organs that secretes hormones traveling through the blood, producing widespread effects that last much longer than action potentials.

Nervous System

A system that uses lightning-fast electrochemical action potentials delivered by an expressway of neurons to specific cells and organs.

Gland

Any structure in the body that makes and secretes a hormone.

Pituitary Gland

The master gland located under the brain that produces many hormones signaling other glands (such as the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and pineal glands) to make their own hormones.

Hypothalamus

A brain structure that belongs to the endocrine system because it produces and releases hormones in addition to its brain duties.

Target Cells

Specific cells containing the proper receptors required for a specific hormone to trigger a reaction.

Thyroxine

A hormone produced by the thyroid gland at the bottom of the throat that stimulates metabolism and binds to receptors in most cells in the body.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that helps regulate growth and trigger sexual maturity by targeting specific cells in the ovaries and testes.