Endocrine System Flashcards

Flashcards covering the endocrine system, focusing on the glands, hormones, and their functions as covered in the lecture notes.

Hypothalamus

Contains both brain centers and endocrine tissue; regulates the pituitary gland and integrates nervous and endocrine systems.

Hypothalamic neurons function

Synthesize hormones and transport them along axons to the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland.

Hypothalamic regulatory hormones

Controls the secretory activities of endocrine cells in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.

Autonomic centers in the hypothalamus

Exert direct neural control over the endocrine cells of the adrenal medulla.

Anterior lobe of the pituitary gland

Secretes hormones in response to releasing hormones, inhibited by inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Controls the secretion of hormones by the thyroid gland; targets the thyroid gland.

Prolactin (PRL)

Stimulates the production of milk by the mammary glands.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)

Controls the secretion of hormones by the adrenal cortex; targets the adrenal cortex.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

Controls the growth of the body; targets bone, muscle, and adipose tissue.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

In females, maturation of an ovarian follicle and ovum; in males, maturation of sperm in the testes.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

In females, causes ovulation; in males, causes the secretion of testosterone.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

Targets distal convoluted tubules (of the kidney); causes reabsorption of water back into the bloodstream.

Oxytocin (OT)

Targets uterine smooth muscle and breasts; causes uterine muscle contraction and milk ejection.

Thyroxine (T4) & Triiodothyronine (T3)

Increases basal metabolic rate by stimulating cellular oxygen use to produce ATP.

Calcitonin

Targets bone cells (stimulates osteoblast activity and inhibits osteoclast activity) & distal convoluted tubules (causes secretion of excess calcium into the urine).

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

Targets bone cells (activates osteoclasts to resorb bone), proximal convoluted tubules (causes PCTs to reabsorb calcium back into the bloodstream), and the small intestine (promotes calcium absorption).

Epinephrine and Norepinephrine

Targets the heart (SA Node to increase heart rate); smooth muscle: peripheral arterioles (vasoconstriction, which increases blood pressure); terminal bronchioles (bronchodilation, which increases the depth of breathing); the diaphragm (increased breathing rate).

Aldosterone

Targets proximal convoluted tubules, causing reabsorption of water and electrolytes back into the blood (increases blood pressure).

Cortisol

Targets all cells, where it regulates glucose metabolism.

Glucagon

Increases blood glucose levels (causes the breakdown of glycogen and release of glucose into the bloodstream).

Insulin

Decreases blood glucose levels (moves glucose from the bloodstream into cells and promotes glycogen formation in the liver and skeletal muscle).

Thymosin

Affects the maturation of lymphocytes (T-cells).

Melatonin

Helps your body control day-night sleep patterns and your internal body clock (circadian rhythms).

Estrogen

Develops female secondary sexual characteristics (at puberty) and maintains them throughout life. Targets hair follicles, mammary glands, and adipose tissue.

Progesterone

Prepares the uterine lining for the implantation of the zygote.

Testosterone

Develops male secondary sexual characteristics at puberty and maintains them throughout life. Targets hair follicles, muscle and bone, and vocal cords.

Contains both brain centers and endocrine tissue; regulates the pituitary gland and integrates nervous and endocrine systems.

How does the hypothalamus regulate the pituitary gland and integrate nervous and endocrine systems?

Synthesize hormones and transport them along axons to the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland.

How do hypothalamic neurons function?

Controls the secretory activities of endocrine cells in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.

What is the function of hypothalamic regulatory hormones?

Exert direct neural control over the endocrine cells of the adrenal medulla.

How do autonomic centers in the hypothalamus exert neural control?

Secretes hormones in response to releasing hormones, inhibited by inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus.

How does the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland secrete hormones?

Controls the secretion of hormones by the thyroid gland; targets the thyroid gland.

What does Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) do?

Stimulates the production of milk by the mammary glands.

What is the function of Prolactin (PRL)?

Controls the secretion of hormones by the adrenal cortex; targets the adrenal cortex.

What does Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) control?

Controls the growth of the body; targets bone, muscle, and adipose tissue.

What is the function of Human Growth Hormone (HGH)?

In females, maturation of an ovarian follicle and ovum; in males, maturation of sperm in the testes.

What is the role of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)?

In females, causes ovulation; in males, causes the secretion of testosterone.

What is the function of Luteinizing Hormone (LH)?

Targets distal convoluted tubules (of the kidney); causes reabsorption of water back into the bloodstream.

What is the function of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)?

Targets uterine smooth muscle and breasts; causes uterine muscle contraction and milk ejection.

What is the function of Oxytocin (OT)?

Increases basal metabolic rate by stimulating cellular oxygen use to produce ATP.

What is the function of Thyroxine (T4) & Triiodothyronine (T3)?

Targets bone cells (stimulates osteoblast activity and inhibits osteoclast activity) & distal convoluted tubules (causes secretion of excess calcium into the urine).

What is the function of Calcitonin?

Targets bone cells (activates osteoclasts to resorb bone), proximal convoluted tubules (causes PCTs to reabsorb calcium back into the bloodstream), and the small intestine (promotes calcium absorption).

What is the function of Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)?

Targets the heart (SA Node to increase heart rate); smooth muscle: peripheral arterioles (vasoconstriction, which increases blood pressure); terminal bronchioles (bronchodilation, which increases the depth of breathing); the diaphragm (increased breathing rate).

What are the targets and effects of Epinephrine and Norepinephrine?

Targets proximal convoluted tubules, causing reabsorption of water and electrolytes back into the blood (increases blood pressure).

What is the function of Aldosterone?

Targets all cells, where it regulates glucose metabolism.

What is the function of Cortisol?

Increases blood glucose levels (causes the breakdown of glycogen and release of glucose into the bloodstream).

What is the function of Glucagon?

Decreases blood glucose levels (moves glucose from the bloodstream into cells and promotes glycogen formation in the liver and skeletal muscle).

What is the function of Insulin?

Affects the maturation of lymphocytes (T-cells).

What is the function of Thymosin?

Helps your body control day-night sleep patterns and your internal body clock (circadian rhythms).

What is the function of Melatonin?

Develops female secondary sexual characteristics (at puberty) and maintains them throughout life. Targets hair follicles, mammary

What is the function of Estrogen?