Endocrine System

Another part of biology paired with the Nervous System.

What is the endocrine system?

It is a network of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream to control long-term body functions.

What is a hormone?

A chemical messenger secreted by a gland into the bloodstream to trigger a response in a target cell.

What is a ‘Target Cell’?

A specific cell with a matching receptor designed to react to a certain hormone.

What part acts as ‘the master regulator’?

The brain is known as ‘the master regulator’.

What stuff co-exist within the brain?

Hypothalamus, Cerebrum, Cerebellum and Brain Stem.

What is a hypothalamus and what it does.

Links the nervous system to the endocrine system by monitoring internal conditions and telling the pituitary gland when to release hormones.

What internal functions does the hypothalamus maintain?

Monitors and regulates vital internal conditions such as body temperature, blood pressure, hunger, thirst, circadian rhythm, and water balance.

What is a Cerebrum and what does it control?

The largest part of the brain that controls both conscious, voluntary actions along thinking, memory and sensory processing.

What is a Cerebellum and what it does?

The “little brain” located at the rear that handles balance, muscle coordination and muscle movement.

What is a brain stem, and what does it do?

The lower stalk that run involuntary, automatic actions like breathing, heart rate and digestion.

What is a pituitary gland?

The “master gland” that bosses all the other endocrine glands around by secreting hormones.

What is a thyroid gland?

A neck gland that secretes thyroxin to control your metabolism.

What are the parathyroid glands?

Four tiny glands located behind the thyroid that secrete parathyroid hormone to control calcium levels.

Where are the pancreas located and what do they do?

The pancreas is located in your upper abdomen, and their job is to maintain blood sugar levels by releasing insulin and glucagon.

Adrenal glands?

Glands on top of your kidneys that secrete adrenaline when you’re stressed or scared.

Insulin?

A hormone secreted by the pancreas when the blood sugar level gets too high.

Glycogen

Sugar that is stored within our liver and muscles.

Glucagon

A hormone secreted by the pancreas when blood sugar gets too low.

Glucagon mission?

To tell the liver to ‘break down glycogen into glucose and dump it into the blood’.

fight-or-flight?

An adrenaline-fueled survival rush where adrenal glands secrete adrenaline to spike your heart rate and energy.

Testes

Male glands that make sperm and secrete testosterone.

Ovaries?

Female glands that store eggs and secrete estrogen and progesterone.

What is testosterone?

The main male sex hormone secreted by the testes for puberty and sperm production.

What is estrogen?

The main female sex hormone secreted by the ovaries for puberty and the menstrual cycle.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks cells in the pancreas.

What is Diabetes Type 2?

When the pancreas secretes insulin but the body’s cells completely ignore them.

Neuropathy

When your nerves get damaged due to blood sugar being too high for a long time.

Peripheral Neuropathy and what it affects.

It damages the nerves in your feet and legs or hands and arms. Causes numbness, tingling and burning pain.

Autonomic Neuropathy and what it affects?

Affects the nerves controlling your internal automatic organs. This can be you digestion, heart rate and blood pressure.