Hormones and Endocrine Disorders Study Tool

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering major human hormones, their functions, origins, and associated endocrine disorders as described in the lecture notes.

Insulin

Needed for movement of glucose and amino acids into cells; stimulates liver and muscle cells to store glucose; comes from the beta cells of the pancreas.

Prolactin

Responsible for milk production in lactating women; increases the response of the follicle to FSH and LH; comes from the anterior pituitary gland.

Thymosin

Produced in the thymus gland; stimulates maturation of T cells; plays a vital role inumminity.

T3 and T4

Increases metabolic rate of cells; responsible for temperature control; controls the sodium/potassium pump rate; needed for growth and maturation; comes from the thyroid gland.

Cortisol-Glucocorticoid

Increases the amount of circulating glucose; increases fat and protein breakdown; reduces the inflammatory reaction; comes from the adrenal cortex.

Epinephrine and Norepinephrine

Causes increased cardiac output, vasoconstriction, increased blood flow to skeletal muscles, release of glucose, and an increase in respiratory rate and heart rate; come from the adrenal medulla.

ADH

Decreases urinary output in order to keep fluid (water) in the bloodstream; it is "against urine"; from the posterior pituitary gland.

ACTH

Causes release of hormones from the adrenal glands; helps MSH to create pigment in the skin; comes from the anterior pituitary gland.

Estrogen and Progesterone

Needed to control the reproductive cycle, prepare mammary glands for lactation, maintain pregnancy, and for female reproductive organ development and sex characteristics; come from the ovaries.

Glucagon

Needed to break down stored glucose (glycogen) in the liver and in the muscle cells; comes from the alpha cells in the pancreas.

Oxytocin

Stimulates smooth muscle cells of the uterus during childbirth, menses and sexual intercourse; assists with milk ejection during breast feeding; comes from the posterior pituitary gland.

LH and FSH

Known as gonadotropins; mature the follicle in the ovary for oocyte release; alter levels of estrogen and progesterone; needed in males for making/maturing sperm and utilizing testosterone; from anterior pituitary gland.

Melatonin

Regulates sleep and wake cycles based visual input; the "seat of the soul"; plays a role in the timing of puberty; comes from the pineal gland.

Sex Hormones (androgens)

Stimulates pubic and axillary (armpit) hair growth; responsible for the sex drive in females; comes from the adrenal cortex.

TSH

Stimulates the synthesis and secretion of hormones from the thyroid gland; come from the anterior pituitary gland.

Calcitonin

Reduces the amount of calcium circulating the blood stream if levels are above normal; decreases osteoclast activity and increases excretion of calcium in the urine; comes from the thyroid gland.

hCG

Produced in the placenta; regulates the corpus luteum to help maintain pregnancy; used to detect if conception has occurred.

Growth Hormone

Also known as somatotropin; stimulates growth, regulates metabolism, and is responsible for an individual’s height; regulates lipid breakdown and use of amino acids; from the anterior pituitary gland.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

Increases calcium levels in the bloodstream when levels are low; increases osteoclast activity to release calcium from bones; works on kidneys and intestines; from the parathyroid glands.

Mineralocorticoid

Main type is aldosterone; increases the rate of sodium reabsorption and water flow back into the bloodstream; causes potassium and hydrogen excretion; comes from the adrenal cortex.

Testosterone

Regulates the production of sperm cells in the testes; development and maintenance of the male sex characteristics and male reproductive organs; comes from the testes.

Addison’s Disease

Hyposecretion of adrenal cortical hormones; unexplained weight loss, anorexia, decreased cold tolerance; possible hyperpigmentation.

Cretinism

Extreme hypothyroidism during development/childhood, leading to dwarfism, mental retardation, and umbilical hernia.

Acromegaly

Increased GH after development leading to elongation of facial bones (forehead, jaw/mandible) and extremities (hands, feet, etc).

Gigantism

Increased GH during development, leading to excess protein anabolism and increased height.

Cushing’s Disease

Increased ACTH from an anterior pituitary adenoma; leads to increased glucocorticoids (cortisol), buffalo hump, moon face, hypokalemia, and hyperpigmentation.

Diabetes Insipidus

Decreased (or insensitivity to) ADH, leading to polyuria and polydipsia; kidneys do not retain water.

Simple Goiter:

Lack of iodine; enlarged thyroid tissue but decreased thyroid hormone production.

Hyperparathyroidism

Increased PTH leading to increased reabsorption of calcium from bone and kidneys; hypercalcemia (confusion, muscle pain, anorexia).

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus:

Target cell insensitivity to insulin and inability to metabolize carbs; adult onset; combined genetic and envrionmental factors; polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia.

Graves Disease

Increased thyroid hormone; inherited hyperthyroidism; exophthalmos.

Hyperthyroidism

Increased thyroid hormone, weight loss, and heat intolerance.

Hypothyroidism

Decreased thyroid hormone, weight gain, and dry skin.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Decreased insulin; inherited; polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia; inability to secure and metabolize carbs.

Pituitary Dwarfism

Decreased GH during development.

Osteoporosis:

Decreased estrogen after menopause; loss of minerals and collagen from bone matrix; weakens skeleton.

Winter Depression: Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)

Increased melatonin, sadness, and melancholy due to decreased sunlight.