Human Endocrine System Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, hormones, glands, disorders, and homeostatic mechanisms from the human endocrine system notes.

Endocrine glands

Ductless glands that release their secretions (hormones) directly into the blood stream.

Exocrine glands

Glands that release their secretions via ducts to a body cavity or to the outside, such as salivary glands.

Hormones

Organic chemical messengers, mostly proteins or steroids, secreted by endocrine glands directly into the bloodstream to target organs.

Target organ

An organ that is affected by a specific hormone.

Chemical coordination

The type of control and coordination brought about by hormones in the blood.

Hypophysis

The pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain attached to the hypothalamus, consisting of an anterior lobe and a posterior lobe.

TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)

A hormone secreted by the hypophysis that stimulates the thyroid to secrete thyroxin.

Growth hormone (STH)

A hormone that promotes the growth of the skeleton and muscles by stimulating protein synthesis.

Dwarfism

A growth disorder caused by the under-secretion (hyposecretion) of growth hormone in children, resulting in a short body with proportional parts and normal mental ability.

Gigantism

A growth disorder caused by the over-secretion (hypersecretion) of growth hormone in children, usually caused by a tumour in the hypophysis.

Acromegaly

A growth disorder caused by the over-secretion of growth hormone in adults, resulting in enlarged bones of the face, hands, and feet.

FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)

A hormone that stimulates primary follicle development into mature Graafian follicles in females and activates germinal epithelium to produce sperm in males.

LH (luteinising hormone)

A hormone that stimulates ovulation and corpus luteum development in females, and stimulates Leydig cells to produce testosterone in males.

Prolactin

A hormone that stimulates the mammary glands to produce milk after the birth of a baby.

ADH (antidiuretic hormone)

A hormone produced by the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior lobe of the hypophysis that controls water reabsorption in the renal tubules and collecting ducts.

Oxytocin

A hormone produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior hypophysis that causes uterine contractions necessary for the birth process.

Thyroxin

A hormone produced by the thyroid gland that increases basal metabolic rate, breathing rate, and heart rate, and is essential for normal growth and nervous system function.

Basal metabolic rate

The amount of energy the body needs to function when it is at rest.

How can hypergylcaemia result in dehydration and the possibility of falling into a coma

Body cells will release water into the blood through osmosis resulting in dehydration which can cause an unconscious state

List 5 symptoms caused by hyperglycaemia

Extreme thirst

Dizziness

Frequent urination

Increased hunger

Repeated infections

Impaired vision

List 4 long term complications that may result from diabetes

Blindness

Kidney failure

Cardiovascular diseases

Which part of the adrenaline gland releases adrenalin

Adrenaline medulla

Simple goitre

An enlargement of the thyroid gland caused by a shortage of iodine.

Hyperthyroidism

A thyroid disorder caused by the over-secretion of thyroxin, characterised by increased metabolic rate, weight loss, increased heart rate, and irritability.

Cretinism

A thyroid disorder in children caused by hypothyroidism, resulting in abnormal growth, mental disability, and failure to reach sexual maturity.

Myxoedema

A thyroid disorder in adults caused by hypothyroidism, characterised by mental decline, physical lethargy, increased body mass, and skin thickening.

Islets of Langerhans

Endocrine cells in the pancreas consisting of alpha cells that produce glucagon and beta cells that produce insulin.

Insulin

A hormone secreted by pancreatic beta cells when blood glucose levels rise, stimulating glucose absorption by cells and its conversion to glycogen.

Glucagon

A hormone secreted by pancreatic alpha cells when blood glucose levels drop, stimulating the conversion of glycogen to glucose in the liver.

Diabetes mellitus

A disorder characterised by constantly high blood glucose levels caused by damaged beta cells (Type 1) or insulin resistance (Type 2).

Hyperglycaemia

An abnormally high blood glucose level resulting from the absence or ineffectiveness of insulin.

Aldosterone

A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that regulates salt balance by increasing sodium and chloride ion reabsorption in kidney filtrate.

Adrenalin

The 'fight or flight' hormone produced by the adrenal medulla that prepares the body for action in emergency situations.

Testosterone

A hormone secreted by Leydig cells in the testes responsible for male secondary sexual characteristics, sex organ development, and sperm maturation.

Oestrogen

A hormone secreted by developing ovarian follicles responsible for female secondary sexual characteristics, thickening of the endometrium, and inhibition of FSH and LH.

Progesterone

A hormone secreted by the corpus luteum responsible for thickening and maintaining the endometrium during pregnancy.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a constant internal environment in the body or a cell.

Negative feedback mechanism

A process where the detection of a deviation from normal triggers a reaction that counteracts the change to restore normal levels.

Which part of the adrenaline gland releases aldosterone

Adrenaline cortex

Label the part 2 and 3 and state the hormones they secrete

2 adrenal cortex secrets aldosterone

3 adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline