Endocrine System & Hormones

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to the endocrine system and its hormones.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by glands in the endocrine system that regulate various body functions.

Endocrine System

A system that uses chemical signals, in the form of hormones, to control and coordinate body functions.

Thyroid Gland

A butterfly-shaped gland located below the larynx that regulates metabolism and secretes thyroid hormones.

Adrenal Glands

Glands located on top of the kidneys that produce steroid hormones, including adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Hypothalamus

A small gland in the brain that integrates responses of the nervous and endocrine systems to maintain homeostasis.

Pituitary Gland

A small gland attached to the hypothalamus that secretes hormones influencing other endocrine glands.

Tropic Hormones

Hormones that stimulate other endocrine glands to release their hormones.

Calcitonin

A hormone produced by the thyroid gland that helps regulate blood calcium levels by lowering them.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

A hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands that increases blood calcium levels.

Insulin

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that lowers blood glucose levels.

Glucagon

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that increases blood glucose levels.

Melatonin

Hormone secreted by the pineal gland that regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Erythropoietin

A hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Leptin

A hormone produced by adipose tissue that suppresses appetite and increases energy production.

Oxytocin

A hormone that stimulates uterine contractions during labor and milk ejection during breastfeeding.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)

A tropic hormone that stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce steroid hormones.

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

A hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones.

Adenohypophysis

The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland that produces several important hormones.

Neurohypophysis

The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland that stores and releases hormones produced by the hypothalamus.

Steroid Hormones

Hormones derived from cholesterol that are lipid-soluble and can pass through cell membranes.

Protein Hormones

Hormones made up of amino acids that are usually water-soluble and bind to receptors on the cell surface.