Endocrine System Review

Endocrine System

A system that coordinates and directs the activities of the body's cells through hormones.

Hormones

Chemical messengers released into the bloodstream to regulate physiological processes.

Pineal Gland

Produces melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Pituitary Gland

Often referred to as the 'master gland' because it regulates other endocrine glands.

Growth Hormone (GH)

Stimulates growth and repair of tissues.

Prolactin

Stimulates milk production in mammary glands.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

Stimulates ovulation in ovaries and testosterone production in testes.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

Controls water excretion in kidneys.

Thyroid Hormones

Includes thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which raise metabolic rate.

Calcitonin

Lowers blood calcium levels by inhibiting bone breakdown.

Parathyroid Hormone

Raises blood calcium levels by stimulating bone breakdown and calcium absorption.

Insulin

Lowers blood sugar levels by promoting glucose uptake by cells.

Glucagon

Raises blood sugar levels by stimulating glycogen breakdown in the liver.

Aldosterone

Regulates sodium and potassium balance, maintaining blood pressure.

Cortisol

Regulates metabolism, immune response, and stress response.

Epinephrine

Triggers the fight or flight response.

Testosterone

Promotes male sexual characteristics and sperm production.

Estrogen

Promotes female secondary sexual characteristics and menstrual cycle.

Progesterone

Prepares the uterus for pregnancy.

Erythropoietin

Stimulates red blood cell production.

Thymosin

Promotes development of T-cells in the immune system.

Diabetes Mellitus

A condition characterized by high blood sugar due to insulin deficiency or resistance.

Cushing's Disease

Excessive cortisol production, usually due to a pituitary tumor.

Addison's Disease

Insufficient production of adrenal cortex hormones.

Acromegaly

Excessive growth hormone leading to enlarged bones and tissues.

Gigantism

Excessive growth hormone during childhood, leading to abnormal growth.

Goiter

Enlargement of the thyroid gland, often due to iodine deficiency.

Grave’s Disease

A condition causing hyperthyroidism due to an overactive thyroid.

Hypothyroidism

An underactive thyroid gland requiring replacement therapy.

Menopause

The natural cessation of menstruation and reproductive function in women.

Pituitary Dwarfism

Insufficient growth hormone during childhood, leading to short stature.

Target Cell/Organ

A cell or organ that has receptors for a specific hormone and responds to it.

Direct Gene Activation

Method where lipid-soluble hormones bind to receptors inside cells to activate genes.

Second-Messenger System

Method where water-soluble hormones bind to cell surface receptors to trigger cellular responses.

Insulin Production

Occurs in the pancreas and responds to high blood sugar levels.

Glucagon Release

Occurs in the pancreas and responds to low blood sugar levels.

Negative Feedback Loop

A process that maintains homeostasis by reversing changes in a controlled condition.

Fight or Flight Response

A physiological reaction to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat.

Hormonal Replacement Therapy

A treatment to restore normal hormone levels in cases of hormone deficiencies.

Liver's Role in Blood Sugar Control

Regulates blood sugar levels through glycogen storage and glucose release.

Ovarian Hormones

Estrogen and progesterone which regulate female reproductive functions.

Testicular Hormones

Testosterone, which regulates male reproductive functions.

Hormone-Driven Changes

Include stimulating mitosis, altering cell membrane permeability, activating enzymes, and inducing secretory activity.

Physiology of the Endocrine System

The study of the functions and disorders of the endocrine glands and hormones.

Diabetes Insipidus

A condition characterized by an imbalance of fluids in the body, leading to intense thirst and the excretion of large amounts of urine, often due to a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or resistance to its effects.