Hormones and Their Functions

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to hormones, their functions, and signaling pathways discussed in the lecture.

Hormones

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

Pituitary gland

A small gland located at the base of the brain that produces several important hormones.

Local hormones

Hormones that act on neighboring cells without entering the bloodstream; includes paracrine and autocrine signaling.

Circulating hormones

Hormones released into the bloodstream that can affect distant target organs.

Paracrine signaling

A form of cell signaling where hormones affect neighboring target cells.

Autocrine signaling

A form of cell signaling where hormones act on the same cell that produced them.

Steroid hormones

Hormones derived from cholesterol that can pass through cell membranes and bind to internal receptors.

Water-soluble hormones

Hormones that cannot pass through cell membranes and bind to receptors on the cell surface.

Phospholipase A2

An enzyme that removes arachidonic acid from phospholipids, leading to the production of local hormones during inflammation.

Eicosanoids

Local hormones derived from arachidonic acid that play a role in inflammation and pain.

Oxytocin

A hormone produced by the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary; stimulates uterine contractions and milk ejection.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Also known as vasopressin, this hormone helps the kidneys retain water and regulates blood pressure.

Adenylate cyclase pathway

A signaling pathway for water-soluble hormones that involves production of cAMP as a second messenger.

Phospholipase C pathway

A signaling pathway for water-soluble hormones that generates DAG and IP3 as secondary messengers.

Gonadotropins

Hormones (FSH and LH) released by the anterior pituitary that stimulate the function of the gonads (ovaries and testes).

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

A hormone released from the anterior pituitary that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones.

Corticosteroids

Hormones produced by the adrenal gland that help reduce inflammation.

Negative feedback

A regulatory mechanism in which a change in a variable triggers a response that counteracts the initial change.

Synergistic effect

When two or more hormones produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their individual effects.

Antagonistic effect

When one hormone opposes the action of another hormone.

Hypothalamus

A region of the brain that produces releasing and inhibiting hormones that regulate the pituitary gland.