Endocrine System and Adolescence

Vocabulary flashcards covering the human endocrine system, major endocrine glands, hormones, disorders, adolescence, and stress management based on the textbook notes.

Exocrine Glands

Glands that send their secretions (enzymes) through ducts to target organs, such as salivary glands.

Endocrine Glands

Ductless glands that pour their secretions (hormones) directly into the blood stream to be carried to target organs.

Hormone

A chemical substance secreted by an endocrine gland, which is directly poured into the blood stream and acts on a target organ or cell.

Human Endocrine System Glands

The network of major hormone-producing glands in humans, including the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal gland, pancreas, ovaries, and testes.

Thyroid Gland

A bilobed gland situated on either side of the wind pipe, just below the larynx, which secretes the hormone thyroxine.

Thyroxine

An iodine-containing protein hormone secreted by the thyroid gland that speeds up the rate of most activities of the body and stimulates growth in infants.

Simple Goitre

An ailment caused by insufficient iodine in daily food leading to hyposecretion of thyroxine, characterized by enlargement and swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck.

Cretinism

An ailment seen in infants caused by hyposecretion of thyroxine, bringing about abnormal development that results in both physical and mental retardation.

Myxoedema

A condition seen in adults caused by insufficient production of thyroxine, characterized by general sluggishness and swelling on the face and hands.

Adrenal Glands

Glands situated like caps over the kidneys, each consisting of a central medulla and a peripheral cortex.

Adrenaline

A hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla during severe stress, fear, or anger, which prepares the body for emergency situations and is known as the "fight or flight hormone".

Cortisol

A hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that influences carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, regulates salt and water balance, and adapts the body to stresses.

Islets of Langerhans

A cluster of hormone-secreting cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin and glucagon.

Insulin

A hormone secreted by Beta cells in the pancreas that lowers blood glucose by converting extra glucose to glycogen, inducing cells to burn extra glucose, or converting extra glucose into fat.

Diabetes Mellitus

A condition caused by insufficient secretion of insulin, leading to high concentration of sugar in the blood, excretion of sugar in urine, excessive thirst, weight loss, and weakness.

Glucagon

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that stimulates the breakdown of glycogen in the liver to glucose, raising blood sugar levels.

Pituitary Gland

A pea-sized gland located below the brain that regulates the activity of other endocrine glands, earning it the name "master gland".

Growth Hormone (GH)

A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that regulates growth; insufficient secretion causes dwarfism, while excess secretion results in gigantism.

Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH)

A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine.

Follicle-stimulating Hormone (FSH)

A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that influences sperm production in males and ova/egg production in females, and activates sex hormones.

Prolactin

A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates the breasts to produce milk after child birth.

Adolescence

A transitional stage of physical and mental human development between childhood and adulthood (spanning ages 10 to 19) leading to reproductive maturity.

Puberty

The period during which the reproductive systems of boys and girls mature, starting around 12 years of age in girls and 13 years of age in boys.

Androgens

Male sex hormones produced by the testes that bring about male secondary sexual characteristics, with testosterone being the main one.

Oestrogens

Female sex hormones produced by the ovaries that bring about female secondary sexual characteristics.

Adam's Apple

A protruding part of the throat in adolescent boys formed by the enlarged growth of the larynx (voice box).

Secondary Sexual Characteristics

Physical development during puberty—such as voice breaking and facial hair growth in boys, or breast development and hip enlargement in girls—indicating reproductive maturity.

Stress

A state of mental or emotional strain (tension) caused by the body's response to any demand, leading to hormone release that affects heart rate, breathing, and energy.