Endocrinology - Hormones and Hypothalamus

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to the hypothalamus, hormones, and their functions highlighted in the lecture notes.

Hypophthalmos

Refers to the region located below the thalamus in the brain.

Oxytocin (OT)

A hormone produced in the hypothalamus that stimulates smooth muscle contractions, especially in the reproductive tract.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

A hormone that decreases urine production and helps conserve water in the body.

Oligopeptide

A molecule composed of a small number of amino acids, such as oxytocin and ADH, which each have eight amino acids.

Milk Letdown Reflex

A physiological reflex in mammals that enables the release of milk through the action of oxytocin.

Efferent Neurons

Neurons that carry signals away from the central nervous system to effectors in the body.

Afferent Neurons

Neurons that carry sensory information towards the central nervous system from receptors.

Hypophyseal Portal System

A network of blood vessels that connects the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary, allowing hormone regulation.

Diuresis

The production of urine; inhibited by antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

Dysulfide bridge

A bond that links two cysteine residues in a protein, stabilizing its structure.

Pars Nervosa

Another name for the posterior pituitary, emphasizing its neural composition.

Smooth Muscles

Involuntary muscles found in the walls of organs such as the uterus and blood vessels, affected by hormones like oxytocin.

Osmolarity

A measure of solute concentration in the blood, critical for body fluid homeostasis.

Neural Hypophysis

Another term for the posterior pituitary, focusing on its neural origins and hormone release.

Cystine

An amino acid formed by the linkage of two cysteine residues; important in the structure of some proteins.

Endocrine System

The body system composed of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream to regulate various body functions.