Introduction to the Endocrine System chapter 17

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the endocrine system, including its structure, function, and the hormones it produces.

Endocrine System

A network of glands that release hormones into the blood to control important body functions.

Hormones

Chemical messengers that travel through the blood to tell cells and organs what to do.

Hypothalamus

The brain's main control center that tells the pituitary gland when to release hormones.

Pituitary Gland

The 'master gland' at the base of the brain that controls many other glands in the body.

Thyroid Gland

A butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that controls how fast your body uses energy (metabolism).

Parathyroid Glands

Four tiny glands in the neck that keep the amount of calcium in your blood at the right level.

Adrenal Glands

Glands on top of the kidneys that produce hormones like adrenaline to help you react to stress.

Pancreas

An organ that makes insulin and glucagon to keep your blood sugar levels steady.

Pineal Gland

A tiny gland in the brain that makes melatonin to help you sleep at night.

Ovaries

Female glands that produce eggs and hormones like estrogen for reproduction.

Testes

Male glands that produce sperm and the hormone testosterone for reproduction.

Thymus

A gland that helps the immune system develop, especially during childhood.

Negative Feedback

A way the body stays in balance by stopping a process once the right level of a hormone is reached.

Thyroid Hormones

Hormones made by the thyroid, including thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which control energy use.

Insulin

A hormone from the pancreas that lowers blood sugar by helping sugar enter your cells.

Glucagon

A hormone from the pancreas that raises blood sugar when it gets too low.

Cortisol

A stress hormone from the adrenal glands that increases blood sugar and reduces inflammation.

Gonadotropins

Hormones that signal the ovaries or testes to start reproductive processes.

Steroid Hormones

Hormones made from fats (cholesterol), like testosterone and cortisol, that can enter cells easily.

Water-Soluble Hormones

Hormones made of proteins that stay outside cells and send signals through receptors on the cell surface.

Second Messenger

A molecule inside a cell that passes along a signal from a hormone that stayed outside the cell.

Autocrine

When a cell releases a hormone that acts on itself.

Paracrine

When a cell releases a hormone that acts on its nearby neighbors.

Homeostasis

The body's ability to keep its internal environment stable even when things change outside.

Anterior Pituitary

The front part of the pituitary gland