Human A&P Exam 2: Endocrine System & Autonomic Nervous System

brain and spinal cord

What are the two parts of the central nervous system (CNS)?

cranial nerves and spinal nerves

What are the two parts of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

sensory

When a signal goes from the PNS to the CNS, is that a sensory or motor signal?

motor

When a signal goes from the CNS to the PNS, is that a sensory or motor signal?

somatic nervous system

the portion of the nervous system that innervates skeletal muscles and allows for voluntary movement

autonomic nervous system

the portion of the nervous system that innervates the heart muscles, smooth muscles, and glands and allows for involuntary movement

sympathetic nervous system

one of the portions of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for the fight or flight response

parasympathetic nervous system

one of the portions of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for returning the body to rest and digest

neuron

one of the types of cells in the nervous system that are nerve cells that conduct action potentials and impulses; similar to electrical wiring

glial cells

aka neuroglia; one of the types of cells in the nervous system that play a supporting role; makes up myelin and cerebrospinal fluid; similar to insulation around the electrical wiring

dendrite

the part of the neuron that receives signals from other neurons; usually several per neuron

soma

the part of the neuron that makes up the cell body

axon

the part of the neuron that transmits signals away from the cell body; only one per neuron

synapse

the junction of a neuron with another structure (another neuron, a muscle, a gland, etc.)

neuroneuronal synapse

a synapse between a neuron and another neuron

neuromuscular synapse

a synapse between a neuron and a muscle

neuroglandular synapse

a synapse between a neuron and a gland

excitatory

If there is an ________ (inhibitory/excitatory) response, it causes the effect.

inhibitory

If there is an ________ (inhibitory/excitatory) response, it inhibits the effect.

neurotransmitter

chemical messengers transmitted at synapses to take in the environment and stimulate response

excitable

term meaning able to react to impulse (such as muscle and nervous tissue)

action potential (AP)

a brief, rapid change in the electrical potential across a neuron's membrane; the nerve impulse transmission required for something to happen

depolarization

the action potential impulse transmission where Na+ (sodium) enters into the neuron through the sodium channels, reversing the polarity

repolarization

the “reseting” of the neuron after the action potential impulse is fired to prepare for the next polarization; K+ (potassium) exits the neuron

resting membrane potential

the charge difference across the membrane of a neuron when not firing

negative on the inside, positive on the outside

What is the resting membrane potential of a normal neuron?

Na+/K+ pump

occuring at the end of repolarization, pump that switches the Na+ & K+ to prepare for depolarization; doesn’t change the charge; requires on concentration gradient

two motor neuron pathways

The autonomic nervous system is made up of _____ (singular/two) motor pathways.

singular motor neuron pathways

The somatic nervous system is made up of _____ (singular/two) motor pathways.

preganglionic and postganglionic neurons

What are the two motor neurons in the two motor neuron pathways featured in the autonomic nervous system?

preganglionic neuron

the first neuron in the two motor neuron pathway that is between the CNS and the preganglionic synapse

postganglionic neuron

the second neuron in the two motor neuron pathway that is between the preganglionic synapse and the target

increasing and decreasing the heart rate and the contractibility

What is the effect of the autonomic nervous system on the cardiac muscles?

contractibility

term referring to the amount of the force of contraction

contraction or relaxation

What is the effect of the autonomic nervous system on the smooth muscles (such as digestive, reproductive, urinary, bronchial, and vascular)?

increase or decrease the amount of secretion

What is the effect of the autonomic nervous system on the glands muscles?

ACH, NE, and Epi

What are the three chemicals instrumental in the autonomic nervous system?

ACH

neurotransmitter in the autonomic nervous system that functions in the parasympathetic nervous system and the postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic sweat glands

Norepinephrine (NE)

neurotransmitter in the autonomic nervous system and hormone in the endocrine system that functions in all the postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system (except the sweat glands)

epinephrine (Epi)

hormone that binds to the same receptors as the ANS’ norepinephrine; released in the endocrine system directly into the blood stream

cholinergic receptors

ACH binds to ________ receptors, then causing an effect.

adrenergic receptors

NE & Epi bind to ________ receptors, then causing an effect.

decreased heart rate & contractibility, keeping them steady

What is ACH’s effect on the cardiac muscles?

contraction and increased activity

What is ACH’s effect on the smooth muscles in the G1 digestive area and the G4 reproductive/urinary area?

bronchoconstriction (narrowing of the airway)

What is ACH’s effect on the broncial smooth muscles?

increased secretion

What is ACH’s effect on the glands?

increased heart rate and contractility

What is NE and Epi’s effect on the cardiac muscles?

relaxation and decreased activity

What is Epi’s effect on the smooth muscles in the G1 digestive area and the G4 reproductive/urinary area?

bronchodilation (opening the airway)

What is Epi’s effect on the smooth muscles in the bronchial area?

vasoconstriction (which leads to increased blood pressure)

What is NE and Epi’s effect on the vascular area?

decreased secretion

What is NE and Epi’s effect on the glands?

endocrine glands

glands that are ductless and release their product (hormones) directly into the blood stream

exocrine gland

glands that release their product (tears, sweat, etc.) through ducts

hormone

chemical messengers released from the endocrine gland into bloodstream

neurotransmitter

chemical messengers released at synapses

1) hormone-receptor interaction is required to produce an effect 2) every hormone has a target with a specialized receptor 3) hormones are only released when needed

What are the 3 general principles of the endocrine system?

pituitary gland

gland that releases the most hormones (8) and is located at the base of your brain below your hypothalamus

anterior pituitary

aka adenohypophysis; region of the pituitary gland that produces these 6 hormones: growth hormone, adrencortictropic hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, 2 gonadotropins, & prolactin

posterior pituitary

aka neurohypophysis; region of the pituitary gland that release these 2 hormones: oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone

growth hormone

hormone produced in the anterior pituitary gland

Target: primarily bones

Effect: increased growth

adrencortictropic hormone (ACTH)

hormone produced in the anterior pituitary gland; aka corticotropin

Target: adrenolcortex

Effect: increased cortisol hormone

thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

hormone produced in the anterior pituitary gland; aka thyrotropin

Target: thyroid gland

Effect: increased thyroid hormone

FSH & LH

gonadotropin hormones produced in the anterior pituitary gland and stimulate the reproductive organs

Target: gonads (testes or ovaries)

Effect: increased reproductive hormones (estrogen/testoteron) and gametes (eggs/sperms)

prolactin

hormone produced in the anterior pituitary gland that shows up postpartum

Target: mammary glands

Effect: increased milk production

oxytocin

hormone produced in the posterior pituitary gland

Target 1: uterus

Effect 1: contraction (during labor)

Target 2: mammary glands

Effect 2: increased milk ejection/milk letdown

antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

hormone produced in the posterior pituitary gland; aka vasopressin)

Target 1: kidneys

Effect 1: decreased urinary output/increased H2O retention, increased blood volume, & increased blood pressure

Target 2: blood vessels

Effect 2: vasoconstriction & increased blood pressure

lowered blood volume means ADH must be produced to raise BV

Why would ADH production go up if the patient was dehydrated or bleeding?

thyroid gland

a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck, just below the Adam's apple; produces thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, and calcitonin, which functions to lower blood Ca levels

thyroid hormone (TH)

hormone produced by follicular cells in the thyroid gland

Target: multiple

E: increased metabolic rate & increased sensitivity in the sympathetic nervous system

follicular cell

the primary type of cell in the thyroid gland, responsible for producing thyroid hormones

calcitonin

hormone produced by parafollicular cells in the thyroid gland

Target: bone

Effect: decreased blood Ca levels

parafollicular cell

the secondary type of cell in the thyroid gland, responsible for producing calcitonin

hyperthyroid

disorder in which too much thyroid hormone is produced; causes increased metabolism, weight loss, always feeling hot, fast heart rate, and increased blood pressure

tachycardia

term for a fast heart rate

hypothyroid

disorder in which not enough thyroid hormone is produced; causes decreased metabolism, weight gain, and always feeling cold

steroid hormone

hormone made from cholesterol

parathyroid gland

gland located in the neck, behind the thyroid gland, that produces PTH which increases blood Ca levels through various methods

Target 1: bone

Effect 1: increased bone breakdown, causing an increase in blood Ca levels

Target 2: digestive system

Effect 2: increased Ca absorption from food into the bloodstream, causing an increase in blood Ca levels

Target 3: kidneys

Effect 3: decreased urinary Ca excretion, causing an increase in blood Ca levels

adrenal glands

two triangular glands, adrenal medula & adrenal cortex, located superior to the kidneys that function to produce Epi, NE, cortisol, and aldosterone

adrenal medulla

one of the adrenal glands which is deep to the other adrenal gland; produces the hormones Epi and NE (mainly Epi) in the sympathetic nervous system

Target 1: smooth muscle

Effect 1: G1, G4, bronchial relaxation and vascular vasoconstriction

Target 2: cardiac muscle

Effect 2: increased heart rate and contraction

Target 3: glands

Effect 3: decreased secretion

adrenal cortex

one of the adrenal glands which is superficial to the other adrenal gland; produces the steroid hormones cortisol and aldosterone

cortisol

stress hormone produced by the adrenal cortex; if at high levels over long time, can weaken the immune system

Target 1: multiple

Effect 1: increase blood glucose levels; anti-inflammatory; stimulates gluconeogensis

gluconeogensis

term meaning creation of new sugar by the liver from a non-carbohydrate source (such as proteins and lipids)

aldosterone

hormone produced by the adrenal cortex in response to lowered blood volume, lowered blood pressure, excess K in blood, or low blood Na levels

Target 1: kidneys

Effect 1: Na retention (increases blood Na levels), which increases H2O retention and increases blood volume

Effect 2: K excretion, decreased blood K levels

catabolic

term meaning a process that breaks down complex structures into simple

anabolic

term meaning a process that builds up simple structures into complex

pancreas

a mixed gland that has both an endocrine and exocrine section

endocrine pancreas

the portion of the pancreas that is ductless; has pancreatic islets that contain cells which produce insulin and glucagon

pancreatic islets

clusters of cells within the endocrine pancreas that regulate blood glucose levels

beta cells

cells in the pancreatic islets of the endocrine pancreas that produce insulin

insulin

anabolic hormone produced by the beta cells within the pancreatic islets of the endocrine pancreas; stimulates protein synthesis, lipid synthesis & storage, and glycogen synthesis

Target 1: multiple

Effect 1: decreased blood glucose levels (the only hormone that does this)

alpha cells

cells in the pancreatic islets of the endocrine pancreas that produce glucagon

Effect: increased blood glucose

hyperglycemia

disordered high blood glucose levels

glycogen

storage form of glucose whose production is stimulated by insulin

glucagon

hormone produced by the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets of the endocrine pancreas that increase blood glucose levels