Endocrinology Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to endocrinology as outlined in the lecture notes.

Endocrinology

The study of hormones and the structures that produce them.

Endocrinologist

A physician who specializes in treating hormonal issues.

Exocrine glands

Glands that secrete substances through ducts.

Endocrine glands

Glands that primarily produce hormones and secrete them directly into the bloodstream.

Pancreas

An organ that has both exocrine and endocrine functions, producing digestive enzymes and hormones.

Pineal gland

A gland that produces melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter released by preganglionic neurons in the autonomic nervous system.

Cholinergic receptors

Receptors that respond to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine; includes muscarinic and nicotinic receptors.

Hypothalamus

A brain region that produces hormones and regulates various bodily functions.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions within an organism.

Hormone affinity

The strength of the binding between a hormone and its receptor.

Upregulation

The process of increasing the number of hormone receptors on a cell.

Downregulation

The process of decreasing the number of hormone receptors on a cell.

Humoral response

Hormonal release triggered by changes in blood levels of certain substances.

Neural response

Hormonal release triggered by neural stimuli.

Permissiveness

A situation where one hormone requires the presence of another hormone to exert its effects.

Antagonism

The interaction between hormones where one hormone opposes the action of another.

Negative feedback

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

Goiter

A swelling of the thyroid gland due to insufficient iodine affecting hormone production.

Mineralocorticoids

A class of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex that regulate electrolyte and water balance.

Glucagon

A hormone produced by the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels.

Cortisol

A hormone released by the adrenal cortex that regulates metabolism and the immune response.

ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone)

A hormone that promotes water retention in the kidneys.

Oxytocin

A hormone involved in childbirth and lactation, produced by the hypothalamus.