MCAT Hormones

ACTH

Adrenocorticotropic hormone: peptide: tropic hormone: anterior pituitary gland: targets the adrenal cortex, stimulating it to release cortisol and aldosterone: regulates metabolism and stress response

Aldosterone

the principle mineralocorticoid: steroid: secreted by the adrenal cortex: targets the kidney tubules and increases renal reabsorption of sodium

ADH

antidiuretic hormone: also called vasopressin: produced in the hypothalamus: secreted by the posterior pituitary gland: it targets the kidney tubules, increasing their permeability to water: increasing water retention by the body.

Androgens

male sex hormones: testosterone

Calcitonin

Peptide hormone: produced by the C-cells of the thyroid gland: decreases serum calcium levels: it targets the bones (stimulates osteoblasts) and the kidneys (reduces calcium reabsorption)

Calcitriol

steroid hormone: produced from vitamin D that acts to increase serum calcium level

CCK

Cholecystokinin: peptide hormone: secreted by the small intestine (duodenum) in response to the presence of fats: promotes release of bile from the gallbladder and pancreatic juice from the pancreas: and reduces stomach motility.

Cholesterol

a large, ring shaped lipid that is the precursor for steroid hormones and is used to manufacture bile salts.

Corticosteroids

steroid hormones secreted from the adrenal cortex. the two major classes are the mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids. aldosterone is the main mineralocorticoid, and cortisol is the principle glucocorticoid.

enterogastrone

peptide hormone: secreted by the small intestine in response to the presence of food. it decreases the rate at which chyme leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine.

epinephrine

aa- derived hormone: produced and secreted by the adrenal medulla: prolongs and increases the effects of the sympathetic nervous system.

erythropoietin

peptide hormone: produced and released by the kidney that stimulates the production of RBCs by the bone marrow

estrogen

steroid hormone: primary female sex hormone. stimulates the development of female secondary sex characteristics during puberty, stimulates the development of a new uterine lining after menstruation, and stimulates mammary gland development during pregnancy.

FSH

peptide hormone: follicle stimulating hormone, tropic hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland: targets the gonads. stimulates the ovaries to develop follicles (oogenesis) and secrete estrogen. in males, stimulates spermatogenesis.

gastrin

peptide hormone: released by the g-cells of the stomach in the presence of food: promotes muscular activity of the stomach as well as the secretion of HCl, pepsinogen, and mucus.

glucagon

peptide hormone: produced and secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreas: targets the liver stimulating breakdown of glycogen: thus increase BGL.

GnRH

peptide hormone: Gonadotropin releasing hormone: released from the hypothalamus: triggers the anterior pituitary to secrete FSH and LH.

gonadotropins

anterior pituitary tropic hormones FSH & LH that stimulate the gonads to produce gametes and to secrete sex steroids.

growth hormone

peptide hormone: released by the anterior pituitary that targets all cells in the body: stimulates whole body growth in children and cell turnover in adults

hCG

peptide hormone: human chorionic gonadotropin; secreted by the trophoblast cells of a blastocyst that prolongs the life of the corpus luteum, and thus increases the duration and amount of secreted progesterone: helps maintain the uterine lining so that menstruation does not occur.

inhibin

protein hormone: secreted by the sustentacular cells of the testes or the granulosa cells of the ovaries: inhibits the release of FSH from the anterior pituitary.

insulin

peptide hormone: produced and secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas. targets all cells, especially liver and muscle, allows them to take glucose out of the blood (lowering blood glucose levels)

LH

luteinizing hormone: peptide hormone: tropic hormone: produced by the anterior pituitary gland that targets the gonads. triggers ovulation and the development of a corpus luteum during the menstrual cycle; stimulates the production and release of testosterone in men

oxytocin

aa- derived: released by the posterior pituitary: stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during breastfeeding

PTH

parathyroid hormone: peptide hormone: produced and secreted to increase serum calcium levels: targets the bones (stimulates osteoclasts), the kidneys (increases calcium reabsorption), and the small intestine (increases calcium absorption).

peptide hormone

made of amino acids, generally hydrophilic and cannot cross the plasma membrane. receptors for peptide hormones must be found on the cell surface. binding of peptide hormone to its receptor usually triggers a second messenger system.

progesterone

steroid hormone: produced by the corpus luteum in the ovary during the second half of the menstrual cycle. maintains and enhances the uterine lining for the possible implantation of a fertilized ovum. primary hormone secreted during pregnancy.

prolactin

peptide hormone: secreted by the anterior pituitary that targets the mammary glands, stimulating them to produce breast milk

steroid hormone

derived from cholesterol. generally hydrophobic and can cross the plasma membrane. receptors are found intracellularly.

secretin

peptide hormone: secreted by small intestine in response to low pH: promotes the release of bicarbonate from pancreas to act as a buffer

testosterone

primary androgen. steroid hormone: produced and secreted by the interstitial cells of the testes: triggers the development of secondary male characteristics (including spermatogenesis)

TSH

thyroid stimulating hormone: peptide: tropic hormone produced by anterior pituitary that stimulates the release of thyroid hormone

TH

aa- derived: thyroxine (Thyroid hormone) is produced and secreted by follicle cells in the thyroid gland: targets all cells in the body and increases overall body metabolism.

tropic hormone

hormone that controls the release of another hormone