Biology B5- endocrine system

What is a hormone?

A chemical messenger that travels via the bloodstream to a specific target organ

What hormones are produced in the ovaries and testes and what do they do?

Ovaries produce Oestrogen and Testes produce testosterone. These are used for puberty and reproduction

What hormone is produced at the Thyroid and what does it do?

Thyroid produces Thyroxine and its for your metabolic rate and growth

What hormone does the adrenal gland produce and what does it do

Adrenaline for fear/ stressful situations

What is the pituatary gland

Master gland, secretes a lot of hormones

Differences between nervous system and endocrine system?

Endocrine

Slower

longer lasting

uses hormones that travel through bloodstream

Nervous

faster

uses electrical impulse that travels through neurons

doesnt last as long

What are the effects of adrenaline on the body?

Increases heart rate and breathing rate

What hormones do the pancreas secrete?

Glucagon and Insulin

What happens when blood glucose concentration is high?

Person eats meal, which causes blood glucose concentration to increase. The panceas detects this and releases insulin, which travels via bloodstream to body cells. The insulin triggers the body cells into taking up the glucose. The insulin also travels to liver/muscle cells and triggers them to take the glucose and store it as glycogen. This decreases blood glucose concentration

What happens when blood glucose levels are too low?

WHen blood glucose concentration levels are low, the pancreas detects this and releases glucagon. This then travels via bloodstream to liver/muscle cells and triggers them to convert the glycogen back to glucose. This increases blood glucose concentration

Describe the differences between type 1 and 2 diabetes.

Type 1

When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin

Can be treated by injecting insulin

type 2

When your body cells stop responding to insulin

Advised to exercise and have a carbohydrate controlled diet

Describe the process of menstruation

First, your Pituitary gland produces FSH, which travels via the bloodstream to your ovaries, where it causes an egg to mature. AT the same time, the FSH also triggers the ovaries to release oestrogen. This oestrogen builds up the lining of the uterus to be thick and spongy. Oestrogen also causes the pituitary gland to inhibit FSH and instead causes it to release LH instead. This causes the release of the egg (aka ovulation which happens on day 14). Your ovaries then release progesterone. This maintains the lining of your uterus in case of a fertilised egg. If the egg is not fertilised, the progesterone levels drop, causing the lining and egg to break down. A women then has her period, which typically lasts 3-7 days.