Anatomy Unit 7 Endocrine System

How does the nervous system control the body?

Uses neurons and action potentials, acts quickly and doesn’t last long

How does the endocrine system control the body?

Uses hormones, acts slowly but lasts longer

How do hormones affect the right cells and not others?

Hormones must be recognized by receptors on the outside of target cells. Non-target cells do not have the correct receptors.

The way lipid-soluble hormones cause cellular changes

They can enter the target cell directly to affect the cell’s DNA

The way water-soluble hormones cause cellular changes

Must use a secondary messenger molecule to transmit the response to the cell’s DNA

3 ways a gland can be stimulated to release hormones

Humoral, hormonal, neural

Which gland is known as the "master gland"? Why does it have this name?

Pituitary, it affects many parts of the body

2 hormones secreted by the posterior pituitary and their functions

ADH (antidiuretic hormone) - increases water retention, Oxytocin - stimulates contraction of uterus during childbirth

Portion of the brain that controls the pituitary through neural and hormonal stimulation

Hypothalamus

Major secretion of the pineal gland and its function

Melatonin, regulates sleep and wake cycles

2 hormones secreted by the thyroid and their functions

Calcitonin - increases blood calcium absorption

T3/T4 - regulates metabolism and body heat production

Hormone secreted by the parathyroid and its function

Parathyroid hormone - increases blood calcium levels by stimulating osteoclasts to break down bone

2 secretory portions of the adrenal glands

Adrenal medulla, adrenal cortex

Function of exocrine portion of the pancreas

Secretes digestive hormones through ducts to the small intestine

Function of endocrine portion of the pancreas

Secretes glucagon and insulin through blood to regulate blood glucose levels

Explain how the two hormones of the pancreas regulate blood glucose levels

Insulin reduces, glucagon increases

Although the thymus gland is considered part of the endocrine system, its functions relate more to the _____________ system

immune/lymphatic

3 hormones produced by the male and female gonads

Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone

2 types of feedback loops and an example of each within the body

Negative - blood calcium levels regulated by calcitonin and PTH, Positive - oxytocin levels during childbirth

What 2 situations may result from an improperly functioning endocrine gland? (Hint: Both situations start with the letter “h”.)

Hypersecretion, hyposecretion

Body’s response to short-term stress

Short-term stress affects the adrenal medulla and produces epinephrine and norepinephrine to increase heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood glucose levels

Body’s response to long-term stress

Long-term stress affects the adrenal cortex and produces mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids that increase blood glucose and blood pressure

List one hormone studied in this unit, then explain how a hypersecretion of this hormone would affect the body

Melanocyte-stimulating hormone: hypersecretion would result in too much melanin

Anterior pituitary - thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

stimulates thyroid

Anterior pituitary - adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

stimulates adrenal glands

Anterior pituitary - growth hormone (GH)

stimulates bone & muscle growth

Anterior pituitary - melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)

stimulates melanocytes to produce melanin

Anterior pituitary - prolactin (PRL)

stimulates milk production

Anterior pituitary - luteinizing hormone (LH)

stimulates release of sex hormones

Anterior pituitary - follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

stimulates egg or sperm production