Endocrine System Vocabulary- Wahba Class

endocrine system

• makes up the glands that produce and secrete hormones (chemical messengers)

• regulates growth, metabolism, and sexual development

• responds to stress and injury

• maintains homeostasis

target cells

a cell which bears receptors for a hormone, drug, or other signaling molecule

corticosteroids

• a group of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex or made synthetically. 

pituitary

• located below the brain (attached to hypothalamus)

• “master gland” because it controls all other glands

• controlled by the hypothalamus

growth hormones

• GH

• stimulates growth in childhood

• important for maintaining a healthy body composition

• important for maintaining muscle and bone mass

• problems can cause dwarfism or gigantism

prolactin

• PRL

• stimulates milk production from a woman’s breasts after childbirth

gonadrotropins

• hormones secreted by the pituitary gland which stimulates the activity of the gland. 

glucagon

• released by the liver when glucose levels fall

• raises blood sugar

antidiuretic hormone

• ADH and also called vasopressin

• stored in the back part of the pituitary gland and regulates water balance

calcitonin

• regulates the blood concentration of calcium

adrenal medulla

• inner area of the gland

cortisol

• “stress hormone”

• vital to survival and helps maintain blood pressure and glucose levels

• Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) stimulates the production by the adrenal glands

aldosterone

• helps control the balance of water and salts in the kidneys keeping sodium in and releases potassium from body

• regulates blood pressure

epinephrine

• adrenaline

• secreted from the adrenal medulla

• symptoms

  • increased heart rate

  • increased breathing rate

  • “fight or flight”

  • response to stress

oxytocin

• hormone that strengthens contractions

• example of positive feedback

• causes milk letdown in nursing mothers

Islets of Langerhans

• a pancreatic cell that produces hormones that are secreted into the blood stream

insulin

• released by the pancreas when glucose levels rise

• causes uptake by blood

pineal glands

• produces melatonin, a serotonin-derived hormone

• controls sleep cycle

diabetes

• when the body doesn't produce enough insulin

• when cells stop responding to insulin

goiter

• enlargement of the thyroid

• most cases are caused by an iodine deficiency

• this is why we have iodized salt

FSH

• follicle-stimulating hormone

• promotes sperm production in men

• stimulates the ovaries to release eggs (ovulate) in women

• LH and FSH work together to allow the normal function if the ovaries/testes (gonadotropin)

hormone

• a chemical messenger in the body

thymus

• a lymphoid organ of the immune system

• makes/trains white blood cells (t-cells)

hypoglycemia

• glucose level is lower than normal range

hypothyroidism

• the thyroid gland makes too little thyroid hormone

• symptoms

  • weight gain

  • fatigue

  • hair loss

  • slower heart rate

hypothalamus

• pituitary glad is attached

• controls pituitary gland

TSH

• thyroid-stimulating hormone

• stimulates the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormones

• controls the body’s metabolism, energy, growth, and development

LH

• luteinizing hormone

• regulates testosterone in men

• regulates estrogen in women (gonadotropin)

Diuretics

• increase urine production

Thyroid gland

• controls your metabolism and stores it as energy and the release of energy

BMR

• basal metabolic rate

• how many calories the body must consume to maintain life

T4 and T3

• thyroxine and triiodothyronine

• both increase the rate at which cells release energy from carbohydrates

hyperthyroidism

• the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone

• symptoms

  • weight loss

  • hand tremors

  • irregular heart beat

  • bulging eyes

  • cold sensitivity

parathyroid glands

• located behind the thyroid

• four tiny glands

parathyroid hormone

• PTH

• takes calcium from the bones to make it available in the blood

adrenal glands

• located at the top of the kidneys

• produce adrenaline (epinephrine)