PhysiologyLesson 4 of 6 in the course The Body’s Systems

Endocrine System: Hormone Signaling, Major Glands, and Homeostasis

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 4 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

The endocrine system helps coordinate body processes by sending chemical signals called hormones. This lesson explains how hormones travel, how they affect specific target cells, and how the endocrine and nervous systems work together.

A hormone is a chemical signal released by cells into body fluids, usually the blood. The blood carries hormones throughout the body, but only cells with the appropriate receptors respond. These responsive cells are called target cells. A hormone-receptor interaction can change a cell's activity, influencing the function of the tissue or organ to which it belongs.

All flashcards

What makes a cell a target cell for a particular hormone?
It has a receptor with a binding site compatible with that hormone.
How do endocrine and exocrine glands differ?
Endocrine glands release hormones into surrounding fluid and blood; exocrine glands release substances through ducts.
How do up-regulation and down-regulation affect hormone sensitivity?
Up-regulation increases receptor number and usually sensitivity; down-regulation decreases receptor number and usually responsiveness.
What does the posterior pituitary do with ADH and oxytocin?
It stores and releases these hormones, which are produced by the hypothalamus.
How do calcitonin and parathyroid hormone affect blood calcium?
Calcitonin helps lower blood calcium; parathyroid hormone raises it.

Quiz questions

  1. Where are ADH and oxytocin produced, and what does the posterior pituitary do with them?Answer: The hypothalamus produces them, and the posterior pituitary stores and releases them.
  2. Which hormones are released by the adrenal medulla during sympathetic activation?Answer: Epinephrine and norepinephrine, which contribute to rapid fight-or-flight changes.
  3. When blood glucose rises, which pancreatic cells release a hormone that helps lower it?Answer: Beta cells release insulin, which helps body cells take up glucose.
  4. What does kidney-produced erythropoietin stimulate?Answer: Red blood cell formation in the bone marrow.
  5. What does the A1C test estimate?Answer: Average blood-glucose levels over the previous two to three months.

Based on Concepts of Biology by Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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