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Endocrine System Overview and Activities

The endocrine system regulates cellular changes through hormones secreted into the bloodstream. It controls many bodily functions including growth, development, metabolism, and reproduction. This chapter discusses the locations and functions of the major endocrine glands, as well as the consequences of overproduction and underproduction of hormones.

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109 views8 pages

Endocrine System Overview and Activities

The endocrine system regulates cellular changes through hormones secreted into the bloodstream. It controls many bodily functions including growth, development, metabolism, and reproduction. This chapter discusses the locations and functions of the major endocrine glands, as well as the consequences of overproduction and underproduction of hormones.

Uploaded by

gabbypeig
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

9 THE ENDOCRINE

SYSTEM

The endocrine system, vital to homeostasis, plays an important role in regulat-


ing the activity of body cells. By acting through bloodborne chemical messen-
gers, called hormones, the endocrine system organs orchestrate cellular
changes that lead to growth and development, reproductive capability, and the
physiological homeostasis of many body systems.

This chapter covers the location of the various endocrine organs in the body,
the general function of the various hormones, and the consequences of their
hypersecretion or hyposecretion.

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM


AND HORMONE FUNCTION—AN OVERVIEW
1. Complete the following statements by choosing answers from the key
choices. Record the answers in the answer blanks.

Key Choices
A. Cardiovascular system C. More rapid E. Nervous system
B. Hormones D. Nerve impulses F. Slower and more prolonged

_________________________ 1. The endocrine system is a major controlling system in the


body. Its means of control, however, is much (1) than that
_________________________ 2. of the (2) , the other major body system that acts to main-
tain homeostasis. Perhaps the reason for this is that the endo-
_________________________ 3. crine system uses chemical messengers, called (3) , instead
of (4) . These chemical messengers enter the blood and are
_________________________ 4. carried throughout the body by the activity of the (5) .

_________________________ 5.

183
184 Anatomy & Physiology Coloring Workbook

2. Complete the following statements by choosing answers from the key


choices. Record the answers in the answer blanks.

Key Choices
A. Altering activity F. Negative feedback K. Steroid or amino acid–based
B. Anterior pituitary G. Neural L. Stimulating new or unusual activities
C. Hormonal H. Neuroendocrine M. Sugar or protein
D. Humoral I. Receptors N. Target cell(s)
E. Hypothalamus J. Releasing/inhibiting hormones

_________________________ 1. All cells do not respond to endocrine system stimulation. Only


those that have the proper (1) on their cell membranes are
_________________________ 2. activated by the chemical messengers. These responsive cells
are called the (2) of the various endocrine glands. Hormones
_________________________ 3. promote homeostasis by (3) of body cells rather than by
(4) . Most hormones are (5) molecules.
_________________________ 4.
The various endocrine glands are prodded to release their
_________________________ 5. hormones by nerve fibers (a (6) stimulus), by other hor-
mones (a (7) stimulus), or by the presence of increased or
_________________________ 6. decreased levels of various other substances in the blood (a
(8) stimulus). The secretion of most hormones is regulated
_________________________ 7. by a (9) system, in which increasing levels of that particu-
lar hormone “turn off” its stimulus. The (10) is called the
_________________________ 8. master endocrine gland because it regulates so many other
endocrine organs. However, it is in turn controlled by (11)
_________________________ 9. secreted by the (12) . The structure identified as #12 is also
part of the brain, so it is appropriately called a (13) organ.
_________________________ 10.

_________________________ 11. _________________________ 12. _________________________ 13.

3. For each key phrase, decide whether it better describes the mode of action
of a steroid or amino acid–based hormone, and insert its key letter in the
appropriate answer blank.

Key Choices
A. Binds to a plasma membrane receptor D. Activates a gene to transcribe messenger RNA
B. Binds to a receptor in the cell’s E. Acts through a second messenger such as
nucleus cyclic AMP (cyclic adenine monophosphate)
C. Is lipid soluble

Steroid hormones: ___________________ Amino acid–based hormones: ___________________


Chapter 9 The Endocrine System 185

THE MAJOR ENDOCRINE ORGANS


4. Figure 9–1 depicts the anatomical relationships between the hypothalamus
and the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary in a highly simplified
way.
(A) Identify each of the structures listed below by color coding and coloring
them on the diagram.
(B) On the appropriate lines, write in the names of the hormones that influ-
ence each of the target organs shown at the bottom of the diagram.
(C) Color the target organs that are affected by tropic hormones.

○ Hypothalamus ○ Anterior pituitary

○ Turk’s saddle of the sphenoid bone ○ Posterior pituitary

Releasing hormones
in portal circulation

Bones and muscles Adrenal cortex

Mammary glands Thyroid


and

Testes or ovaries

Figure 9–1
186 Anatomy & Physiology Coloring Workbook

5. Figure 9–2 is a diagram of the various endocrine organs of the body.


(A) Next to each letter on the diagram, write the name of the endocrine-
producing organ (or area).
(B) Select different colors for each and color the corresponding organs in the
illustration.
(C) To complete your identification of the hormone-producing organs, name the
organs (not illustrated) described in items K and L.

K. Small glands that ride


“horseback” on the thyroid
A
____________________________

L. Endocrine-producing
organ present only in B
pregnant women

____________________________

J
Figure 9–2
Chapter 9 The Endocrine System 187

6. For each of the following hormones, indicate the organ (or organ part)
producing or releasing the hormone by inserting the appropriate letters from
Figure 9–2 in the answer blanks. Items may have more than one answer.

______ 1. ACTH ______ 8. Glucagon ______ 15. PTH

______ 2. ADH ______ 9. Insulin ______ 16. Growth hormone

______ 3. Aldosterone ______ 10. LH ______ 17. Testosterone

______ 4. Cortisol ______ 11. Melatonin ______ 18. Thymosins

______ 5. Epinephrine ______ 12. Oxytocin ______ 19. Thyroxine

______ 6. Estrogen ______ 13. Progesterone ______ 20. TSH

______ 7. FSH ______ 14. Prolactin

7. Name the hormone that would be produced in inadequate amounts in the


following conditions. Place your responses in the answer blanks.

_________________________ 1. Sexual immaturity


_________________________ 2. Tetany
_________________________ 3. Excessive urination without high blood glucose levels; causes
dehydration and tremendous thirst
_________________________ 4. Goiter
_________________________ 5. Cretinism; a type of dwarfism in which the individual retains
childlike proportions and is mentally retarded
_________________________ 6. Excessive thirst, high blood glucose levels, acidosis
_________________________ 7. Abnormally small stature, normal proportions
_________________________ 8. Miscarriage
_________________________ 9. Lethargy, hair loss, low basal metabolic rate, obesity
(myxedema in the adult)

8. Name the hormone that would be produced in excessive amounts in the


following conditions. Place your responses in the answer blanks.

_________________________ 1. Lantern jaw; large hands and feet (acromegaly in the adult)
_________________________ 2. Bulging eyeballs, nervousness, increased pulse rate, weight loss
(Graves’ disease)
_________________________ 3. Demineralization of bones; spontaneous fractures
_________________________ 4. Cushing’s syndrome—moon face, depression of the immune system
_________________________ 5. Abnormally large stature, relatively normal body proportions
_________________________ 6. Abnormal hairiness; masculinization
188 Anatomy & Physiology Coloring Workbook

9. Using the key choices, complete the crossword puzzle by answering


each of the clues provided.

Key Choices
ACTH Estrogen LH PTH
ADH FSH Oxytocin TSH
Aldosterone Glucagon Progesterone Thymosin
Cortisol Insulin Prolactin Thyroxine
Epinephrine

Across
6. Estrogen and ______ directly regulate the menstrual uterine cycle.
7. ACTH, FSH, LH, and ________ are tropic hormones.
8. Hypothalamic hormone important in regulating water balance.
10. Adrenal cortex hormone involved in regulating salt levels of body fluids.
11. Basal metabolic hormone.
12. Acts antagonistically to insulin; produced by the same endocrine organ.

Down
1. Short-term stress hormone; aids in the fight-or-flight response; increases blood
pressure and heart rate.
2. _____ and oxytocin are hormones necessary for milk production and ejection.
3. Helps to protect the body during long-term stressful situations such as
extended illness and surgery.
4. Necessary if glucose is to be taken up by body cells.
5. Most important hormone regulating the amount of calcium circulating in the
blood; released when blood calcium levels drop.
9. Program T lymphocytes.
13. FSH and ______ are anterior pituitary hormones that regulate the ovarian
cycle.

2 3

5 6

8 9

10 11

12 13
Chapter 9 The Endocrine System 189

10. List the cardinal symptoms of diabetes mellitus and provide the rationale for
the occurrence of each symptom.

1. _________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

11. The activity of many end organs is regulated by negative feedback.


Figure 9 –3A shows the basic elements of a homeostatic control system.
Figure 9–3B shows a feedback loop with selected parts missing. Assume,
for this system, that the stimulus that initiates it is declining T3 and T4 levels
in the blood, which produce a drop in metabolic rate. Fill in the information
missing in the boxes to correctly complete this feedback loop. Also indicate
whether it is a negative or positive feedback loop.

Figure 9–3
190 Anatomy & Physiology Coloring Workbook

12. Circle the term that does not belong in each of the following groupings. Then,
fill in the answer blanks with the correct group name.

1. ADH Hormone storage Nervous tissue Anterior lobe Group: ____________

2. Steroid hormone Protein hormone Second messenger


Membrane receptors Group: ____________

3. Catecholamines Norepinephrine Epinephrine Cortisol Group: ____________

4. Decreases blood Ca2+ Increases blood Ca2+ Thyroid gland


Enhances Ca2+ deposit Group: ____________

5. Glucocorticoids Steroids Aldosterone Growth hormone Group: ____________

6. Thyroid follicles T3 and T4 Glucose metabolism


Parafollicular cells Group: ___________

OTHER HORMONE-PRODUCING TISSUES


AND ORGANS
13. Besides the major endocrine organs, isolated clusters of cells produce hor-
mones within body organs that are usually not associated with the endocrine
system. A number of these hormones are listed in the table below. Fill in the
missing information (blank spaces) on these hormones in the table.

Chemical
Hormone makeup Source Effects

Gastrin Peptide

Secretin Duodenum

Cholecystokinin Peptide

Erythropoietin Kidney in response


to hypoxia

Active vitamin D3 Skin; activated by


kidneys

Atrial natriuretic Peptide


peptide (ANP)

Human chorionic Protein


gonadotropin (hCG)

Leptin Adipose tissue

Common questions

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Hypersecretion of endocrine hormones can lead to conditions such as Graves' disease, characterized by bulging eyes and increased metabolism due to excessive thyroid hormone. Hyposecretion can cause diseases like diabetes insipidus, leading to excessive urination and thirst due to insufficient vasopressin production. Both scenarios disrupt homeostasis by affecting metabolic balance, fluid retention, and energy levels .

The hypothalamus, part of the brain, controls the pituitary gland through releasing and inhibiting hormones. These hormones regulate the anterior pituitary's secretion of hormones like ACTH, which in turn stimulate other endocrine glands, such as the adrenal glands. The posterior pituitary releases hormones like ADH and oxytocin directly under hypothalamic regulation. This hierarchical interaction ensures precise control over various bodily functions, like growth, stress response, and metabolic activities .

Negative feedback in thyroid hormone regulation involves the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. When T3 and T4 levels decline, it signals the hypothalamus to release thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which stimulates the pituitary to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH prompts the thyroid to produce more T3 and T4, increasing metabolic rate. As T3 and T4 levels rise, feedback to the hypothalamus and pituitary reduces TRH and TSH secretion, maintaining metabolic balance .

The structure and location of endocrine glands are crucial for their function. For instance, the pituitary gland’s position below the hypothalamus allows it to directly receive neural signals for hormone release. The adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys, can quickly respond to stress by releasing cortisol and adrenaline. The thyroid gland's vascularization enables rapid hormone secretion into the bloodstream, directly impacting metabolic processes .

Excessive hormone production, as seen in Cushing's syndrome, results from high cortisol levels. This condition leads to physical changes like a moon face and abdominal weight gain due to fat redistribution. Physiologically, it can depress the immune system, increase blood glucose levels, cause hypertension, and affect metabolism. These changes reflect cortisol's role in stress response and metabolic regulation, highlighting the consequences of hormonal imbalance .

Insulin and glucagon maintain glucose homeostasis by opposing actions. Insulin, secreted by pancreatic beta cells, facilitates glucose uptake by body cells, lowering blood glucose levels. In contrast, glucagon, released by alpha cells, triggers glycogen breakdown in the liver to increase blood glucose. This balance ensures stable energy supply, preventing hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia .

Steroid hormones, which are lipid-soluble, penetrate the cell membrane and bind to intracellular receptors to activate specific genes, leading to the transcription of messenger RNA and subsequent protein synthesis. In contrast, amino acid-based hormones, which are typically not lipid-soluble, bind to receptors on the plasma membrane. This binding often activates a second messenger system, such as cyclic AMP, which then initiates a cascade of intracellular events to produce a physiological response .

The endocrine system regulates hormone secretion through feedback loops, primarily negative feedback, to ensure homeostasis. For example, the secretion of most hormones is controlled by a negative feedback system, where increasing hormone levels in the blood lead to a decrease in hormone release. This mechanism helps maintain stable physiological conditions in the body by adjusting hormone production in response to changes in the internal environment .

ADH (antidiuretic hormone) and oxytocin, both produced by the posterior pituitary, have distinct mechanisms despite structural similarities. ADH primarily regulates water balance by increasing renal reabsorption of water in the kidneys, thus concentrating urine and maintaining blood pressure. Oxytocin, acting through positive feedback, stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during lactation, exemplifying its role in reproductive processes .

Hormone release in the endocrine system can be triggered by different stimuli: humoral stimuli, such as fluctuating blood levels of ions or nutrients; neural stimuli, involving direct nervous system input; and hormonal stimuli, where hormones from one gland stimulate another gland to release hormones. For example, increased blood glucose levels stimulate insulin release, while stress-induced neural activity triggers adrenal gland hormone release .

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