The endocrine system

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    Created by
    Maya Cruickshank

    Cards (9)

    • The endocrine system
      A network of glands throughout the body that manufacture and secrete chemical messengers called hormone.
      it is a chemical system of communication via bloodstream
    • How it works 

      a required amount of a hormone is released from a gland eg.thyroid, pituitary, adrenal
      it uses blood vessels to deliver hormones to target sites in the body
    • hormones
      chemical messengers that travel trough the bloodstream and are carried to target sites
      target cells have receptors for specific hormones causing a response
      when enough sites are stimulated by hormones this results in a physiological reaction in target cells
    • The regulation of the endocrine system
      Regulated by feedback
      one set of signals stimulates the release of hormones
      as levels of the hormone rise in the bloodstream a second set of signals slows down the secretion
      this results in stable concentrations of hormones in the bloodstream
    • The fight or flight response
      When we experience a stressful or threatening situation our bodies react in specific ways eg. Fast heart beat
      these responses occur when our body prepares to defend or run away
    • the F or F response 

      involves changes in the NS + secretion of hormones
      it evolved as a survival mechanism enabling animals and humans to react quickly to life threatening situations
    • negative consequences
      1. stressors of modern day life rarely require the same level of psychical activity as would’ve been needed when we first adapted
    • neg consequences 

      2. when the sympathetic NS is repeatedly activated the increased blood pressure levels can lead to physical damage to blood vessels and eventually heart disease
      the system may no longer by adaptive for the stressors we face today
    • outline of the F or F
      • a stressor is perceived
      • the hypothalamus prepares the body for action by triggering the sympathetic NS
      • the body switches from the para-symp state to the symp state
      • this begins the process of preparing the body for the rapid action needed
      • the SNS sends a signal to the adrenal medulla
      • the AM releases adrenaline
      • this has a range of effects - heart rate, breathing, blood pressure
      • the PNS is activated
      • the body returns to the resting state
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