hormonal communication

Cards (16)

  • What’s the difference between trophic and tropic hormones?
    Tropic hormones act on other endocrine glands, whereas trophic hormones stimulate growth in target tissues
  • What is a hormone?
    • regulating chemical produced by an endocrine or exocrine gland
    • send information about stimuli in the environment to target cells or tissues, to bring about a response
  • through what medium are hormones transported in and what are they transported to?
    • In blood/lymph (endocrine glands) through a duct (exocrine glands)
    • transported to target cells with complementary receptors on their cell (plasma) membranes
  • what is meant by an endocrine gland?
    group of cells specialised to secrete chemicals (hormones) by a mechanism called secretion into the bloodstream
  • Name/label the different glands within the endocrine system
    glands:
    A) pineal gland
    B) pituitary gland
    C) thyroid gland
    D) adrenal gland
    E) thymus
    F) pancreas
    G) ovary
    H) testes
  • state the general characteristics of hormones
    • effective in small quantities
    • widespread and permanent effect
    • small molecules
    • proteins/polypeptides/steroids/glycoproteins/amines/tyrosine derivatives
    • produced by endocrine and exocrine glands
  • true or false? endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream or lymph
    true
  • outline the general action of a first messenger and a second messenger
    1. protein hormone secreted from cell in endocrine organ (first messenger)
    2. hormone circulates in bodily fluids
    3. hormone binds to receptor on plasma membrane of target cell
    4. leads to the activation of second messenger inside the cell
    This process is known as cell signalling
  • state comparisons between the hormonal and nervous system
    Differences between both systems:
  • what two main parts are the adrenal glands made up of? What do each of them do?
    ADRENAL CORTEX: (produces hormones vital to life)
    glucocorticoids- eg cortisol
    • they regulate metabolism by controlling how body converts fats carbs and proteins into energy.
    • Regulate immune response, supress inflammatory responses.
    • Regulation of blood pressure in response to stress.
    • use cholesterol to produce steroids.
    • Release of these hormones controlled by hypothalamus
    mineralocorticoids-
    • eg aldosterone- controls bp by maintaining balance between salt and water concentrations
    ADRENAL MEDULLA: (produces non-essential hormones)
    • Secretes adrenaline in response to stress, and noradrenaline which works alongside adrenaline, producing similar effects (eg- widening air passages)
    • prepares the body to fight or take flight
  • state the roles of adrenaline
    • relaxes smooth muscle in bronchioles
    • increases stroke volume of heart
    • increases heart rate
    • causes general vasoconstriction
    • stimulates breakdown of glycogen
    • dilates pupils
    • increases mental awareness
    • inhibits the action of the gut (digestion)
  • what are the differences between endocrine and exocrine tissues?
    • endocrine glands usually secrete chemicals directly into the bloodstream, whereas exocrine glands secrete them into ducts into organs, or at the surface of the body
    • endocrine glands usually secrete hormones, exocrine glands can secrete enzymes
  • why are the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland so close together?
    ensures nervous and hormonal responses are closely linked and co-ordinated
  • state the general events that are involved in hormone secretionin endocrine systems
    • hormones secreted directly into the blood when a gland is stimulated
    • can occur because of a change in concentration of a substance or by stimulation of another hormone or nerve impulse
    • hormones transported into blood plasma all over the body
    • diffuse out blood and bind to specific receptors for that hormone on the membranes of target cells
    • stimulate target cells to produce response
  • why is hormonal communications slower than neuronal communication?
    because hormones aren't released directly onto target cells but stimulate their receptors
  • why do hormones have a longer lasting effect than neurotransmitters?
    they are not broken down as quickly