Exam 2 (Chapter 8) - Hormones and Sex

• Hormones


  a chemical, typically secreted by an endocrine gland, that is conveyed by the bloodstream and regulates target organs/tissue
• Endocrine glands


  a gland that secretes Hormones into the bloodstream
• endocrine


  glands
• Pheromones


  a chemical signal that is released outside the body of an animal and affects other members of the same species
• allomones


  a chemical signal that is released outside the body by one species and affects the behavior of other species
• peptide hormone


  also called protein hormone, a hormone that consists of a string of amino acids
• Amine Hormones


  also called Monoamine Hormone. a hormone composed of a single amino acid that has been modified into a related molecule, such as melatonin or epinephrine.
• steroid hormones


  any class of hormone, each of which is composed of four interconnected ring of carbon atoms
• Second messengers


  a slow acting substance in a target cell that amplifies the effect of synaptic or hormonal activity and regulates activity within the target cells
• Knockout Organism


  an individual in which a particular gene has been disabled by the experimenter
• Immunocytochemistry


  A method for detecting a particular protein in tissues in which an antibody recognizes and binds to the protein and then chemical methods are used to leave a visible reaction product around each antibody
• Autoradiography


  a staining technique that shows the distribution of radioactive chemicals
• in situ hybridization


  a method for detecting particular RNA transcripts in tissue sections by providing a nucleotide probe that is complementary to and will therefore hybridize with the transcript of interest
• Pituitary gland


  a small complex endocrine gland located in a socket at the base of the skull
• Pituitary stalk


  also called infundibulum. a thin piece of tissue that connects the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus
• neuroendocrine cells


  a neuron that releases a hormone into local or general circulation
• Posterior pituitary


  the rear division of the pituitary gland
• oxytocin


  a peptide hormone, released from the posterior pituitary, that triggers milk letdown in the nursing female and is associated with a variety of complex emotions
• Vasopressin


  also called arginine vasopressin(AVP) or antidiuretic hormone(ADH). a peptide hormone from the posterior pituitary that promotes water conservation and increases blood pressure
• Milk Letdown reflex


  the reflexive release of milk triggered by oxytocin
• Pair-bonds


  a durable and exclusive relationship between two individuals
• Negative feedback


  the process whereby a system monitors its own output and reduces its activity when a set point is reached
• Anterior pituitary


  the front division of the pituitary gland. it secretes tropic hormones
• Tropic hormones


  any of a class of anterior pituitary hormones that affect the secretion of hormones by other glands
• Releasing Hormones


  any of a class of hormones produced in the hypothalamus, that traverse the hypothalamic-pituitary portal system to control the pituitary release of tropic hormones
• median eminence


  a midline feature on the base of the brain that marks the point at which the pituitary stalk exits the hypothalamus to connect to the pituitary. it contains one end of the hypothalamic -pituitary portal system
• Hypothalamic-pituitary portal system


  an elaborate bed of blood vessels leading from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary
• Growth hormone(GH)


  also called somatotropin or somatotropic hormone. a tropic hormone, secreted by the anterior pituitary that promotes growth of cells and tissues
• Gonads


  any of the sexual organs that produce gametes for reproduction
• gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH)^x


  a hypothalamic hormone that controls the release of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary
• Gonadotropins


  an anterior pituitary tropic hormone that stimulates the cells of the gonads to produce sex steroids and gametes.
• Follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)


  A gonadotropin, named for its actions on ovarian follicles
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)


  a gonadotropin, named for its stimulatory effects on the ovarian corpora lutea.
• follicles


  the structure of the ovary that contains Immature Ovum (egg)
• Corpora Lute


  refers to carrying action potentials toward the brain or toward one region of interest
• Testes


  the male gonads
• Testosterone


  hormone produced by testes that controls a variety of bodily changes that occur at puberty it is one of a class of hormones called androgens
• androgens


  any of a class of hormones that includes testosterone and similar steroids
• Ovaries


  the female gonads
• progestins


  any of a major class of steroid hormones that are produced by the ovary, including progesterone