topic 7

• Adrenal glands


  Endocrine glands located above the kidneys that produce adrenaline
• Adrenaline


  A hormone produced by the adrenal glands that is involved in the 'fight or flight' response. It increases heart rate, blood pressure, blood flow to muscles and blood glucose levels
• Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)


  A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that increases the collecting duct's permeability to water, allowing more water to be reabsorbed into the blood
• Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

  A fertility treatment in which a woman's eggs are handled outside of the body
• Barrier method


  A type of contraception that prevents the sperm and egg meeting, e.g. condoms, diaphragms
• Body mass index (BMI)


  A value based on height and mass used to categorise an individual as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese

  
• Bowman's capsule


  The cup-like structure at the start of a nephron that surrounds the glomerulus. Small molecules, water and ions are forced into the Bowman's capsule during filtration
• Clomifene


  A drug prescribed to women who do not ovulate regularly. It stimulates the secretion of more FSH and LH, triggering egg production and ovulation
• Collecting duct


  The final section of the nephron in which water is selectively reabsorbed and urine is sent to the ureter. Its permeability to water is altered by ADH
• Combined pill


  A contraceptive taken orally that contains both oestrogen and progesterone
• Contraception


  A method or device used to prevent pregnancy
• Contraceptive injection


  An injection that releases progesterone into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy
• Contraceptive patch


  A patch that releases both oestrogen and progesterone into the bloodstream through the skin to prevent pregnancy
• Corpus luteum


  A temporary endocrine structure, formed from the remains of the follicle, that secretes progesterone
• Dermis


  The layer of tissue below the epidermis. It contains temperature-sensitive receptors (that provide information about the external temperature) and sweat glands
• Diabetes


  A condition where the homeostatic control of blood glucose levels stops working
• Dialysis


  A medical procedure that artificially filters the blood of patients with kidney failure. It relies on a partially permeable membrane between the patient's blood and dialysis fluid
• Effector


  An organ, tissue, or cell that produces a response to a stimulus
• Endocrine gland


  Glands of the endocrine system that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream
• Endocrine system


  A network of glands that produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream
• Epidermis


  The outer layer of the skin. It contains temperature-sensitive receptors that provide information about the external temperature
• Fight or flight response


  A physiological reaction that occurs in response to stress where the body prepares to confront danger or flee from it
• Filtration


  The removal of small molecules, water and ions from the blood in the glomerulus of the kidney at high pressure
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)


  A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that binds to follicle cells, stimulating them to mature and secrete oestrogen
• Glomerulus


  A bundle of capillaries located in the capsule of a nephron adapted for the filtration of blood
• Glucagon


  A hormone secreted by the pancreas when blood glucose concentration is too low. It causes the breakdown of glycogen to glucose in the liver
• Glycogen


  A store of glucose in the liver and muscle tissues
• Homeostasis


  The maintenance of a stable internal environment in the body despite fluctuations in internal and external conditions
• Hormone


  A cell signalling molecule produced by endocrine glands and released into the blood. It travels to a target organ and binds to receptors on effectors, initiating a response
• Hypothalamus


  A structure in the brain that contains the thermoregulatory centre. It coordinates information from the receptors and sends instructions to the effectors
• Insulin


  A hormone secreted by the pancreas when blood glucose concentration is too high. It causes liver and muscle cells to increase their uptake of glucose and the conversion of glucose to glycogen in the liver
• In vitro fertilisation (IVF)


  The fertilisation of an egg using sperm outside of the body. The zygote is allowed to grow and the resulting embryo is transferred to the uterus
• Kidney


  One of a pair of organs in the abdomen that has a role in osmoregulation and nitrogenous excretion
• Luteinising hormone (LH)


  A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that initiates ovulation and stimulates the development of the remains of the follicle into a corpus luteum
• Menstrual cycle


  The monthly cycle in women that involves the development of the uterus lining, ovulation, maintenance of the uterus lining and its shedding
• Menstruation


  The shedding of the uterus lining that begins at day 1 of the menstrual cycle
• Metabolic rate


  The rate at which biochemical reactions occur in cells
• Mini-pill


  An oral contraceptive that contains progesterone only
• Negative feedback


  A corrective mechanism that allows only small shifts from a set point, reversing a change in conditions
• Nephron


  The functional unit of the kidney