BIO 132 – Anatomy and Physiology II

LECTURE 1:  OVERVIEW TO ENDOCRINE FUNCTION

Study Outline

 

1.1.  Definition of Homeostasis and the Internal Environment: 

a.       Homeostasis involves the tendency to maintain the relative __________ of certain physiological variables even in the face of significant environmental change.

b.      Examples of physiological variables include __________, __________, and __________.

c.       Even though our bodies are surrounded by the external environment, our cells are surrounded by __________ fluid, which constitutes the __________.

d.      The key to maintaining homeostasis is the presence of __________.

 

1.2.  Negative Feedback:

a.       A typical negative feedback control system involves the following components: __________, __________, and __________.

b.      Consider the example of the negative feedback control of arterial blood pressure.  Following hemorrhage, the fall in blood pressure is sensed by __________ which send this information to the controller located in the __________.  In this example, the two effectors are the __________ and __________ which act to __________ and __________, both of which lead to a(n) __________ in blood pressure.

c.       When a physiological variable is altered, the controller compares the value of the variable with the ________; and the difference between the two is known as the __________.

 

1.3.  Positive Feedback:

a.       In a positive feedback loop, the effectors cause changes in the controlled variable that tend to _________ the initial change unlike negative feedback systems where the change tends to _________ the initial change.

b.      Consider the example of positive feedback mechanisms in the upstroke of the action potential.  As Na+ permeability increases, the membrane potential becomes __________.

c.       Positive feedback loops are generally found in processes which are __________.

 

1.4.  Cellular Communication:

a.       The structure that allows the direct passage of small molecular weight substances from one cell to the next is called a __________.

b.      Of the two major communication systems in the body, the one which involves the propagation of action potentials is the __________ system.  This system involves the release of molecules called __________ which must diffuse across a space called the __________.  These molecules interact with special __________ located on the postsynaptic cell.

c.       Neurotransmitter receptors can be found on ________, ________, _________, _________, and _________. 

d.      The nervous system operates on a time frame of __________.

e.       The endocrine system involves the release of signal molecules called __________ into the __________.  

f.        Cells which have receptors that recognize a given hormone are called __________ for that hormone.

g.       Compared to the nervous system the endocrine system operates on a time frame which is ________, taking anywhere from seconds to _________.

h.       The example in which a neurotransmitter is released into the blood stream would constitute part of the ___________ system.

i.         On the local level, a molecule that interacts with a receptor on itself or a member of the same cell type is called a(n)  __________ agent, whereas when the target cell is a different cell type, this molecule is a(n) __________ agent.

 

1.5.  Endocrine Glands: 

a.       Unlike _______ glands which secrete into blood, exocrine glands secrete into _______ which end up draining to a __________.

b.      Of the total number of endocrine glands of the body, some examples of glands whose sole function is hormone production include ________,  __________, ___________, _________, and _________.

c.       Other organs or tissues secrete hormones in addition to some other main function.  Some examples include ________, ________, ________, and  _________.

d.      The branch of medicine which handles disorders of the endocrine system is called __________, typically involving situations in which endocrine glands secrete inappropriately large amounts of hormone called _________ or too little hormone called __________.

 

1.6.  Control of Hormone Release:

a.       In general regulation of hormone release comes in three forms involving __________, __________, or _________.

b.      One example of humerol stimuli has to do with the regulation of PTH.  Here the humerol factor is __________.

c.       _________ release from the adrenal medulla is controlled by sympathetic nerve stimulation.

d.      The anterior pituitary gland is an example of where _________ regulate the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones. 

e.       An example in which hormone A stimulates the secretion of hormone B which in turn inhibits the release of hormone A is called __________.

 

1.7.  Chemical Classes of Hormones: 

a.       Based on their solubility, hormones can be subdivided into ________ and _________.

b.      Of the hormones that are able to diffuse across cell membranes, most are ________ molecules although _________ hormones can also pass cell membranes, presumably due to their _________ and iodines. 

c.       Of the water soluble hormones, the _________ are all synthesized from amino acids:  catecholamines from the amino acid _________, histamine from _________ and serotonin and melatonin from ___________.

d.      ________ are all derived from arachidonic acid, and _________ and _________ are examples of this class.

e.       Based on their chemistry, hormones can be classified as ________, ___________, and ___________.

f.        Lipid soluble hormones typically circulate bound to some __________, although the biologically active pool is the _________ fraction.

g.       The concentration of a hormone within blood at any given time depends on the balance between the rate of ________ and the rate of _________.  The time period in which the hormone concentration is reduced in half due to some inactivation mechanism is called the ____________.

 

1.8.  Mechanisms of Hormone Action: 

a.       All hormones interact with a protein called a __________.

b.      Receptors for steroid hormones are found within the __________ of a target cell.  Upon receptor binding, the hormone-receptor complex binds to ________, altering the rate of production of certain _________. 

c.       cAMP mediated hormone processes involve a receptor found on the ________ of a cell.  The enzyme that is responsible for production of cAMP from _________ is called _____________.  Once formed, cAMP activates an enzyme called ________ which in turn carries out the chemical process of __________ of other cellular proteins.  The cAMP is finally inactivated through the enzymatic action of a _____________.

d.      Following receptor activation, the enzyme ________ cleaves PIP2 to form _________ and _________.  DAG activates _________ whereas IP3 liberates Ca2+ from _________ which in turn can activate a regulatory molecule known as __________. 

 

1.9.  The Hypothalamus and Pituitary: 

a.       The pituitary gland can be subdivided into two divisions called the __________ and ___________, derived from different embryonic sources which are the __________ and __________, respectively.

b.      Within the adenohypophysis, there are three portions called the __________, _________, and _________. 

c.       Within the neurohypophysis, there are also three portions called the _________, __________, and _________.

d.      The two hormones released from the posterior pituitary are _________ and _________; both of which are synthesized by ___________ located in the __________ and the _________.

e.       The axons that project from the hypothalamus into the posterior pituitary constitute the __________.  Once in the pars nervosa, they are surrounded by cells called _________.

f.        The pars nervosa is supplied by the __________ artery.

g.       The hypophyeal-portal system consists of pituitary portal vessels which run between the ________ and __________.  These vessels contain hormones released from the hypothalamus that can be classified as _________ or __________.  These vessels all originate from the __________ artery.

h.       Many of the anterior pituitary hormones are called ________ hormones because they affect other endocrine organs.  These hormones are ________, ________, _______, and ________.

i.         The pituitary gland sits in a bony depression called the __________.

j.        Another name for the pituitary gland is the ___________.