Endocrine System

Question 1

What is sensitivity?

Answer 1

The ability to detect change and to respond is called sensitivity.

Question 2

What is response?

Answer 2

Response is a form of defence that allows organisms to survive.

Question 3

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 3

The endocrine system is a group of specialised tissues (glands) that produce chemicals called hormones, many of which are proteins

Question 4

Hormones

Answer 4

Hormones are chemical “messengers”, produced in specialised glands, and transported in the blood to a particular area (the target organ), where they have their effect.

Question 5

Where are hormones produced?

Answer 5

in specialised glands

Question 6

What happens to hormones after they are produced?

Answer 6

They are transported in the blood to a particular area (the target organ), where they have their effect.

Question 7

Where do hormones have their effect?

Answer 7

The target organ

Question 8

What are the endocrine glands often called?

Answer 8

ductless glands

Question 9

What do exocrine glands have that endocrine do not and what are they used for? Give an example

Answer 9

Exocrine glands have ducts to carry their secretions, e.g. salivary glands.

Question 10

What do the endocrine glands work with and what do they do?

Answer 10

The endocrine glands interact with the nervous system to provide the communication, co-ordination and control within the body.

Question 11

What is the action of hormones like and what do they control?

Answer 11

The action of hormones is slower and more general than nerve action and they control mainly long-term changes such as growth, metabolism and sexual maturity

Question 12

What happens when hormones pass through the liver

Answer 12

On passing through the liver, the hormones are broken down and excreted by the kidneys.

Question 13

What does the nervous system rely on and what is it involved in?

Answer 13

The nervous system relies on electrical signals, carried by specialised cells, and is involved in fast responses

Question 14

What does the brain region do?

Answer 14

keeps a check on internal organs and activities, such as the level of carbon dioxide or water in the blood.

Question 15

What is most hormone activity controlled by?

Answer 15

Most hormone activity is controlled directly or indirectly by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.

Question 16

What is the pituitary gland often called and what does it do?

Answer 16

They pituitary is often called the “master gland”, as many of its hormones trigger other glands to release theirs.

Question 17

What does the pituitary gland produce?

Answer 17

It produces ADH to stimulate water reabsorption in the kidneys, TSH which stimulates the thyroid gland to release thyroxine and FSH which controls the fuctions of the reproductive organs.

Question 18

Where is the the thyroid, what does it produce and what does this stimulate?

Answer 18

They thyroid gland, in the neck, produces thyroxine, which stimulates metabolism

Question 19

what does the parathyroid produce and what does this increase?

Answer 19

The parathyroid produces parathyroid hormone, which increases blood calcium levels

Question 20

What type of gland is the pancreas?

Answer 20

The pancreas is both an endocrine and exocrine gland

Question 21

What does the Islete of Langerhans produce and what does the rest produce?

Answer 21

The Islete of Langerhans produces insulin, while the rest of the pancreas produces enzymes for digestion

Question 22

What does insulin do?

Answer 22

stimulatese cells to absorb glucose from the blood, and store it as glycogen

Question 23

What does the adrenal gland do?

Answer 23

produces adrenaline which helps the body cope with emergencies - the “flight of fight” hormone

Question 24

What does the ovary do?

Answer 24

Produces oestrogen and progesterone to prepare the female for pregnancy

Question 25

What do the testes do?

Answer 25

Produce testosterone which triggers sperm production and growth in the male

Question 26

What can endocrine glands sometimes do?

Answer 26

malfunction

Question 27

What can low levels of thyroxine do?

Answer 27

reduce the rate of metabolsim.

Question 28

What can solve the problem of low levels of thyroxine?

Answer 28

Taking the hormone in tablet form once a day can solve the problem - hormone supplement

Question 29

What can excess thyroxine do?

Answer 29

Excess thyroxine can greatly increase metabolic rate

Question 30

What is the treatment for excess thyroxine?

Answer 30

Treatment is often by removal of part of the gland

Question 31

What is it called when the pancreas cannot produce insulin?

Answer 31

In some people, the pancreas cannot produce insulin, which results in diabetes mellitus

Question 32

What happens to glucose in diabetes mellitus?

Answer 32

Glucose cannot get into cells, which disrupts metabolism.

Question 33

What is required if you have diabetes mellitus?

Answer 33

Regular daily injections of insulin are required - hormone supplement

Question 34

What are taken to prevent pregnancy?

Answer 34

In oral contraceptives , oestrogen and progesterone are taken to prevent pregnancy - hormone supplement