Endocrine

Hormone Basics

100

These cells respond to hormones because they have specific receptors 

Target Cells

200

Water soluble hormones use this system to act inside the cell

secondary messengers

300

lipid soluble hormones primarily affect this process in the nucleus 

gene expression

400

one hormone causing multiple different effects is called

pleiotropic effects 

500

hormone concentration in blood depends on secretion balanced with this process

degradation (clearance)

Receptors & Feedback

100

the most common type of of hormonal feedback

negative feedback

200

decreased receptor number after prolonged exposure to hormone

down regulation

300

the minimum hormone concentration required before any measurable cellular response occurs

threshold concentration 

400

a rightward shift in dose-response curve indicates this 

decreased sensitivity

500

decreased maximal effect even with the high hormone levels indicates this 

decreased responsiveness

Hypothalamus & Pituitary

100

this structure links the nervous and endocrine systems 

hypothalamus

200

this specialized blood vessel system carries hypothalamic hormones directly to the anterior pituitary 

hypophyseal portal system

300

hormones released from this pituitary lobe are synthesized in the hypothalamus and transported down axons

posterior pituitary

400

prolactin secretion increased when this inhibitory neurotransmitter is decreased

dopamine

500

a patient with normal ADH levels but kidneys that do not respond to it has this condition

nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

Thyroid & Adrenal

100

this thyroid hormone is the biologically active form

T3

200

this protein binds most circulating thyroid hormone, making it inactive while bound

thyroxine-binding globulin

300

conversion of T4 to active T3 occurs primarily in these locations outside the thyroid

what are peripheral tissues

400

a patient with low T3/T4 and high TSH has dysfunction at this level 

thyroid (primary hypothyroidism)

500

hyperpigmentation in adrenal insufficiency occurs because increased ACTH also increases this hormone derived from the same precursor 

melanocyte-stimulating hormone

Pancreas & Calcium

100

this pancreatic cell type produces insulin 

beta cells

200

this hormone raises blood glucose by increasing glycogen breakdown

glucagon

300

this hormone increases blood calcium by increasing bone resorption and renal reabsorption 

parathyroid hormone

400

insulin lowers serum potassium through this mechanism 

shifting potassium into cells

500

A patient with high insulin but low c-peptide most likely has this source of insulin 

exogenous insulin