Terminology
What is the endocrine system?
A network of glands produces chemical messengers
What is negative feedback?
This type of feedback mechanism works to return the body to its normal state
What process does insulin influence?
Blood glucose levels
What is the internal environment?
The internal conditions within an organism's body
Name the main glands of the endocrine system.
Pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, pineal, hypothalamus, reproductive glands
What are hormones?
Chemical signals that travel through the bloodstream to trigger specific responses
What is positive feedback?
An example of this type of feedback is blood clotting, which intensifies a change
What is cortisol responsible for?
Managing the body's stress response and inflammation
What is the process of hormone secretion?
Stimulated glands produce and secrete hormones into the blood which travel to target tissues to bind to receptor sites.
What is the function of the pituitary gland?
It produces crucial hormones and regulates other endocrine glands and is often called the master gland.
What is homeostasis?
The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment
What is a feedback mechanism?
The process of monitoring and adjusting bodily conditions to maintain optimal functioning
What is thyroid hormone?
Hormone that controls metabolic rate and energy production
What is the role of adrenaline during stress?
Increases heart rate, raises blood pressure, expanding air passages, redirecting blood to muscles, and releasing stored energy.
How does the adrenal gland respond to stress?
Adrenal glands respond to stress by:
- Releasing cortisol
- Producing adrenaline
- Increasing blood sugar
- Suppressing non-essential functions
- Preparing body for immediate action
What is a gland?
An organ that produces and releases specific substances into the body
What is homeostasis regulation?
The body's method of counteracting changes from its normal state
What is glucose absorption and energy storage?
The specific mechanism insulin uses to maintain blood sugar balance
What is regulation?
The comprehensive process of controlling and maintaining bodily functions
Discuss the relationship between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
They work together and act as a control center.
What is a target organ?
The specific tissue or organ that responds to a particular hormone's chemical signal
Give an example of positive feedback mechanisms.
Childbirth, fruit ripening, blood clotting, etc.
What hormone plays a role in metabolism and body temperature?
Thyroid hormone
Which two hormones are responsible for glucose regulation?
Describe the role of the thyroid gland in the body.
It regulates metabolism, body temperature and development.