Glands & Origins
This "master gland" located at the base of the brain controls many other endocrine glands.
What is the pituitary gland?
This type of feedback loop minimizes changes to keep a system stable around a set point.
What is negative feedback?
Released by the pancreas, this hormone lowers blood glucose levels after you eat a meal.
What is insulin?
Also known as epinephrine, this hormone kicks off the immediate "fight-or-flight" response.
What is adrenaline?
This condition results when the pancreas produces little to no insulin, typically requiring lifelong insulin injections.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
This butterfly-shaped gland in the neck regulates your body's overall metabolism.
What is the thyroid gland?
This type of feedback loop amplifies a response until a definitive endpoint is reached, such as during childbirth.
What is positive feedback?
This hormone is released by the pancreas when blood glucose is low, prompting the liver to release stored glucose.
What is glucagon?
Known as the primary "stress hormone," this glucocorticoid increases blood sugar during long-term stress.
What is cortisol?
An enlargement of the thyroid gland, often caused by a lack of dietary iodine, is called this.
What is a goiter?
These glands sit on top of the kidneys and release hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
What are the adrenal glands?
When calcium levels in the blood drop too low, this gland releases a hormone to pull calcium out of the bones.
What is the parathyroid gland
This is the specific storage form of glucose found in the liver and muscle tissues.
What is glycogen?
These two iodine-containing hormones are produced by the thyroid to regulate the speed of your metabolism.
What are T_3 (triiodothyronine) and T_4 (thyroxine)?
Overproduction of growth hormone during adulthood causes this condition, marked by enlarged bones in the face, hands, and feet.
What is acromegaly?
This brain structure links the nervous system to the endocrine system and controls the pituitary gland.
What is the hypothalamus?
When calcium levels in the blood drop too low, this gland releases a hormone to pull calcium out of the bones.
What is the parathyroid gland
These specific clusters of endocrine cells within the pancreas contain alpha and beta cells.
What are the Islets of Langerhans?
This region of the adrenal gland is responsible for secreting catecholamines like epinephrine, rather than steroid hormones.
What is the adrenal medulla?
Characterized by weight gain, a "buffalo hump," and high blood pressure, this syndrome is caused by an excess of cortisol.
What is Cushing's Syndrome?
Melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles, is secreted by this tiny gland in the brain.
What is the pineal gland?
This hormone, released by the anterior pituitary, tells the thyroid gland to produce T_3 and T_4; its production stops when thyroid hormone levels are high.
What is TSH
Beta cells produce insulin, while these cells in the pancreas produce glucagon.
What are alpha cells?
This hormone stimulates water reabsorption in the kidneys during dehydration or high stress, reducing urine output.
What is ADH
This autoimmune disorder leads to hyperthyroidism, causing symptoms like anxiety, heat intolerance, and bulging eyes.
What is Graves' Disease?