Hormone Basics
These chemical messengers travel through the bloodstream to target cells.
What are hormones?
This butterfly-shaped gland is located in the neck.
What is the thyroid gland?
This hormone helps lower blood glucose levels.
What is insulin?
Most hormones are regulated through this type of feedback mechanism.
What is negative feedback?
This response prepares the body for emergencies.
What is the fight-or-flight response?
This body system uses hormones to regulate body functions.
What is the endocrine system?
This gland has historically been called the "master gland."
What is the pituitary gland?
Thyroid hormones primarily regulate this body process.
What is metabolism?
Hormones are released into this body fluid.
What is the bloodstream?
These glands release epinephrine during stress.
What are the adrenal glands?
Hormones help maintain this stable internal environment.
What is homeostasis?
This brain structure controls the pituitary gland and links the nervous and endocrine systems.
What is the hypothalamus?
This hormone is responsible for the fight-or-flight response and is released by the adrenal medulla.
What is epinephrine (adrenaline)?
Negative feedback helps keep hormone levels ______.
What are stable or within normal ranges?
Chronic stress causes increased release of this long-term stress hormone.
What is cortisol?
These cells have receptors that allow them to respond to specific hormones.
What are target cells?
These glands sit on top of the kidneys.
What are the adrenal glands?
This hormone stimulates body growth during childhood.
What is growth hormone?
The hypothalamus controls this gland directly.
What is the pituitary gland?
Name one tissue outside the endocrine glands that produces hormones.
What is the heart, kidneys, adipose tissue, stomach, small intestine, skin, or placenta?
Hormones generally produce slower but more ______ effects than nerve impulses.
What are longer-lasting effects?
This gland produces insulin and glucagon.
What is the pancreas?
This hormone helps the kidneys conserve water.
What is ADH (antidiuretic hormone)?
How many major endocrine glands are commonly identified in the human endocrine system?
10 major endocrine glands (hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroids, thymus, adrenals, pancreas, ovaries, testes).
Prostaglandins are made from these molecules.
What are fatty acids?