NU 110
NU 110 EXAM 4 - Endocrine, Brain and Cranial
Nerves, Nervous System, Senses (Includes
Practice Questions) 2026
Endocrine
- Body system of ductless glands that work with the nervous system to control body
functions and maintain homeostasis using hormones.
- Uses hormones that travel in the blood to target tissues.
- Regulated mainly by negative feedback loops to keep hormone levels in a normal
range.
What are the endocrine glands in the brain? `
- Hypothalamus
- Pineal
- Pituitary
NU 110
,NU 110
What are the endocrine glands in the neck?
- Thyroid
- Parathyroid
What are the endocrine glands in the abdomen?
- Adrenal
- Pancreas
What are the endocrine glands in the reproductive system?
- Testes
- Ovaries
NU 110
,NU 110
Hormone
- Chemical messenger released by endocrine glands into tissue fluid and blood (not
through ducts).
- Travels through bloodstream to specific target tissues or organs to cause a change in
function. - Effects are usually slower to start but longer lasting and more widespread
than nerve impulses.
Feedback
- Negative feedback loop: body detects a change, then responds to reverse that
change.
- Keeps hormone levels and body conditions (like glucose, calcium) within normal
limits.
- Example: high blood glucose → insulin released; low blood glucose → glucagon
released.
Hypothalamus
- Part of the brain that releases hormones controlling the anterior pituitary hormones.
- Links the nervous system to the endocrine system.
- Often called the main controller of pituitary hormone release.
- Controls temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep, hormones, and the autonomic nervous
system.
- Located in the diencephalon, just below the thalamus.
Pineal
- Small gland located near the thalamus in the brain.
- Acts as the body's "biological clock."
- Secretes melatonin to help regulate sleep-wake cycles.
Melatonin
- Hormone produced by the pineal gland. Helps regulate the body's internal clock and
sleep-wake cycles.
- Levels are typically higher at night to promote sleep.
Pituitary
NU 110
, NU 110
- Gland at the base of the brain; often called the "master gland."
- Has anterior and posterior lobes that release different hormones.
- Its hormones control many other endocrine glands (thyroid, adrenals, gonads) and
growth.
Anterior pituitary
- "Pro Athletes Go Far Lengths To Grow" = Prolactin, ACTH, Gonadotropins: FSH and LH,
TSH, Growth hormone.
- Controlled by releasing hormones from the hypothalamus: more of a middle man for
the hypothalamus
Prolactin
- Anterior pituitary hormone.
- Stimulates breast tissue to produce milk.
- Works together with oxytocin, which releases the milk.
ACTH
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone from the anterior pituitary.
- Stimulates the adrenal glands, especially the adrenal cortex, to release their
hormones.
- Helps regulate the body's response to stress through adrenal cortex hormones.
Gonadotropins
- Group name for FSH and LH produced by the anterior pituitary.
- Target the gonads (ovaries and testes).
- Important for sexual development, ovulation, and sperm production.
FSH
- Follicle-stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitary.
- Stimulates development of ova (egg cells) in females.
- Stimulates sperm cell development in males.
LH
NU 110
NU 110 EXAM 4 - Endocrine, Brain and Cranial
Nerves, Nervous System, Senses (Includes
Practice Questions) 2026
Endocrine
- Body system of ductless glands that work with the nervous system to control body
functions and maintain homeostasis using hormones.
- Uses hormones that travel in the blood to target tissues.
- Regulated mainly by negative feedback loops to keep hormone levels in a normal
range.
What are the endocrine glands in the brain? `
- Hypothalamus
- Pineal
- Pituitary
NU 110
,NU 110
What are the endocrine glands in the neck?
- Thyroid
- Parathyroid
What are the endocrine glands in the abdomen?
- Adrenal
- Pancreas
What are the endocrine glands in the reproductive system?
- Testes
- Ovaries
NU 110
,NU 110
Hormone
- Chemical messenger released by endocrine glands into tissue fluid and blood (not
through ducts).
- Travels through bloodstream to specific target tissues or organs to cause a change in
function. - Effects are usually slower to start but longer lasting and more widespread
than nerve impulses.
Feedback
- Negative feedback loop: body detects a change, then responds to reverse that
change.
- Keeps hormone levels and body conditions (like glucose, calcium) within normal
limits.
- Example: high blood glucose → insulin released; low blood glucose → glucagon
released.
Hypothalamus
- Part of the brain that releases hormones controlling the anterior pituitary hormones.
- Links the nervous system to the endocrine system.
- Often called the main controller of pituitary hormone release.
- Controls temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep, hormones, and the autonomic nervous
system.
- Located in the diencephalon, just below the thalamus.
Pineal
- Small gland located near the thalamus in the brain.
- Acts as the body's "biological clock."
- Secretes melatonin to help regulate sleep-wake cycles.
Melatonin
- Hormone produced by the pineal gland. Helps regulate the body's internal clock and
sleep-wake cycles.
- Levels are typically higher at night to promote sleep.
Pituitary
NU 110
, NU 110
- Gland at the base of the brain; often called the "master gland."
- Has anterior and posterior lobes that release different hormones.
- Its hormones control many other endocrine glands (thyroid, adrenals, gonads) and
growth.
Anterior pituitary
- "Pro Athletes Go Far Lengths To Grow" = Prolactin, ACTH, Gonadotropins: FSH and LH,
TSH, Growth hormone.
- Controlled by releasing hormones from the hypothalamus: more of a middle man for
the hypothalamus
Prolactin
- Anterior pituitary hormone.
- Stimulates breast tissue to produce milk.
- Works together with oxytocin, which releases the milk.
ACTH
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone from the anterior pituitary.
- Stimulates the adrenal glands, especially the adrenal cortex, to release their
hormones.
- Helps regulate the body's response to stress through adrenal cortex hormones.
Gonadotropins
- Group name for FSH and LH produced by the anterior pituitary.
- Target the gonads (ovaries and testes).
- Important for sexual development, ovulation, and sperm production.
FSH
- Follicle-stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitary.
- Stimulates development of ova (egg cells) in females.
- Stimulates sperm cell development in males.
LH
NU 110
