BIOL 320 LATEST 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
✔✔What is the main blood [Ca] regulation technique? - ✔✔- Too much [Ca] = more
calcitonin and less PTH release
- Not enough [Ca] = less calcitonin and more PTH release
✔✔What glands are more active when blood [Ca] is A) too low and B) too high? - ✔✔A)
Parathyroid
B) Thyroid
✔✔What are the three layers of the adrenal cortex from least to most deep? - ✔✔- Zona
glomerulosa
- Zona fasciculata
- Zona reticularis
✔✔The zona glomerulosa produces which hormones? - ✔✔Mineralcorticoids
(aldosterone)
✔✔The adrenal medulla produces what hormones? - ✔✔Epinephrine
✔✔What is the function of aldosterone in the body? - ✔✔Causes kidney tubules to
reabsorb more Na leading to an increased BP
✔✔What is the cascade that occurs when blood [Na] is down and or blood [K] is up? -
✔✔1) Kidneys release renin
2) Renin triggers release of angiotensin 1
3) Angiotensin 1 triggers release of angiotensin 2
4) Angiotensin 2 triggers adrenal cortex to release aldosterone
5) Aldosterone causes kidney tubules to increase [Na] reuptake
✔✔ANP inhibits the release of what hormone? - ✔✔Aldosterone
✔✔What are the two types of mineralcorticoids? - ✔✔- Glucocorticoid
- Gonadocorticoids
✔✔What are the purposes of glucocorticoids? - ✔✔Ensure the brain has sufficient
glucose by promoting:
- Glucogenisis
- Fat mobilization
- Protein breakdown
✔✔Which age groups are most affected by gonadotropins? - ✔✔Menopausal women
and pre-pubescent
,✔✔What are the underlying causes of Addison's disease? - ✔✔Too low aldosterone
and cortisol
✔✔What are the symptoms of Addison's disease? - ✔✔- Chronic dehydration
- Hypertension
- Bronze skin
✔✔What causes the bronzing of the skin for people with Addison's disease? - ✔✔Low
cortisol = too much CRH = increased melanin production
✔✔If a disease is caused by medical interference with normal body functions, the
disease is said to be __________. - ✔✔Iantrogenic
✔✔Cushing's disease is caused by ________. - ✔✔Too high levels of cortisol
✔✔What are the symptoms of Cushing's disease? - ✔✔- High blood glucose levels
- Wasting
- Moon face
- Buffalo hump
- DEPRESSED IMMUNE FUNCTION
✔✔Why might a doctor induce Cushing's disease in a patient? - ✔✔Depress their
immune function for an organ transplant
✔✔Cortisol is related to ________ functions of the body. - ✔✔Energy balancing and
distribution
✔✔Hans Selye is known as ____________. - ✔✔The father of stress
✔✔What are the three phases of General Adaptation Syndrome? - ✔✔1) Fight or flight
(catecholamines)
2) Resistance reaction (cortisol)
3) Adrenal exhaustion
✔✔What is the cascade associated with chronic stress? - ✔✔1) Corticotropin releasing
hormone stimulates ant. pit.
2) Ant. pit. releases adenocorticotropic hormone
3) ACTH stimulates adrenal cortex to release mineralcorticoids
✔✔What are the two drug forms of artificial corticoids? - ✔✔Prednisolone acetate and
dexamethasone
✔✔What is the endocrine function of the pancreas? - ✔✔Plasma regulation
, ✔✔How do pancreatic alpha cells work? - ✔✔Release glucagon = amps up glycolysis
and glucogenisis
✔✔How do pancreatic beta cells work? - ✔✔Release insulin which triggers glucose to
be moved out of the blood and into tissues for use
✔✔What hormone is released due to short term exercise? - ✔✔Epinephrine
✔✔What hormone is released due to long term exercise? - ✔✔Cortisol
✔✔What are the major symptoms of diabetes mellitus? - ✔✔- Polyphagia
- Polyuria
- Polydypsia
✔✔Whats the difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus? - ✔✔Type 1 = inability
to produce insulin
Type 2= inability to respond to insulin
✔✔Describe congenital adrenal hyperplasia - ✔✔Enlarged adrenals due to low cortisol
causes excess testosterone
✔✔Which organ converts glycogen to glucose? - ✔✔Liver
✔✔Explain the CRH pathway - ✔✔1) Hypothalamus releases CRH to ant. pit
2) Ant. pit. releases ACTH to adrenal cortex
3) Adrenal cortex releases corticosteroids
✔✔Explain the GnRH pathways - ✔✔1) Hypothalamus releases GnRH to ant. pit.
2) Ant. pit. releases LH
3) LH Stimulates the gonads to produce either testosterone or estrogen
✔✔The __________ gland responds indirectly to light changes throughout the day. -
✔✔Pineal
✔✔The pineal gland releases what hormones? - ✔✔Melatonin
✔✔Melatonin acts on what specific structure? - ✔✔Suprchiasmatic nucleus
✔✔Seasonal Affective Disorder is treated using _______. - ✔✔Full spectrum light
exposure
✔✔The thymus gland is associated with __________ function in the body. - ✔✔Immune
GRADED A+
✔✔What is the main blood [Ca] regulation technique? - ✔✔- Too much [Ca] = more
calcitonin and less PTH release
- Not enough [Ca] = less calcitonin and more PTH release
✔✔What glands are more active when blood [Ca] is A) too low and B) too high? - ✔✔A)
Parathyroid
B) Thyroid
✔✔What are the three layers of the adrenal cortex from least to most deep? - ✔✔- Zona
glomerulosa
- Zona fasciculata
- Zona reticularis
✔✔The zona glomerulosa produces which hormones? - ✔✔Mineralcorticoids
(aldosterone)
✔✔The adrenal medulla produces what hormones? - ✔✔Epinephrine
✔✔What is the function of aldosterone in the body? - ✔✔Causes kidney tubules to
reabsorb more Na leading to an increased BP
✔✔What is the cascade that occurs when blood [Na] is down and or blood [K] is up? -
✔✔1) Kidneys release renin
2) Renin triggers release of angiotensin 1
3) Angiotensin 1 triggers release of angiotensin 2
4) Angiotensin 2 triggers adrenal cortex to release aldosterone
5) Aldosterone causes kidney tubules to increase [Na] reuptake
✔✔ANP inhibits the release of what hormone? - ✔✔Aldosterone
✔✔What are the two types of mineralcorticoids? - ✔✔- Glucocorticoid
- Gonadocorticoids
✔✔What are the purposes of glucocorticoids? - ✔✔Ensure the brain has sufficient
glucose by promoting:
- Glucogenisis
- Fat mobilization
- Protein breakdown
✔✔Which age groups are most affected by gonadotropins? - ✔✔Menopausal women
and pre-pubescent
,✔✔What are the underlying causes of Addison's disease? - ✔✔Too low aldosterone
and cortisol
✔✔What are the symptoms of Addison's disease? - ✔✔- Chronic dehydration
- Hypertension
- Bronze skin
✔✔What causes the bronzing of the skin for people with Addison's disease? - ✔✔Low
cortisol = too much CRH = increased melanin production
✔✔If a disease is caused by medical interference with normal body functions, the
disease is said to be __________. - ✔✔Iantrogenic
✔✔Cushing's disease is caused by ________. - ✔✔Too high levels of cortisol
✔✔What are the symptoms of Cushing's disease? - ✔✔- High blood glucose levels
- Wasting
- Moon face
- Buffalo hump
- DEPRESSED IMMUNE FUNCTION
✔✔Why might a doctor induce Cushing's disease in a patient? - ✔✔Depress their
immune function for an organ transplant
✔✔Cortisol is related to ________ functions of the body. - ✔✔Energy balancing and
distribution
✔✔Hans Selye is known as ____________. - ✔✔The father of stress
✔✔What are the three phases of General Adaptation Syndrome? - ✔✔1) Fight or flight
(catecholamines)
2) Resistance reaction (cortisol)
3) Adrenal exhaustion
✔✔What is the cascade associated with chronic stress? - ✔✔1) Corticotropin releasing
hormone stimulates ant. pit.
2) Ant. pit. releases adenocorticotropic hormone
3) ACTH stimulates adrenal cortex to release mineralcorticoids
✔✔What are the two drug forms of artificial corticoids? - ✔✔Prednisolone acetate and
dexamethasone
✔✔What is the endocrine function of the pancreas? - ✔✔Plasma regulation
, ✔✔How do pancreatic alpha cells work? - ✔✔Release glucagon = amps up glycolysis
and glucogenisis
✔✔How do pancreatic beta cells work? - ✔✔Release insulin which triggers glucose to
be moved out of the blood and into tissues for use
✔✔What hormone is released due to short term exercise? - ✔✔Epinephrine
✔✔What hormone is released due to long term exercise? - ✔✔Cortisol
✔✔What are the major symptoms of diabetes mellitus? - ✔✔- Polyphagia
- Polyuria
- Polydypsia
✔✔Whats the difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus? - ✔✔Type 1 = inability
to produce insulin
Type 2= inability to respond to insulin
✔✔Describe congenital adrenal hyperplasia - ✔✔Enlarged adrenals due to low cortisol
causes excess testosterone
✔✔Which organ converts glycogen to glucose? - ✔✔Liver
✔✔Explain the CRH pathway - ✔✔1) Hypothalamus releases CRH to ant. pit
2) Ant. pit. releases ACTH to adrenal cortex
3) Adrenal cortex releases corticosteroids
✔✔Explain the GnRH pathways - ✔✔1) Hypothalamus releases GnRH to ant. pit.
2) Ant. pit. releases LH
3) LH Stimulates the gonads to produce either testosterone or estrogen
✔✔The __________ gland responds indirectly to light changes throughout the day. -
✔✔Pineal
✔✔The pineal gland releases what hormones? - ✔✔Melatonin
✔✔Melatonin acts on what specific structure? - ✔✔Suprchiasmatic nucleus
✔✔Seasonal Affective Disorder is treated using _______. - ✔✔Full spectrum light
exposure
✔✔The thymus gland is associated with __________ function in the body. - ✔✔Immune
