THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
1. Which of the following is the main control center for hormonal regulation?
● Adrenal glands
● Hypothalamus
● Pituitary gland
● Parathyroid glands
Your response is correct!
The hypothalamus is the main control center for many hormones in the body.
The pituitary gland, adrenal glands, and parathyroid glands contribute to hormonal regulation,
but they are directly or indirectly controlled by the hypothalamus.
2. Drag and drop the mechanism of hormonal release to the correct description. Not
all options will be used.
● The control of hormonal release in response to changes in
extracellular fluid or ion levels → Humoral stimuli
● The release of hormones in response to hormones released by
other endocrine glands → Hormonal stimuli
● The release of hormones in response to neural stimulation →
Neural stimuli
Your response is correct!
Hormone levels are primarily controlled through negative feedback loops, in which rising levels
of a hormone prevent its further release. The three mechanisms of hormonal release are as
follows:
Humoral stimuli are the control of hormonal release in response to changes in extracellular fluid
levels or ion levels.
Hormonal stimuli are the release of hormones in response to hormones released by other
endocrine glands.
Neural stimuli are the release of hormones in response to neural stimulation.
Visceral stimuli are not a mechanism of hormonal release.
3. Which of the following statements best describes the negative feedback loop
guiding hormonal regulation?
● A reaction that causes a decrease in function to help maintain homeostasis
● A reaction that remains constant to support homeostasis
● A reaction that causes an increase in function to help maintain
homeostasis
● A reaction that creates no change to maintain homeostasis
Your response is correct!
Hormone levels are primarily controlled through negative feedback loops, in which rising levels
of a hormone inhibit its further release.
,A reaction that causes an increase in function in a target gland describes a positive feedback
loop.
Hormonal regulation does not include reactions that create no change or remain constant to
maintain homeostasis.
4. Your response is correct!
Endocrine → Travel through the bloodstream to reach distant target cells or
organs
Autocrine → Act on the same cell in which it was produced
Paracrine → Affect neighboring cells of the same tissue in which the
hormone was produced
5.
Water-Soluble
● Protein, peptide, or amino acid derivatives
● Induce rapid cellular responses using second messenger systems inside the cell
● Rapidly cleared from the bloodstream
Lipid-Soluble
● Longer duration of action
● Nonpolar and hydrophobic
● Diffuse through the cell membrane to bind to receptors inside the cell
Your response is correct!
Water-Soluble Lipid-Soluble
Chemical Water-soluble hormones Lipid-soluble hormones are
nature are typically proteins, generally derived from
peptides, or amino acid cholesterol. Examples include
derivatives. Examples steroid hormones (estrogen,
include insulin, growth testosterone, and cortisol) and
hormone, and adrenaline. thyroid hormones (thyroxine
and triiodothyronine).
Solubility in Because water-soluble Because lipid-soluble
blood hormones are polar and hormones are nonpolar and
hydrophilic (mix with hydrophobic (do not mix with
water), they dissolve water), lipid-soluble hormones
readily in blood plasma, require carrier proteins in the
where they circulate freely blood to travel. They bind to
in the bloodstream. specific carrier proteins to
increase their solubility.
Transport in Water-soluble hormones Lipid-soluble hormones
bloodstream circulate freely in the require carrier proteins to
, blood without the need for travel in the bloodstream.
carrier proteins. They have They have a longer half-life as
a relatively short half-life they are protected from rapid
and are rapidly cleared degradation.
from the bloodstream.
Receptor Water-soluble hormones Lipid-soluble hormones
location and bind to receptors on the diffuse through the cell
mechanism of cell membrane of target membrane and bind to
action cells and induce rapid receptors inside the target
cellular responses through cell, often in the nucleus or
second messenger cytoplasm. They directly affect
systems inside the cell. gene transcription and protein
Examples of second synthesis, resulting in slower
messengers include cyclic but longer-lasting responses.
AMP (cAMP) and calcium
ions.
Feedback Water-soluble hormones Lipid-soluble hormones are
regulation are often regulated by also regulated by negative
negative feedback loops to feedback loops but with a
maintain homeostasis. longer duration of action due
to their slower elimination
from the bloodstream.
6. Hypothalamus
● Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
● Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
● Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
● Prolactin-releasing peptide
Another Organ
● Adrenaline → adrenal medulla
● Insulin → pancreas
½ Which of the following lab values indicates the client is experiencing an alteration in
endocrine function related to the surgery? Select all that apply.
● T3: 2.2 nmol/L (Reference range 1.2-3.4 nmol/L)
● TSH: 4.7 mU/L (Reference range 2-10 mU/L)
● Total calcium: 5.2 mg/dL (Reference range 9-10.5 mg/dL)
● Total T4: 107 nmol/L (Reference range 59-135 nmol/L)
● Phosphate: 2.56 mmol/L (Reference range 0.97-1.45 mmol/L)
Your response is correct!
, The parathyroid hormones, which are located on the posterior surface of the thyroid, regulate
calcium and phosphate levels in the body. Elevated phosphate and decreased calcium levels
indicate hypoparathyroidism. With recent thyroidectomy, one or more parathyroid glands may
have been injured or destroyed.
The TSH, total T4, and T3 levels are within the reference range for the client’s age and gender.
Question
Complete the following sentence by choosing from the list of options.
This client is most likely experiencing a primary endocrine disorder due to decreased
release of parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid gland.
Your response is correct!
The client is most likely experiencing a primary endocrine disorder due to decreased release of
parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid gland.
If the client were experiencing a secondary endocrine disorder, the thyroid gland would release
a decreased amount of calcitonin.
Question
Review the electronic health record and select the assessment findings in the Progress
Notes that raise suspicion of a hormonal imbalance.
Your response is correct!
Findings that support an alteration in the client’s endocrine function include persistent fatigue,
unexplained weight gain, difficulty concentrating, his mother’s history of thyroid dysfunction, mild
puffiness around the eyes, and feeling cold.
Findings that do not support the client’s findings include his paternal grandmother’s early-onset
menopause, non-palpable thyroid, and limited mobility due to obesity.
Addison's
Finding Disease Hypothyroidism Rationale
Weakness X X In Addison's disease,
1. Which of the following is the main control center for hormonal regulation?
● Adrenal glands
● Hypothalamus
● Pituitary gland
● Parathyroid glands
Your response is correct!
The hypothalamus is the main control center for many hormones in the body.
The pituitary gland, adrenal glands, and parathyroid glands contribute to hormonal regulation,
but they are directly or indirectly controlled by the hypothalamus.
2. Drag and drop the mechanism of hormonal release to the correct description. Not
all options will be used.
● The control of hormonal release in response to changes in
extracellular fluid or ion levels → Humoral stimuli
● The release of hormones in response to hormones released by
other endocrine glands → Hormonal stimuli
● The release of hormones in response to neural stimulation →
Neural stimuli
Your response is correct!
Hormone levels are primarily controlled through negative feedback loops, in which rising levels
of a hormone prevent its further release. The three mechanisms of hormonal release are as
follows:
Humoral stimuli are the control of hormonal release in response to changes in extracellular fluid
levels or ion levels.
Hormonal stimuli are the release of hormones in response to hormones released by other
endocrine glands.
Neural stimuli are the release of hormones in response to neural stimulation.
Visceral stimuli are not a mechanism of hormonal release.
3. Which of the following statements best describes the negative feedback loop
guiding hormonal regulation?
● A reaction that causes a decrease in function to help maintain homeostasis
● A reaction that remains constant to support homeostasis
● A reaction that causes an increase in function to help maintain
homeostasis
● A reaction that creates no change to maintain homeostasis
Your response is correct!
Hormone levels are primarily controlled through negative feedback loops, in which rising levels
of a hormone inhibit its further release.
,A reaction that causes an increase in function in a target gland describes a positive feedback
loop.
Hormonal regulation does not include reactions that create no change or remain constant to
maintain homeostasis.
4. Your response is correct!
Endocrine → Travel through the bloodstream to reach distant target cells or
organs
Autocrine → Act on the same cell in which it was produced
Paracrine → Affect neighboring cells of the same tissue in which the
hormone was produced
5.
Water-Soluble
● Protein, peptide, or amino acid derivatives
● Induce rapid cellular responses using second messenger systems inside the cell
● Rapidly cleared from the bloodstream
Lipid-Soluble
● Longer duration of action
● Nonpolar and hydrophobic
● Diffuse through the cell membrane to bind to receptors inside the cell
Your response is correct!
Water-Soluble Lipid-Soluble
Chemical Water-soluble hormones Lipid-soluble hormones are
nature are typically proteins, generally derived from
peptides, or amino acid cholesterol. Examples include
derivatives. Examples steroid hormones (estrogen,
include insulin, growth testosterone, and cortisol) and
hormone, and adrenaline. thyroid hormones (thyroxine
and triiodothyronine).
Solubility in Because water-soluble Because lipid-soluble
blood hormones are polar and hormones are nonpolar and
hydrophilic (mix with hydrophobic (do not mix with
water), they dissolve water), lipid-soluble hormones
readily in blood plasma, require carrier proteins in the
where they circulate freely blood to travel. They bind to
in the bloodstream. specific carrier proteins to
increase their solubility.
Transport in Water-soluble hormones Lipid-soluble hormones
bloodstream circulate freely in the require carrier proteins to
, blood without the need for travel in the bloodstream.
carrier proteins. They have They have a longer half-life as
a relatively short half-life they are protected from rapid
and are rapidly cleared degradation.
from the bloodstream.
Receptor Water-soluble hormones Lipid-soluble hormones
location and bind to receptors on the diffuse through the cell
mechanism of cell membrane of target membrane and bind to
action cells and induce rapid receptors inside the target
cellular responses through cell, often in the nucleus or
second messenger cytoplasm. They directly affect
systems inside the cell. gene transcription and protein
Examples of second synthesis, resulting in slower
messengers include cyclic but longer-lasting responses.
AMP (cAMP) and calcium
ions.
Feedback Water-soluble hormones Lipid-soluble hormones are
regulation are often regulated by also regulated by negative
negative feedback loops to feedback loops but with a
maintain homeostasis. longer duration of action due
to their slower elimination
from the bloodstream.
6. Hypothalamus
● Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
● Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
● Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
● Prolactin-releasing peptide
Another Organ
● Adrenaline → adrenal medulla
● Insulin → pancreas
½ Which of the following lab values indicates the client is experiencing an alteration in
endocrine function related to the surgery? Select all that apply.
● T3: 2.2 nmol/L (Reference range 1.2-3.4 nmol/L)
● TSH: 4.7 mU/L (Reference range 2-10 mU/L)
● Total calcium: 5.2 mg/dL (Reference range 9-10.5 mg/dL)
● Total T4: 107 nmol/L (Reference range 59-135 nmol/L)
● Phosphate: 2.56 mmol/L (Reference range 0.97-1.45 mmol/L)
Your response is correct!
, The parathyroid hormones, which are located on the posterior surface of the thyroid, regulate
calcium and phosphate levels in the body. Elevated phosphate and decreased calcium levels
indicate hypoparathyroidism. With recent thyroidectomy, one or more parathyroid glands may
have been injured or destroyed.
The TSH, total T4, and T3 levels are within the reference range for the client’s age and gender.
Question
Complete the following sentence by choosing from the list of options.
This client is most likely experiencing a primary endocrine disorder due to decreased
release of parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid gland.
Your response is correct!
The client is most likely experiencing a primary endocrine disorder due to decreased release of
parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid gland.
If the client were experiencing a secondary endocrine disorder, the thyroid gland would release
a decreased amount of calcitonin.
Question
Review the electronic health record and select the assessment findings in the Progress
Notes that raise suspicion of a hormonal imbalance.
Your response is correct!
Findings that support an alteration in the client’s endocrine function include persistent fatigue,
unexplained weight gain, difficulty concentrating, his mother’s history of thyroid dysfunction, mild
puffiness around the eyes, and feeling cold.
Findings that do not support the client’s findings include his paternal grandmother’s early-onset
menopause, non-palpable thyroid, and limited mobility due to obesity.
Addison's
Finding Disease Hypothyroidism Rationale
Weakness X X In Addison's disease,
