NR 565 Week 5 Endocrine Case Study Q&A
Endocrine primary function - ANSWER: produce hormones; hormones act on specific
target cells to produce specific effects; no ducts (use circulatory system)
what does the endocrine system work together with? - ANSWER: nervous system to
maintain homeostasis
Hormones - ANSWER: chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands; absorbed
into blood vessels and will contact all cells of the body; only produces effects on cells
containing specific receptors
Target cell - ANSWER: "lock and key" arrangement causes a change in activity of
target cell; growth hormone: all cells; Prolactin: mammary tissue
Control of hormone secretion - ANSWER: negative feedback system (like a
thermostat)
If hormone level is low: - ANSWER: appropriate endocrine gland is stimulated to
produce more hormone
If adequate hormone concentration is attained in the bloodstream: - ANSWER:
stimulation of endocrine gland is reduced and production of the hormone is
stopped/reduced
hypothalamus - ANSWER: part of diencephalon; controls activities of pituitary gland;
portal system of blood vessels links hypothalamus with anterior portion of pituitary
gland
neurosecretory cells - ANSWER: in hypothalamus that secrete releasing and
inhibiting hormones into portal blood vessels into anterior pituitary gland
7 hormones made by pituitary gland - ANSWER: growth hormone; thyroid
stimulating hormone (TSH); Follicle Stimulating hormone (FSH); Luteinizing hormone
(LH); prolactin; adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
posterior pituitary gland storage - ANSWER: does not make hormones but stores
oxytocin and Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
oxytocin and Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) - ANSWER: modified neurons in
hypothalamus secrete them; transported to posterior pituitary (along neurons) for
storage
anterior pituitary - ANSWER: adenohypophysis; rostral portion; composed of
glandular tissue; produces hormones
, posterior pituitary - ANSWER: neurohypophysis; caudal portion; composed of
neurosecretory cells; stores and releases hormones produced in hypothalamus
Growth Hormone (GH) - ANSWER: promotes bone and muscle growth in young
animals but targets all cells; regulates metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and
lipids; protein are synthesized via anabolism; lipids are released from storage and go
through catabolism for energy
hyperglycemic effect - ANSWER: since Growth hormone promotes the use of lipids
for energy, glucose accumulates in the blood; animal has to have a normal
production of insulin to counteract hyperglycemia
prolactin - ANSWER: helps trigger and maintain lactation in females; secretion of milk
by mammary glands; when prolactin stimulation stops: milk production stops,
mammary gland shrinks to nonlactating size; continues to make milk if it is
stimulated (positive feedback)
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) - ANSWER: stimulates growth/development of
thyroid gland and causes thyroid to produce hormones; negative feedback; levels
too low TSH production increases; levels too high TSH production diminishes
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) - ANSWER: stimulates growth/development of
adrenal cortex and the release of its hormones; regulated by levels of cortisol
when cortisol is low or patient is stressed - ANSWER: the hypothalamus will produce
CRF which causes anterior pituitary to release ACTH
When cortisol is elevated - ANSWER: negative feedback will cause CRF and ACTH
levels to be reduced
Why is administering steroids a bad thing? - ANSWER: they mimic the effects of
cortisol can cause negative feedback and will make the adrenal glands atrophy
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - ANSWER: Females: stimulates
growth/development of ovarian follicles; also stimulates the cells lining the follicles
to produce/secrete estrogen; used to superovulate
Males: stimulates spermatogenesis in the testes
Luteinizing Hormone (LH) - ANSWER: completes follicular development in ovary;
increased amounts of estrogen feedback to the anterior pituitary and cause reduced
production of FSH and increased produced of LH; LH levels reach a peak when follicle
is fully mature (causes ovulation)
Males: LH stimulates interstitial cells to produce testosterone
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) - ANSWER: reduces urine volume, prevents diuresis;
receptors detect changes in concentration of blood (due to dehydration-
hemoconcentration); release of ADH causes kidneys to reabsorb more water from
Endocrine primary function - ANSWER: produce hormones; hormones act on specific
target cells to produce specific effects; no ducts (use circulatory system)
what does the endocrine system work together with? - ANSWER: nervous system to
maintain homeostasis
Hormones - ANSWER: chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands; absorbed
into blood vessels and will contact all cells of the body; only produces effects on cells
containing specific receptors
Target cell - ANSWER: "lock and key" arrangement causes a change in activity of
target cell; growth hormone: all cells; Prolactin: mammary tissue
Control of hormone secretion - ANSWER: negative feedback system (like a
thermostat)
If hormone level is low: - ANSWER: appropriate endocrine gland is stimulated to
produce more hormone
If adequate hormone concentration is attained in the bloodstream: - ANSWER:
stimulation of endocrine gland is reduced and production of the hormone is
stopped/reduced
hypothalamus - ANSWER: part of diencephalon; controls activities of pituitary gland;
portal system of blood vessels links hypothalamus with anterior portion of pituitary
gland
neurosecretory cells - ANSWER: in hypothalamus that secrete releasing and
inhibiting hormones into portal blood vessels into anterior pituitary gland
7 hormones made by pituitary gland - ANSWER: growth hormone; thyroid
stimulating hormone (TSH); Follicle Stimulating hormone (FSH); Luteinizing hormone
(LH); prolactin; adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
posterior pituitary gland storage - ANSWER: does not make hormones but stores
oxytocin and Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
oxytocin and Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) - ANSWER: modified neurons in
hypothalamus secrete them; transported to posterior pituitary (along neurons) for
storage
anterior pituitary - ANSWER: adenohypophysis; rostral portion; composed of
glandular tissue; produces hormones
, posterior pituitary - ANSWER: neurohypophysis; caudal portion; composed of
neurosecretory cells; stores and releases hormones produced in hypothalamus
Growth Hormone (GH) - ANSWER: promotes bone and muscle growth in young
animals but targets all cells; regulates metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and
lipids; protein are synthesized via anabolism; lipids are released from storage and go
through catabolism for energy
hyperglycemic effect - ANSWER: since Growth hormone promotes the use of lipids
for energy, glucose accumulates in the blood; animal has to have a normal
production of insulin to counteract hyperglycemia
prolactin - ANSWER: helps trigger and maintain lactation in females; secretion of milk
by mammary glands; when prolactin stimulation stops: milk production stops,
mammary gland shrinks to nonlactating size; continues to make milk if it is
stimulated (positive feedback)
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) - ANSWER: stimulates growth/development of
thyroid gland and causes thyroid to produce hormones; negative feedback; levels
too low TSH production increases; levels too high TSH production diminishes
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) - ANSWER: stimulates growth/development of
adrenal cortex and the release of its hormones; regulated by levels of cortisol
when cortisol is low or patient is stressed - ANSWER: the hypothalamus will produce
CRF which causes anterior pituitary to release ACTH
When cortisol is elevated - ANSWER: negative feedback will cause CRF and ACTH
levels to be reduced
Why is administering steroids a bad thing? - ANSWER: they mimic the effects of
cortisol can cause negative feedback and will make the adrenal glands atrophy
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - ANSWER: Females: stimulates
growth/development of ovarian follicles; also stimulates the cells lining the follicles
to produce/secrete estrogen; used to superovulate
Males: stimulates spermatogenesis in the testes
Luteinizing Hormone (LH) - ANSWER: completes follicular development in ovary;
increased amounts of estrogen feedback to the anterior pituitary and cause reduced
production of FSH and increased produced of LH; LH levels reach a peak when follicle
is fully mature (causes ovulation)
Males: LH stimulates interstitial cells to produce testosterone
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) - ANSWER: reduces urine volume, prevents diuresis;
receptors detect changes in concentration of blood (due to dehydration-
hemoconcentration); release of ADH causes kidneys to reabsorb more water from
