Anatomy & Physiology — Endocrine flashcards
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Peptide versus steroid hormone mechanisms, the hypothalamus–pituitary axes, the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, gonads, pineal and other hormone sources, calcium and glucose regulation, feedback loops, the stress response, and classic excess and deficiency disorders.
Learn deck · part of Anatomy & Physiology I/II · written against: Standard two-semester A&P sequence; OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, consulted as a reference; no text copied. Updated 2026-10-10.
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How do water-soluble (peptide and amine) hormones and lipid-soluble (steroid and thyroid) hormones differ in where their receptors sit and how they act?Water-soluble hormones stay outside the cell, so they bind cell-surface receptors and work through second messengers — fast, amplified, short-lived. Lipid-soluble hormones enter the cell (steroids by diffusion, thyroid hormones on a carrier) and bind intracellular receptors that act as transcription factors, changing gene expression — slower but longer-lasting.Hormone Mechanisms
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Walk through the cAMP second-messenger pathway from hormone binding to the cell's response.The hormone binds a G protein–coupled receptor → the activated G protein switches on adenylate cyclase → ATP is converted to cAMP → cAMP activates protein kinase A, which phosphorylates enzymes to produce the response. Phosphodiesterase then degrades cAMP, ending the signal.Hormone Mechanisms
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How does the hypothalamus control the anterior pituitary, and how does that differ from its control of the posterior pituitary?Anterior lobe: hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones travel through the hypophyseal portal system to pituitary cells that make and secrete their own hormones. Posterior lobe: hypothalamic neurons send axons down the infundibulum and release oxytocin and ADH directly from their terminals — the posterior lobe stores, it does not synthesize.Hypothalamus and Pituitary
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Which two hormones are released from the posterior pituitary, and where are they actually made?Oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH, vasopressin), made by neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior lobe until a nerve impulse releases them.Hypothalamus and Pituitary
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Trace the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis and its negative feedback.TRH from the hypothalamus → TSH from the anterior pituitary → the thyroid releases T₃ and T₄. Rising T₃ and T₄ inhibit both TRH and TSH release, so output is self-limiting. Cold exposure (especially in infants) raises TRH.Thyroid and Parathyroid
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What is the main action of thyroid hormone on the body's cells?It raises the basal metabolic rate — more oxygen consumption and heat production (the calorigenic effect) — partly by increasing synthesis of Na⁺/K⁺ pumps and mitochondrial enzymes. It is also permissive for growth, nervous system development and sympathetic responsiveness.Thyroid and Parathyroid
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Name the three zones of the adrenal cortex and the class of hormone each makes.Zona glomerulosa (outer) → mineralocorticoids (aldosterone); zona fasciculata (middle) → glucocorticoids (cortisol); zona reticularis (inner) → gonadocorticoids (weak androgens such as DHEA).Adrenal Glands
Mnemonic: Salt, sugar, sex — the deeper you go, the sweeter it gets. -
Which pancreatic islet cells secrete insulin, and which secrete glucagon?Beta cells secrete insulin and alpha cells secrete glucagon (delta cells secrete somatostatin). The islets are the endocrine part of the pancreas; the surrounding acinar cells make digestive enzymes.Pancreas and Glucose Regulation
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Which cells produce testosterone, and what are its main effects?The interstitial (Leydig) cells of the testes, under the control of LH. Testosterone drives sperm production, the development and maintenance of male secondary sex characteristics (deeper voice, facial hair, greater muscle mass) and sex drive.Gonads · Pineal and Other Sources
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Why is most hormone secretion controlled by negative feedback, and what does positive feedback do instead?Negative feedback keeps hormone levels within a narrow range: the hormone's effect shuts off further release (T₃ and T₄ suppressing TSH). Positive feedback amplifies the response until a clear endpoint is reached — oxytocin in labor, or the LH surge that triggers ovulation.Feedback and Stress
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About these cards
Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.
Checked against:
- OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, chapter on the endocrine system, consulted as a reference; no text copied.
- Classic disorder descriptions follow standard introductory A&P textbooks; all wording is original.
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