Body Systems II
Terms
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- adenohypophysis
- Also called the anterior pituitary, it consists of endocrine cells that synthesize and secrete several hormones directly into the blood
- adrenal gland
- An endocrine gland located adjacent to the kidney in mammals; composed of two glandular portions: an outer cortex, which responds to endocrine signals in reacting to stress and effecting salt and water balance, and a central
- adrenal medulla
- The central portion of an adrenal gland, controlled by nerve signals, that secretes the fight-or-flight hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine.
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adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
- A peptide hormone released from the anterior pituitary, it stimulates the production and secretion of steroid hormones by the adrenal cortex
- androgens
- The principal male steroid hormones, such as testosterone, which stimulate the development and maintenance of the male reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics
- anterior pituitary
- Also called the adenohypophysis, it consists of endocrine cells that synthesize and secrete several hormones directly into the blood
- antidiuretic hormone
- A hormone that is part of an elaborate feedback scheme that helps regulate the osmolarity of the blood
- beta cell
- The source of insulin within the islets of Langerhans, nestled within the pancreas
- brain hormone
- A hormone produced by neurosecretory cells in the insect brain. It promotes development by stimulating the prothoracic glands to secrete ecdysone
- catecholamines
- A class of compounds, including epinephrine and norepinephrine, that are synthesized from the amino acid tyrosine
- corticosteroids
- A family of steroids synthesized by and released from the adrenal cortex
- ecdysone
- A steroid hormone that triggers molting in arthropods
- endocrine gland
- A ductless gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream
- endocrine system
- The internal system of chemical communication involving hormones, the ductless glands that secrete hormones, and the molecular receptors on or in target cells that respond to hormones; functions in concert with the nervous s
- endorphin
- A hormone produced in the brain and anterior pituitary that inhibits pain perception.
- epinephrine
- A hormone produced as a response to stress; also called adrenaline
- estrogens
- The primary female steroid sex hormones, which are produced in the ovary by the developing follicle during the first half of the cycle and in smaller quantities by the corpus luteum during the second half. Estrogens stimulat
- follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- A protein hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that stimulates the production of eggs by the ovaries and sperm by the testes
- glucagon
- A peptide hormone secreted by pancreatic endocrine cells that raises blood glucose levels; an antagonistic hormone to insulin
- glucocorticoid
- A corticosteroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that influences glucose metabolism and immune function
- gonadotropins
- Hormones that stimulate the activities of the testes and ovaries; a collective term for follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones
- growth factor
- A protein that must be present in the extracellular environment (culture medium or animal body) for the growth and normal development of certain types of cells
- growth hormone
- A protein of about 200 amino acids that affects a wide variety of target tissues and has both direct effects and tropic effects
- hormone
- Any one of the many circulating chemical signals found in all multicellular organisms that are formed in specialized cells, travel in body fluids, and coordinate the various parts of the organism by interacting with target c
- hypothalamus
- The ventral part of the vertebrate forebrain; functions in maintaining homeostasis, especially in coordinating the endocrine and nervous systems; secretes hormones of the posterior pituitary and releasing factors, which regu
- inhibiting hormone
- A kind of hormone released from the hypothalamus that makes the anterior pituitary stop secreting hormone
- insulin
- A vertebrate hormone that lowers blood glucose levels by promoting the uptake of glucose by most body cells and the synthesis and storage of glycogen in the liver; also stimulates protein and fat synthesis; secreted by endoc
- insulinlike growth factors
- A group of peptides produced by the liver, it circulates in blood plasma and directly stimulates bone and cartilage growth
- islets of Langerhans
- Clusters of endocrine cells that secrete glucagon and insulin directly into the bloodstream
- juvenile hormone (JH)
- A hormone in arthropods, secreted by the corpora allata glands, that promotes the retention of larval characteristics
- lutenizing hormone (LH)
- A protein hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that stimulates ovulation in females and androgen production in males
- melanocyte-stimulating hormone
- A hormone that regulates the activity of pigment-containing cells in the skin of some vertebrates
- melatonin
- A modified amino acid hormone secreted by the pineal gland
- mineralocorticoid
- A corticosteroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that regulates salt and water homeostasis
- neurohypophysis
- Also called the posterior pituitary, it is an extension of the brain. The neurohypophysis stores and secretes oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone, both produced by neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus
- neurosecretory cells
- Hypothalamus cells that receive signals from other nerve cells, but instead of signaling to an adjacent nerve cell or muscle, they release hormones into the bloodstream
- nitric oxide
- A local regulator gas produced by many types of cells
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norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
- A hormone produced in response to stress
- oxytocin
- A hormone produced by the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary. It induces contractions of the uterine muscles and causes the mammary glands to eject milk during nursing
- pancreas
- A gland with dual functions: The nonendocrine portion secretes digestive enzymes and an alkaline solution into the small intestine via a duct; the endocrine portion secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon into the blood
- parathyroid glands
- Four endocrine glands, embedded in the surface of the thyroid gland, that secrete parathyroid hormone and raise blood calcium levels
- parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- A peptide hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands that raise blood calcium level.
- pituitary gland
- An endocrine gland at the base of the hypothalamus; consists of a posterior lobe (neurohypophysis), which stores and releases two hormones produced by the hypothalamus, and an anterior lobe (adenohypophysis), which produces
- posterior pituitary
- An extension of the hypothalamus composed of nervous tissue that secretes hormones made in the hypothalamus; a temporary storage site for hypothalamic hormones
- progestin
- One of a family of steroid hormones, including progesterone, produced by the mammalian ovary; progestins prepare the uterus for pregnancy
- prolactin
- A hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland with a great diversity of effects in different vertebrate species
- prostaglandin (PG)
- One of a group of modified fatty acids secreted by virtually all tissues and performing a wide variety of functions as messengers
- releasing hormone
- A hormone produced by neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus of the vertebrate brain that stimulates or inhibits the secretion of hormones by the anterior pituitary
- signal-transduction pathway
- A mechanism linking a mechanical or chemical stimulus to a specific cellular response
- target cell
- A cell that responds to a regulatory signal, such as a hormone
- testosterone
- The most abundant androgen hormone in the male body
- thyroid gland
- An endocrine gland that secretes iodine-containing hormones (T3 and T4), which stimulate metabolism and influence development and maturation in vertebrates, and cacitonin, which lowers blood calcium lev
- thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- A hormone produced by the anterior pituitary that regulates the release of thyroid hormones
- triiodothyrodine
- One of two very similar hormones produced by the thyroid gland and derived from the amino acid tyrosine
- tropic hormone
- A hormone that has another endocrine gland as a target
- type I diabetes mellitus
- One of the two forms of diabetes, it is an autoimmune disorder usually requiring insulin injections several times a day
- type II diabetes mellitus
- One of the two forms of diabetes, it is characterized by either a deficiency of insulin or more commonly, by reduced responsiveness in target cells due to some change in insulin receptors.
- vitamin D
- The active form functions as a hormone, acting in concert with parathyroid hormone in bone and promoting the uptake of calcium from food within the intestines