Sections
Key Terms
Key Terms
- acromegaly
- condition caused by overproduction of GH in adults
- Addison’s disease
- disorder caused by the hyposecretion of corticosteroids
- adenylate cyclase
- enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of ATP to cyclic AMP
- adrenal cortex
- outer portion of adrenal glands that produces corticosteroids
- adrenal gland
- endocrine glands associated with the kidneys
- adrenal medulla
- inner portion of adrenal glands that produces epinephrine and norepinephrine
- adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
- hormone released by the anterior pituitary, which stimulates the adrenal cortex to release corticosteroids during the long-term stress response
- aldosterone
- steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that stimulates the reabsorption of Na+ from extracellular fluids and secretion of K+.
- alpha cell
- endocrine cell of the pancreatic islets that produces the hormone glucagon
- amino acid-derived hormone
- hormone derived from amino acids
- androgen
- male sex hormone such as testosterone
- anterior pituitary
- portion of the pituitary gland that produces six hormones; also called adenohypophysis
- antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
- hormone produced by the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary that increases water reabsorption by the kidneys
- atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
- hormone produced by the heart to reduce blood volume, pressure, and Na+ concentration
- beta cell
- endocrine cell of the pancreatic islets that produces the hormone insulin
- calcitonin
- hormone produced by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland that functions to lower blood Ca2+ levels and promote bone growth
- colloid
- fluid inside the thyroid gland that contains the glycoprotein thyroglobulin
- corticosteroid
- hormone released by the adrenal cortex in response to long-term stress
- cortisol
- glucocorticoid produced in response to stress
- Cushing’s disease
- disorder caused by the hypersecretion of glucocorticoids
- diabetes insipidus
- disorder caused by underproduction of ADH
- diabetes mellitus
- disorder caused by low levels of insulin activity
- diabetogenic effect
- effect of GH that causes blood glucose levels to rise similar to diabetes mellitus
- down-regulation
- decrease in the number of hormone receptors in response to increased hormone levels
- endocrine gland
- gland that secretes hormones into the surrounding interstitial fluid, which then diffuse into blood and are carried to various organs and tissues within the body
- epinephrine
- hormone released by the adrenal medulla in response to a short term stress
- erythropoietin (EPO)
- hormone produced by the kidneys to stimulate red blood cell production in the bone marrow
- estrogens
- group of steroid hormones, including estradiol and several others, that are produced by the ovaries and elicit secondary sex characteristics in females as well as control the maturation of the ova
- first messenger
- hormone that binds to a plasma membrane hormone receptor to trigger a signal transduction pathway
- follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- hormone produced by the anterior pituitary that stimulates gamete production
- G-protein
- membrane protein activated by the hormone first messenger to activate formation of cyclic AMP
- gigantism
- condition caused by overproduction of GH in children
- glucagon
- hormone produced by the alpha cells of the pancreas in response to low blood sugar; functions to raise blood sugar levels
- glucocorticoid
- corticosteroid that affects glucose metabolism
- gluconeogenesis
- synthesis of glucose from amino acids
- glucose-sparing effect
- effect of GH that causes tissues to use fatty acids instead of glucose as an energy source
- glycogenolysis
- breakdown of glycogen into glucose
- goiter
- enlargement of the thyroid gland caused by insufficient dietary iodine levels
- gonadotropin
- hormone that regulates the gonads, including FSH and LH
- growth hormone (GH)
- hormone produced by the anterior pituitary that promotes protein synthesis and body growth
- growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH)
- hormone produced by the hypothalamus that inhibits growth hormone production, also called somatostatin
- growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
- hormone released by the hypothalamus that triggers the release of GH
- hormonal stimuli
- release of a hormone in response to another hormone
- hormone receptor
- cellular protein that binds to a hormone
- humoral stimuli
- control of hormone release in response to changes in extracellular fluids such as blood or the ion concentration in the blood
- hyperglycemia
- high blood sugar level
- hyperthyroidism
- overactivity of the thyroid gland
- hypoglycemia
- low blood sugar level
- hypophyseal portal system
- system of blood vessels that carries hormones from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary
- hypothyroidism
- underactivity of the thyroid gland
- insulin
- hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas in response to high blood glucose levels; functions to lower blood glucose levels
- insulin-like growth factor (IGF)
- growth-promoting protein produced by the liver
- intracellular hormone receptor
- hormone receptor in the cytoplasm or nucleus of a cell
- islets of Langerhans (pancreatic islets)
- endocrine cells of the pancreas
- isthmus
- tissue mass that connects the two lobes of the thyroid gland
- leptin
- hormone produced by adipose tissue that promotes feelings of satiety and reduces hunger
- lipid-derived hormone
- hormone derived mostly from cholesterol
- mineralocorticoid
- corticosteroid that affects ion and water balance
- neural stimuli
- stimulation of endocrine glands by the nervous system
- norepinephrine
- hormone released by the adrenal medulla in response to a short-term stress hormone production by the gonads
- osmoreceptor
- receptor in the hypothalamus that monitors the concentration of electrolytes in the blood
- oxytocin
- hormone released by the posterior pituitary to stimulate uterine contractions during childbirth and milk let-down in the mammary glands
- pancreas
- organ located between the stomach and the small intestine that contains exocrine and endocrine cells
- parafollicular cell
- thyroid cell that produces the hormone calcitonin
- parathyroid gland
- gland located on the surface of the thyroid that produces parathyroid hormone
- parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- hormone produced by the parathyroid glands in response to low blood Ca2+ levels; functions to raise blood Ca2+ levels
- peptide hormone
- hormone composed of a polypeptide chain
- phosphodiesterase (PDE)
- enzyme that deactivates cAMP, stopping hormone activity
- pituitary dwarfism
- condition caused by underproduction of GH in children
- pituitary gland
- endocrine gland located at the base of the brain composed of an anterior and posterior region; also called hypophysis
- pituitary stalk
- also, infundibulum, stalk that connects the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus
- plasma membrane hormone receptor
- hormone receptor on the surface of the plasma membrane of a cell
- posterior pituitary
- extension of the brain that releases hormones produced by the hypothalamus; along with the infundibulum, it is also referred to as the neurohypophysis
- prolactin (PRL)
- hormone produced by the anterior pituitary that stimulates milk production
- prolactin-inhibiting hormone
- hormone produced by the hypothalamus that inhibits the release of prolactin
- prolactin-releasing hormone
- hormone produced by the hypothalamus that stimulates the release of prolactin
- renin
- enzyme produced by the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidneys that reacts with angiotensinogen to cause the release of aldosterone
- thymus
- gland located behind the sternum that produces thymosin hormones that contribute to the development of the immune system
- thyroglobulin
- glycoprotein found in the thyroid that is converted into thyroid hormone
- thyroid gland
- endocrine gland located in the neck that produces thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine
- thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- hormone produced by the anterior pituitary that controls the release of T3 and T4 from the thyroid gland
- thyroxine (tetraiodothyronine, T4)
- thyroid hormone that controls the basal metabolic rate
- triiodothyronine (T3)
- thyroid hormone that controls the basal metabolic rate
- up-regulation
- increase in the number of hormone receptors in response to increased hormone levels