16. The Endocrine System

What four cell populations make up the endocrine pancreas? Which hormone does each type of cell produce?

What effects does parathyroid hormone have on blood calcium level?

Decreased blood calcium level would result in increased (a) secretion of calcitonin, (b) secretion of PTH, (c) elimination of calcium by the kidneys, (d) osteoclast activity, (e) excitability of neural membranes.

Julie is pregnant but is not receiving prenatal care. She has a poor diet consisting mostly of fast food. She drinks no milk, preferring colas instead. How would this situation affect Julie's parathyroid hormone level?

Aaron, a 42-year-old single father, goes to his physician complaining of nausea and chronic fatigue. He reports having felt fatigued and listless for about half a year, but he had attributed this to stress. He has lost considerable weight and, strangely, his skin looks tanned, even though he spends long hours at work and rarely ventures outside. His doctor finds very low blood pressure and a rapid, weak pulse. Blood tests show that Aaron does not have anemia, but his plasma glucose, cortisol, and Na⁺ are low, and his plasma K⁺ is high. His doctor orders an ACTH stimulation test, in which Aaron's secretion of cortisol is measured after he is given a synthetic form of ACTH. (a) What would account for Aaron's low plasma Na⁺ and high plasma K⁺ ? (b) What is the reason for doing an ACTH stimulation test? (c) Which gland is primarily affected if ACTH does not cause a normal elevation of cortisol secretion? What is this abnormality called? (d) Which gland is primarily affected if ACTH does cause an elevation of cortisol secretion?

Endemic goiter is not really the result of a malfunctioning thyroid gland. What does cause it?

Absence of thyroid hormone would result in a. increased heart rate and increased force of heart contraction, b. depression of the CNS and lethargy, c. exophthalmos, d. high metabolic rate.

Parathyroid hormone a. increases bone formation and lowers blood calcium levels, b. increases calcium excretion from the body, c. decreases calcium absorption from the gut, d. demineralizes bone and raises blood calcium levels.

Mary Morgan has just been brought into the emergency room of City General Hospital. She is perspiring profusely and is breathing rapidly and irregularly. Her breath smells like acetone (sweet and fruity), and her blood glucose tests out at 650 mg/100 ml of blood. She is in acidosis. Which hormone drug should be administered, and why?

(a) Describe the body location of each of the following endocrine organs: anterior pituitary, pineal gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, and adrenal glands. (b) List the hormones produced by each organ.

How are the hyperglycemia and lipidemia of insulin deficiency linked?

If there is adequate carbohydrate intake, secretion of insulin results in a. lower blood glucose levels, b. increased cell utilization of glucose, c. storage of glycogen, d. all of these.

A hormone not involved in glucose metabolism is a. glucagon, b. cortisone, c. aldosterone, d. insulin.

Name a hormone secreted by a muscle cell and two hormones secreted by neurons.

If anterior pituitary secretion is deficient in a growing child, the child will a. develop acromegaly, b. become a dwarf but have fairly normal body proportions, c. mature sexually at an earlier than normal age, d. be in constant danger of becoming dehydrated.

The anterior pituitary secretes all but a. antidiuretic hormone, b. growth hormone, c. gonadotropins, d. TSH.

Name two endocrine glands (or regions) that are important in the stress response, and explain why they are important.

Roger Proulx has severe arthritis and has been taking prednisone (a glucocorticoid) for two months. He isn't feeling well, complains of repeated 'colds,' and is extremely 'puffy' (edematous). Explain the reason for these symptoms.

Testosterone is to the male as which hormone is to the female? a. luteinizing hormone, b. progesterone, c. estrogen, d. prolactin.

A hypodermic injection of epinephrine would a. increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, dilate the bronchioles of the lungs, and increase digestive activity, b. decrease heart rate, decrease blood pressure, constrict the bronchioles, and increase digestive activity, c. decrease heart rate, increase blood pressure, constrict the bronchioles, and decrease digestive activituy, d. increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, dilate the bronchioles, and decrease digestive activity.

Choose from the following key to identify the hormones described. Key: a. aldosterone b. antidiuretic hormone c. growth hormone d. luteinizing hormone e. oxytocin f. prolactin g. T₄ and T₃ h. TSH ______ (1) important anabolic hormone; many of its effects mediated by IGFs ______ (2) cause the kidneys to conserve water and/or salt (two choices) ______ (3) stimulates milk production ______ (4) tropic hormone that stimulates the gonads to secrete sex hormones ______ (5) increases uterine contractions during birth ______ (6) major metabolic hormone(s) of the body ______ (7) causes reabsorption of sodium ions by the kidneys ______ (8) tropic hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete thyroid hormone ______ (9) secreted by the posterior pituitary (two choices) ______(10) the only steroid hormone in the list

Name three hormone antagonists of insulin and one of PTH.

Multiple Choice More than one choice may apply. Match the letter of the digestive organ shown in the figure with its function. ___ produces both endocrine and exocrine secretions

Multiple Choice More than one choice may apply. Hormones that act to decrease the blood glucose level include a. insulin. b. glucagon. c. epinephrine d. growth hormone.

Multiple Choice More than one choice may apply. Which events occur shortly after eating? a. Use of amino acids as a major source of energy b. Lipogenesis (and fat deposit) c. Breakdown of fat reserves d. Increased uptake of glucose by skeletal muscles and other body tissues

Mr. Flores brings his wife to the clinic, concerned about her nervousness, heart palpitations, and excessive sweating. Tests show hyperglycemia and hypertension. What hormones are probably being hypersecreted? What is the cause? What physical factors allow you to rule out thyroid problems?

Multiple Choice More than one choice may apply. The element needed for thyroid gland function is a. potassium. b. iodine. c. calcium. d. manganese.

Multiple Choice More than one choice may apply. ANP, the hormone secreted by the heart, has exactly the opposite function to this hormone secreted by the outermost zone of the adrenal cortex. a. Epinephrine b. Cortisol c. Aldosterone d. Testosterone

Multiple Choice More than one choice may apply. Hormones that act directly or indirectly to elevate the blood glucose level include which of the following? a. GH b. Cortisol c. Insulin d. ACTH

Multiple Choice More than one choice may apply. Hypertension may result from hypersecretion of a. thyroxine. b. cortisol. c. aldosterone. d. ADH.

Multiple Choice More than one choice may apply. Hormones that regulate mineral (salt) levels include a. calcitonin. b. aldosterone. c. atrial natriuretic peptide. d. glucagon.

Multiple Choice More than one choice may apply. Which of the following is given as a drug to reduce inflammation? a. Epinephrine b. Cortisol c. Aldosterone d. ADH

Two hormones are closely involved in the regulation of the fluid and electrolyte balance of the body. Name them, and explain their effects on their common target organ.

Melissa, age 40, comes to the clinic, troubled by swelling in her face and unusual fat deposition on her back and abdomen. She reports that she bruises easily. Blood tests show an elevated glucose level. What is your diagnosis, and which glands might be causing the problem?

Multiple Choice More than one choice may apply. Which of the following hormones is (are) secreted by neurons? a. Oxytocin b. Insulin c. ADH d. Cortisol

The anterior pituitary is often referred to as the master endocrine gland, but it too has a 'master.' What controls the release of hormones by the anterior pituitary?

The parents of 14-year-old Megan are concerned about her height because she is only 4 feet tall and they are both close to 6 feet tall. After tests by their doctor, certain hormones are prescribed for the girl. What is the probable diagnosis? What hormones are prescribed, and why might the girl expect to reach normal height?

The major stimulus for release of parathyroid hormone is a. hormonal, b. humoral, c. neural.

Which two hormones are released by the kidneys, and what is the importance of each hormone?

Multiple Choice More than one choice may apply. The major endocrine organs of the body a. tend to be very large organs. b. are closely connected with each other. c. all contribute to the same function (digestion). d. tend to lie near the midline of the body.

Describe the body location of each of the following endocrine organs: anterior pituitary, pineal gland, thymus, pancreas, ovaries, testes. Then, for each organ, name its hormones and their effect(s) on body processes. Finally, for each hormone, list the important results of its hypersecretion or hyposecretion.

Name two endocrine-producing glands (or regions) that are important in the stress response, and explain why they are important.