The endocrine system and the main glands, how insulin and glucagon control blood glucose, and the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
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1.What is a hormone?
A chemical messenger secreted by a gland, carried in the blood to a target organ where it produces an effect.
2.What is the endocrine system?
The system of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.
3.Compare nervous and hormonal responses.
Nervous responses are very fast and act for a short time on a precise area. Hormonal responses are slower but longer lasting and more general.
4.Which gland is called the master gland, and why?
The pituitary gland. It secretes hormones that act on other glands, causing them to release their own hormones.
5.Where is the pituitary gland?
In the brain.
6.What does the thyroid gland produce and what does it do?
Thyroxine, which controls the rate of metabolism.
7.What does the pancreas produce?
Insulin and glucagon, which control blood glucose concentration.
8.What do the adrenal glands produce?
Adrenaline, which prepares the body for fight or flight.
9.What do the ovaries produce?
Oestrogen, which is involved in the menstrual cycle.
10.What do the testes produce?
Testosterone, which controls puberty and sperm production in males.
11.Which organ monitors blood glucose concentration?
The pancreas.
12.What happens when blood glucose is too high?
The pancreas secretes insulin, which causes glucose to move from the blood into the cells.
13.What happens to excess glucose in the liver and muscles?
It is converted into glycogen and stored.
14.What happens when blood glucose is too low?
The pancreas secretes glucagon, which causes glycogen in the liver to be converted back into glucose and released into the blood.
15.What is negative feedback?
When a change in a condition triggers a response that reverses the change, bringing the level back to normal.
16.Why is blood glucose control an example of negative feedback?
A rise triggers insulin which lowers it, and a fall triggers glucagon which raises it, so the level oscillates around a set point.
17.What causes type 1 diabetes?
The pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, so blood glucose rises to dangerously high levels.
18.How is type 1 diabetes treated?
With insulin injections, usually at mealtimes, along with attention to diet and exercise.
19.What causes type 2 diabetes?
The body cells stop responding properly to the insulin that is produced.
20.What is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes?
Obesity.
21.How is type 2 diabetes treated?
With a carbohydrate controlled diet and an exercise regime, and medication if needed.
22.Why can untreated diabetes be dangerous?
Persistently high blood glucose damages blood vessels, nerves, the eyes and the kidneys over time.
23.What is glycogen?
The storage carbohydrate made from glucose in the liver and muscles.
24.Why is insulin injected rather than swallowed?
It is a protein, so it would be digested by protease enzymes in the stomach before it could work.
25.What does adrenaline do?
It increases heart rate and boosts the delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles, preparing the body for fight or flight.
26.When is adrenaline released?
In times of fear or stress.
27.How is thyroxine controlled?
By negative feedback. The pituitary releases TSH, which stimulates the thyroid; high thyroxine levels then inhibit TSH release.
28.What is the role of thyroxine in the body?
It stimulates the basal metabolic rate, and plays an important part in growth and development.
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