Study materials›Human Anatomy›Endocrine System and Hormone Control
🧪HUMAN ANATOMY STUDY GUIDE

Endocrine System and Hormone Control

Review hormone classes, receptors, feedback loops, pituitary control, thyroid, adrenal glands, and pancreas.

8 key ideas8 flashcards5 practice questions
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EXAM SCOPEOpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, endocrine system

This review follows the current course framework.

Checked against OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e ↗
HORMONE AXIS

The final hormone feeds back to earlier control centers.

hypothalamus

releasing hormone

→
anterior pituitary

tropic hormone

→
target gland

final hormone and feedback

SMART NOTES

Key ideas to know

Start with the relationships between ideas. Then close the notes and explain each one from memory.

  1. 01

    Endocrine glands release hormones into interstitial fluid and blood.

  2. 02

    Only target cells with suitable receptors respond to a hormone.

  3. 03

    Peptide hormones usually bind membrane receptors and activate intracellular signaling.

  4. 04

    Steroid hormones cross membranes and bind intracellular receptors.

  5. 05

    The hypothalamus links neural control with endocrine output.

  6. 06

    The anterior pituitary is regulated by hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones.

  7. 07

    Negative feedback limits many endocrine pathways as the final hormone rises.

  8. 08

    Insulin lowers blood glucose, while glucagon raises it.

PART OF THE HUMAN ANATOMY GUIDE

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COMMON MIX-UPS

Two ideas worth correcting now

NOT QUITE

Every cell responds to every circulating hormone

→
USE THIS INSTEAD

Only cells with suitable receptors respond.

NOT QUITE

The posterior pituitary makes ADH

→
USE THIS INSTEAD

Hypothalamic neurons make ADH; the posterior pituitary stores and releases it.

ACTIVE RECALL

Flashcards

Answer before opening each card. The effort to retrieve is part of the learning.

1What defines a target cell?Show answer ＋

It has receptors for the hormone.

2Where do peptide hormones usually bind?Show answer ＋

Receptors on the plasma membrane.

3Where do steroid hormones usually bind?Show answer ＋

Intracellular receptors.

4What connects the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary?Show answer ＋

The hypophyseal portal system.

5Which pituitary lobe releases ADH and oxytocin?Show answer ＋

The posterior pituitary; the hormones are made in the hypothalamus.

6What does TSH stimulate?Show answer ＋

Thyroid hormone production and release.

7What does insulin do to blood glucose?Show answer ＋

Lowers it by promoting uptake and storage.

8What does glucagon do to blood glucose?Show answer ＋

Raises it by promoting liver glucose release.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Explain it in your own words

Use the answer as a check after you have written or spoken your response.

01How does negative feedback regulate thyroid hormone?

Rising thyroid hormone reduces hypothalamic TRH and pituitary TSH output.

02Why can one hormone produce different effects in different tissues?

Target cells may express different receptor subtypes and intracellular machinery.

03How does a steroid hormone alter cell activity?

The hormone-receptor pair binds DNA regulatory regions and alters gene transcription.

04Why does posterior pituitary damage affect hypothalamic hormones?

ADH and oxytocin travel down hypothalamic axons for storage and release there.

05How do insulin and glucagon work after a meal and during fasting?

Insulin predominates after eating to store fuel; glucagon predominates between meals to mobilize liver glucose.

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