Portage Learning Pathophysiology NURS 231 Unit 9 Exam
Endocrine: Hormones are released to circulation to act on a target organ [i.e. TSH,
ADH]
Paracrine: Hormones act locally on cells close to where they are released [i.e. estrogen
and testosterone]
Autocrine: Hormones produce a biologic action on the cell that released them [i.e.
insulin]
Define endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine.
1) amines and amino acids; 2) peptides and proteins; and 3) steroids, which are made
from cholesterol
What are the different structural types of hormones?
The hypothalamus serves to link the nervous system to the endocrine system. It
regulates homeostasis, body temperature, hunger, behavior, emotion, and pain. The
hypothalamus produces releasing hormones, which stimulate the pituitary to release
stimulating hormones.
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
The pituitary gland is also called the "master gland" because it facilitates the secretion
of hormones in the target organs.
What does the pituitary gland do?
, Negative feedback is how the body maintains homeostasis, or equilibrium. The brain is
always checking the levels of hormones within the blood to keep them within its
predetermined range or set-point. Negative feedback stops over-secretion of any
hormone. The action of ADH, which dilutes the blood, is one example. Once the blood is
dilute, the hypothalamus detects the dilute levels and stops releasing ADH.
Explanation and Example of Negative Feedback:
Positive feedback increases or enhances the release of a hormone. An example of
positive feedback is oxytocin, a hormone that causes contraction of the uterus. The
contraction of the uterus further stimulates the release of oxytocin.
Increased hormone secretion can be from any of the following: 1) due to pathology the
target gland over-secretes; 2) the pituitary or hypothalamus overstimulate the target
gland; 3) the production of hormones from another source, i.e. hormoneproducing
tumors, and 4) genetic mutation hyperactivity of the target hormone receptors.
Explanation
Describe how hormones can be oversecreted:
A decrease in secretion of hormone may be due to: Disorder of the target gland may be
either congenital or acquired, Failure of the pituitary to release adequate amount of
stimulating hormone, Failure of the hypothalamus to release adequate amounts of
releasing hormone, Defective hormone, Failure of the receptors of the target organ to
respond. Where does a decrease in hormone secretion occur?
Primary adrenal insufficiency, also known as Addison's disease due to dysfunction in
the adrenal glands. Secondary adrenal insufficiency related to reduced ACTH
stimulation from the pituitary. Tertiary adrenal insufficiency due to a reduction in CRH
from the hypothalamus.
Which of the following is a cause of adrenal insufficiency?
With Addison's disease, there is a decrease in both cortisol and aldosterone secretion,
and an elevation in the levels of ACTH. With low aldosterone, there will be low sodium
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