Summary & Objectives Chapter 10– The Endocrine System
Summary
A. The endocrine system is made of endocrine glands and the hormones they produce.
B. The endocrine system is a chemical messenger system, controls the body’s systems, and is itself
controlled by the nervous system.
C. Hormones are made in the endocrine glands, secreted into the blood stream, travel through the blood
stream and act on target cells that have receptors.
D. Hormones can be hydrophobic (steroid hormones/lipid) or hydrophilic (water-soluble/protein).
E. Steroid hormones pass into target cells and bind to receptors in the cytoplasm.
F. Water-soluble hormones bind to receptors on the plasma membrane of cells and transmit their signal
through second messengers.
G. Most hormones are regulated by negative feedback mechanisms.
H. Human Growth Hormone is made by the pituitary and targets muscle, bone, and other body cells.
I. Stress can be beneficial or harmful. The human body produces different hormones in responds to short
term stress compared to long term stress.
J. The endocrine pancreas produces insulin and glucagon that control blood sugar levels. Type 1
Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes are related to altered insulin production or response.
Objectives:
1. Compare and contrast the nervous system and the endocrine system.
2. Compare and contrast protein hormones and lipid hormones.
3. Compare negative feedback with positive feedback and provide examples of each as they pertain to the
endocrine system.
4. Describe human growth hormone, the adrenal stress hormones, insulin, and glucagon (types of
molecules, where they're made, what their target is, what effects they have, and how they are
controlled).
5. Compare and contrast the body’s response to short term and long term stress.
6. Describe the similarities, differences, symptoms, health consequences and treatments for Type 1
Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.
Highlighted Book Terms:
Exocrine gland, endocrine gland, hormone, target cell, steroid hormone, second messenger, negative
feedback mechanism, positive feedback mechanism, pituitary gland, hypothalamus, growth hormone,
giantism, acromegaly, pituitary dwarfism, adrenal glands, adrenal cortex, adrenal medulla,
gonadocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, aldosterone, glucocorticoids, epinephrine, fight-or-flight response,
pancreas, pancreatic islets, glucagon, insulin
Additional terms:
Stress, general adaptation system, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, endocrine disrupter, atrazine, gonad
Supplemental Reading “A Rat’s Tale”
Questions to guide your reading:
What are endocrine disruptors and why are they a health concern?
What is the concern for using the Sprague Dawley rat to examine effects of endocrine disrupters?
Have any potential endocrine disrupters been screened before use? Why or why not?
What is the opinion of the chemical companies on this screening or using this rat?
What did congress do in summer 2008? Did it have any affect?
Updated Spring 2009
