AP Biology : Endocrine System

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Understanding Hormones

During pregnancy in mammals, which of the following hormones is directly responsible for maintaining the lining of the uterus?

Possible Answers:

Prolactin

Glucocorticoids

Progesterone

Growth hormone

Melatonin

Correct answer:

Progesterone

Explanation:

Progesterone is a steroid hormone that supports gestation in mammalian pregnancy. After the eighth week of pregnancy, it is produced by the placenta and helps to decrease the maternal immune response to prepare for pregnancy.

Melatonin is a hormone used to regulate circadian rhythm and sleep cycles. Glucocorticoids, such as cortisone and cortisol, prepare the body for long term stressors. Prolactin stimulates the production of milk in mammals. Growth hormone promotes the enlargement of various organs and stimulates cell division.

Example Question #12 : Understanding Hormones

Which one of the following vitamins can be produced by the human body?

Possible Answers:

Vitamin E

Vitamin C

Vitamin D

Vitamin A

Correct answer:

Vitamin D

Explanation:

Vitamin D is the only vitamin that can be produced endogenously via UV activation of 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin. All other vitamins must be obtained from outside sources, namely the digestion of other organic matter.

Example Question #13 : Understanding Hormones

Insulin helps regulate blood sugar at homeostatic levels by stimulating which of the following processes?

Possible Answers:

Activating hormone production in the posterior pituitary gland

Stimulating the release of glucose from the liver

Promoting the entry of glucose into cells

Stimulating the breakdown of glycogen to glucose

Correct answer:

Promoting the entry of glucose into cells

Explanation:

Insulin works by stimulating adipocytes (fat cells), hepatocytes (liver cells), and skeletal muscle to translocate glucose transporter-rich vesicles to the cell membrane. This allows the diffusion of glucose from the blood into these tissue types after a carbohydrate-rich meal. Without insulin, even if an individual has high blood glucose levels, these three cell types would essentially be deprived of the circulating glucose.

Glucagon works against insulin by increasing blood glucose levels as they decrease via gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis.

Example Question #23 : Endocrine System

Which disorder is correctly matched with a probable cause?

Possible Answers:

Diabetes: hypersecretion of insulin

Pituitary dwarfism: hyposecretion of growth hormone

Enlargement of face and extremities: hyposecretion of growth hormone

Enlargement of face and extremities: hypersecretion of thyroxine

Low blood calcium: hypersecretion of parathyroid hormone

Correct answer:

Pituitary dwarfism: hyposecretion of growth hormone

Explanation:

To answer this question, it is necessary to understand the prefixes "hyper" and "hypo." "Hyper" refers to excessive synthesis, while "hypo" refers to reduced synthesis.

Growth hormone is responsible for stimulating cell growth and division throughout the body. Hyposecretion would cause a deficiency and reduce the effectiveness of growth hormone, potentially causing pituitary dwarfism. Hyposecretion of growth hormone in adults leads to poor protein synthesis, which significantly impacts the muscles and skin.

Enlargement of the face and extremities is an adult condition known as acromegaly. The underlying cause is hypersecretion of growth hormone. In children, this condition can lead to gigantism if untreated. The hormone thyroxine is not involved. Parathyroid hormone elevates blood calcium levels, so hypersecretion would cause high blood calcium. Insulin functions to reduce blood glucose levels. Since diabetes is classified by high blood glucose, insulin must lose functionality to cause this disease. This means that it would be hyposecreted, rather than hypersecreted.

Example Question #11 : Understanding Hormones

Which pituitary hormone is responsible for regulating the water volume in blood?

Possible Answers:

Glucagon

Aldosterone

Antidiuretic hormone

Insulin

Oxytocin

Correct answer:

Antidiuretic hormone

Explanation:

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is secreted by the posterior pituitary and acts on the kidney tubules, increasing the water retention in blood and decreasing the water volume in urine. It works by increasing the number of aquaporins (water channels in the plasma membrane) in the collecting duct of the kidney nephrons. Water flows down its osmotic gradient out of tubule, and into the blood for circulation.

Aldosterone also functions to regulate water volume in the blood, and is associated with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Aldosterone functions by increasing sodium reabsorption. This increases the solute concentration in the blood, passively causing water to diffuse out of the filtrate and into the blood. Though aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone have similar functions, aldosterone is secreted by the adrenal cortex, not the pituitary.

Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions and milk release in the mammary glands. Glucagon and insulin are involved in the regulation of blood sugar levels.

Example Question #15 : Understanding Hormones

After a large meal, an individual's blood sugar increases. This signals an increase in which of the following hormones?

Possible Answers:

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

Insulin

Glucagon

Epinephrine

Thyroxine (T4)

Correct answer:

Insulin

Explanation:

After a large meal the body must quickly remove glucose from the blood. Insulin facilitates the entry of glucose into a variety of body cells, particularly hepatocytes in the liver. Once inside the cell, glucose is either stored as a polymer (glycogen) or reduced into carbon dioxide and water to produce a usable form of energy (ATP) for the cell. Glycogen is stored in the liver until blood glucose levels become low, at which point it can be converted back to glucose and released to maintain homeostasis. This process, known as glycogenolysis, is stimulated by the release of glucagon. Together, insulin and glucagon create a negative feedback loop to regulate glucose in the blood.

Thyroxine (T4) regulates metabolic rate, and is released from the thyroid. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is released from the anterior pituitary and stimulates the release of glucocorticoids (like cortisol) from the adrenal glands. The release of epinephrine is tightly linked to the sympathetic nervous system, and is involved in the immediate stress response.

Example Question #16 : Understanding Hormones

Glucocorticoid release by the adrenal glands functions to mobilize fuel for the body in what way?

Possible Answers:

Signaling the pancreas to secrete glucagon

Direct stimulation of a feedback loop to the hypothalamus

Breakdown of proteins from skeletal muscle

Conversion of stored fat to glucose

Correct answer:

Breakdown of proteins from skeletal muscle

Explanation:

Glucocorticoids are produced from the adrenal gland. Their primary effect increases energy and glucose metabolism by making more glucose available from non-carbohydrate sources. Glucocorticoids stimulate gluconeogenesis.

One way this is accomplished is through activation of the glucocorticoid receptors within skeletal muscle, which signal the breakdown of muscle proteins to their corresponding amino acids. The amino acids are then transported to the liver and kidneys where they are converted to glucose, which is released into the bloodstream. 

The ability to make glucose from muscle proteins can provide additional fuel when the body needs more glucose (under stress conditions) than the liver can mobilize from the glycogen it has stored. The process, however, can be detrimental if stimulated for extended periods of time.

Example Question #17 : Understanding Hormones

How might Grave's disease cause hyperthyroidism?

Possible Answers:

Antibody binding and inactivation of thyroid-stimulating hormone

Antibody binding and activation of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptors 

A cellular immune response selectively destroys thyroid-stimulating hormone producing cells in the pituitary

A cellular immune response selectively destroys cell in the parathyroid glands

Correct answer:

Antibody binding and activation of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptors 

Explanation:

Hyperthyroidism is an over-secretion of the thyroid hormones, resulting in an increase in metabolism and energy consumption. Grave's disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. It is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system produces antibodies that bind to the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor. The binding of the antibody to the receptor serves as a non-hormonal activation of the receptor and thyroid hormone continues to be produced, even when TSH is not present. The normal negative feedback mechanism to maintain thyroid hormone levels is bypassed.

Inactivation of thyroid-stimulating hormone or its receptors would cause a decrease in the production of thyroid hormone, known as hypothyroidism. The parathyroid glands are not directly involved in regulating thyroid hormone.

Example Question #18 : Understanding Hormones

Which anterior pituitary hormone regulates blood glucose control by the pancreas?

Possible Answers:

None of the answers provided

Glucagon

Antidiuretic hormone

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

Correct answer:

None of the answers provided

Explanation:

The maintenance of blood glucose homeostasis is not controlled by the pituitary gland. It is controlled through a continuous sensory and feedback mechanism by the pancreas and its two hormones, glucagon and insulin. When blood glucose levels rise above a threshold point, insulin is produced/released to drive uptake of glucose from the blood. Conversely, when blood glucose levels drop below a threshold point, glucagon is released to promote release of glucose into the bloodstream from glucagon stores.

Each of these two hormones is produced in by specific cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas; alpha cells produce glucagon and beta cells produce insulin.  

Example Question #21 : Endocrine System

What key factor distinguishes type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes?

Possible Answers:

In type 1 diabetes, the body remains responsive to insulin

Type 2 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder

Type 1 diabetes is usually associated with being overweight

Type 2 diabetes usually occurs after age 40, when insulin production decreases

Correct answer:

In type 1 diabetes, the body remains responsive to insulin

Explanation:

Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks and destroys the beta cells within the islet of Langerhans. These cells produce insulin, which normally works in a regulated feedback mechanism with glucagon to maintain glucose homeostasis. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children and is treatable with injectable insulin shots. Glucose levels need to be monitored frequently to know when insulin needs to be given/taken to maintain proper glucose levels. In type 1 diabetes, the determining factor is the inability to produce insulin due to destruction of the beta cells. The body remains responsive to insulin.

In type 2 diabetes the body is still capable of producing insulin, but the tissues of the body have become unresponsive and do not remove glucose from the bloodstream. Type 2 diabetes generally begins during adulthood and is not caused by autoimmune interaction.

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