Human Anatomy and Physiology : Endocrine Physiology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Human Anatomy and Physiology

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Help With Pancreas, Liver, And Kidney Physiology

During dehydration the body has less water than homeostasis calls for. Which of the following hormones is likely released to combat dehydration?

Possible Answers:

Glucagon

Calcitonin

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Somatostatin

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Correct answer:

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Explanation:

ADH, also known as vasopressin, stimulates water reabsorption in the kidneys. When the body is dehydrated it makes sense to reduce the amount of water it releases. This hormone is released from the posterior pituitary gland, but is made in the hypothalamus.  FSH is involved in reproduction; it stimulates follicle maturation in women and spermatogenesis in males. Glucagon stimulates conversion of glycogen to glucose in the liver and somatostatin suppresses secretion of glucagon and insulin. Calcitonin decreases the blood calcium levels by storing it in bones.

Example Question #6 : Help With Pancreas, Liver, And Kidney Physiology

The __________ cells reside in the afferent arteriole walls of the renal glomerulus and release the hormone __________ in response to drops in blood pressure.

Possible Answers:

podocytes . . . angiotensin

JG (juxtaglomerular) . . . erythropoietin

JG (juxtaglomerular) . . . renin

macula densa . . . renin

macula densa . . . aldosterone

Correct answer:

JG (juxtaglomerular) . . . renin

Explanation:

The JG cells are the cells present within the afferent arteriole of the renal glomerulus and have baroreceptors (pressure receptors) that detect changes in blood pressure entering the kidney. When blood pressure is too low, the JG cells release the hormone renin which triggers the RAS response (renin-angiotensin system).

The macula densa are osmoreceptor cells that detect the salt concentration within the renal lumen at the level of the ascending loop of the nephron. These cells are in close proximity to the JG cells to encourage the the JG cells to release renin if the salt concentration within the renal lumen becomes too low.

Aldosterone is a hormone produced by the the glomerulosa layer of the adrenal cortex. This hormone helps with salt reabsorption at the distal convoluted tubule of the kidney.

Erythropoietin is a hormone released by renal fibroblasts that helps to trigger the bone marrow to produce more erythrocytes (red blood cells) in response to anemia.

Example Question #3 : Help With Pancreas, Liver, And Kidney Physiology

Hyperbilirubinemia can be subdivided into three main originating factors: pre-hepatic, hepatic, and post-hepatic.

Intravascular hemolysis would cause what specific type of hyperbilirubinemia?

Possible Answers:

Prehepatic hyperbilirubinemia

Hepatic hyperbilirubinemia

Posthepatic hyperbilirubinemia

Intravascular hemolysis is not a cause for hyperbilirubinemia

Intravascular hemolysis causes all three types of hyperbilirubinemia

Correct answer:

Prehepatic hyperbilirubinemia

Explanation:

Intravascular hemolysis is defined as the destruction and lysis of red blood cells in circulation. The lysis of red blood cells causes the release large amounts of hemoglobin which is broken down into unconjugated bilirubin. This large amount of unconjugated bilirubin often saturates the ability for the liver to conjugate the bilirubin, which subsequently leads to hyperbilirubinemia in the patient. Hyperbilirubinemia is clinically manifested as jaundice (yellow discoloration of tissues).

Example Question #6 : Help With Pancreas, Liver, And Kidney Physiology

What is the organ that produces and releases insulin?

Possible Answers:

Heart

Pancreas

Thyroid

Kidney 

Correct answer:

Pancreas

Explanation:

The pancreas executes both exocrine and endocrine functions. One particular endocrine function is to release insulin from the beta cells of the pancreatic islets. Insulin functions to lower blood glucose and increase storage of glycogen.

Example Question #1 : Help With Other Endocrine Physiology

Which of the following is not a tropic hormone?

Possible Answers:

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

Thyroid-stimulating hormone

Luteinizing hormone

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Glucagon

Correct answer:

Glucagon

Explanation:

Tropic hormones stimulate the release of other hormones from other glands.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulates the release of glucocorticoids (namely cortisol) from the adrenal cortex. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulates the release of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) from the thyroid gland. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-simulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary. LH stimulates the release of testosterone (and other sex hormones) from the testes in men, and the release of estrogen and progesterone (and testosterone) from the ovaries in women.

Glucagon is released from the pancreas, and acts directly on cells in the liver and skeletal muscle to stimulate the breakdown of glycogen to increase blood sugar while fasting.

Example Question #2 : Help With Other Endocrine Physiology

How are steroid hormones released from the secretory cell?

Possible Answers:

Facilitated diffusion

Simple diffusion

Apoptosis

Exocytosis

Correct answer:

Simple diffusion

Explanation:

Steroid hormones are released from the parent cell by simple diffusion. Thyroid hormones are also released via simple diffusion. Peptide and catecholamines are the hormones released by exocytosis. No hormones are released via apoptosis, which is a controlled, deliberate form of cell death. 

Example Question #3 : Help With Other Endocrine Physiology

There are a few tissues which are primarily endocrine in function, where other tissues serve other purposes besides endocrine function, but do contain endocrine functions too.

Which of the following tissues is not primarily endocrine in function? 

Possible Answers:

Pituitary gland

Parathyroid glands

Kidneys 

Adrenal glands

Pineal gland

Correct answer:

Kidneys 

Explanation:

The kidneys contain many other functions in the body other than endocrine function. One of the primary functions of the kidneys is urine production. The kidney's endocrine function is the synthesis and secretion of erythropoietin and renin. The pineal, parathyroid, adrenals, pituitary, and thyroid tissues are the tissues that are primarily endocrine in function. 

Example Question #3 : Help With Other Endocrine Physiology

What do the lacrimal glands produce?

Possible Answers:

Milk

Tears

Sweat

Saliva

Correct answer:

Tears

Explanation:

The lacrimal glands are responsible for producing tears. The eccrine glands produce sweat. The mammary glands produce milk. The salivary glands produce saliva. 

Example Question #4 : Help With Other Endocrine Physiology

Secretions through a duct might provide __________, whereas ductluss secretions act as __________.

Possible Answers:

lubrications, lubricators

transport media, physical protectors

 

superficial relief,interstitial fluid

enzymes, hormones

Correct answer:

enzymes, hormones

Explanation:

Exocrine glands are released through ducts and typically release enzymes, while endocrine glands are not released through ducts and produce hormones.

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