NSCI 280 Week 7 - Animations: The Endocrine System

Animations: The Endocrine System

Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland

After viewing the animation, answer these questions:

1. The hypothalamus is sometimes referred to as the           . Why?

1. Where in the brain is the hypothalamus located?

1. Describe the structure of the hypothalamus.

1. What is the infundibulum? What is its function?

1. Where is the pituitary gland located? How is it divided?

1. What is another name for the anterior pituitary? How is it connected to the hypothalamus?

1. What travels along this pathway? What is their function?

1. What is another name for the posterior pituitary? How is it connected to the hypothalamus?

1. What travels along this pathway? How are they transported? What is their destination?

1. Name the two classes of hypothalamic hormones that regulate the anterior pituitary. How do they reach the anterior pituitary? What is their function?

1. How do anterior pituitary hormones arrive at their target tissues?

1. Describe an example of these hormones and their function.

1. Name the hormones produced by the posterior pituitary. What is the source of posterior pituitary hormones?

1. Name two posterior pituitary hormones. How do they arrive at the posterior pituitary?

1. Name the structures that store the posterior pituitary hormones. What causes their release? Where are they released?

1. Name the functions of each posterior pituitary hormone.

Hormonal Communication

After viewing the animation, answer these questions:

1. In general, how does hormonal communication begin? What reaction then occurs?

1. How are hormones transported to target cells?

1. What occurs when the hormones arrive at their target cells?

1. What then triggers changes in the target cells?

Intracellular Receptor Model

After viewing the animation, answer these questions:

1. Describe aldosterone, the hormone used in the animation.

1. What does aldosterone bind with in the cytoplasm of the cell?

1. Where does the aldosterone-receptor complex go, and where does it bind?

1. This binding stimulates the synthesis of what molecule? What is the function of this molecule?

1. Where does this mRNA molecule go, and what does it do?

1. What is directed by this binding?

Receptors and G Proteins

Second Messengers: The cAMP & Ca²⁺ Pathways

After viewing the animation, answer these questions:

1. What is located on the membrane-bound receptor on the outside of the cell?

1. What is a ligand?

1. To what does the portion of the membrane-bound receptor on the inside of the cell bind?

1. What are the three subunits of this protein? What is attached to the alpha subunit?

1. What changes occur in the G protein when the ligand binds to the receptor site? What changes occur to the alpha subunit?

1. What now occurs with the activated alpha subunit? How long can this step be repeated?

1. What occurs when the ligand separates from the receptor site?

1. How is the alpha subunit inactivated?

1. What occurs with the G protein subunits after this inactivation?

After viewing the animation, answer these questions:

1. How do second messengers effect changes inside of cells?

1. The signal molecule is referred to as the          messenger.

1. What molecule is activated by the binding of the signal molecule to its receptor?

1. Typically, the G protein activates           .

1. Some second messenger systems involve activating           .

1. The other type of second messenger system involves            ions.

1. Whether triggering phosphorylation or the release of Ca²⁺, second messenger systems