| What is an endocrine? | A chemical signal secreted by epithelial cells directly into cellular fluid. |
| What are the 3 classes of hormones? | Peptides and proteins, amino acid derivates and steroids |
| What are the properties of glycoproteins. | Water soluble, easily transported in blood, packaged in vesicles and released by exocytosis. |
| What are the properties of amino acid derivates? | molecules synthesised from amino acids, tyrosine, some soluble in aqueous others lipids. |
| What are the properties of steroids? | synthesised from cholestrol, secreted by gonads, adrenal cortex and skin, lipid soluble. |
| Properties of lipophilic signals: | fat soluble, and non polar. |
| examples of lipophilic signals: | Steroids and thyroid hormones. |
| properties of hydrophilic signals: | water soluble, polar. |
| examples of hydrophilic signals: | All hormones apart from steroids and thyroid hormones. |
| what are endocrine cells? | Nonneural cells stimulated to secrete hormones by other hormones. |
| What are neurosecreting glands? | Cells always signalled by synaptic input, cell bodies located within the CNS with extended axons to secrete hormones. |
| What are the two parts of the pituitary gland? | adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis. |
| What is the function of the anterior pituitary gland? | produces 7 essential hormones, both tropic, act on other endocrine glands and direct acting hormones, affect mainly non-endocrine tissue. |
| What is the function of the posterior pituitary gland? | Form of control over endocrine functions, axons terminate in parts of nervosa where there are lots of capillaries, used to secrete signals such as ADH. |
| What is phenotypic plasticity? | The ability of an individual to alter its morphology, gene expression and or behaviour in response to environmental changes and conditions. |
