COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 2026
What does the endocrine system consist of? - ANSWERSGlands, organs and tissues
that are responsible for the regulation and coordination of allother body systems.
What specifically is the endocrine system responsible for (8)? - ANSWERS1. Water
balance
2. Ion regulation
3. Growth and metabolism
4. Heart rate and blood pressure
5. Blood glucose regulation
6. Reproductive functions
7. Uterine contractions during labor
8. Milk and release post labor
How does the endocrine system exert control (2)? - ANSWERS1. Various types of
signaling
2. Chemical ligands
What are the 3 categories of endocrine signaling? - ANSWERS1. Long distance
signaling
2. Local signaling
3. Signaling that overlaps with nervous system components to transport ligands to cells
What are the 5 types of signaling? - ANSWERSendocrine, paracrine, autocrine,
synaptic, neuroendocrine
endocrine signaling - ANSWERSForm of long-distance signaling where ligands are
released and travel through blood to reach a target cell, which could be anywhere is the
body.
What does endocrine signaling play a role in? - ANSWERSRegulatory processes such
as maintaining blood pressure, blood volume, and energy metabolism
Regulatory mechanisms such as growth, sexual maturation, and reproduction.
paracrine signaling - ANSWERSForm of local signaling where ligands are released near
target tissues and move by diffusion. NOT transported through blood.
autocrine signaling - ANSWERSForm of local signaling where the cell releasing the
ligand is also the target cell of the very same ligand. NOT transported through blood.
, synaptic signaling - ANSWERSForm of local signaling where the ligands are released
from a pre-synaptic neuron into the synaptic cleft and will eventually bind to the post-
synaptic cell. diffuses across a synapse.
Target cells of synaptic signaling - ANSWERSCells comprising Muscle, tissue, or
glands
neuroendocrine signaling - ANSWERSForm of long-distance signaling where ligands
are released from a neuron into the bloodstream where they bind to target cells.
Hormones - ANSWERSchemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine
glands, travel through the bloodstream, and act as signaling molecules.
What do hormones do? - ANSWERSMaintain homeostasis and regulate many
physiological responses
Main classes of hormones (2) - ANSWERSHydrophilic and hydrophobic
hydrophilic hormones - ANSWERSWater cellular hormones, cannot cross the cellular
membrane and instead bind to an external receptor anchored within the plasma
membrane of target cells
Ex. Polypeptides and some amine hormone
hydrophobic hormones - ANSWERSlipid soluble, diffuse through the plasma membrane
and bind to an intracellular receptor of the target
Ex. Steroid hormones and amines. Require assistance from protein carriers.
types of hydrophilic hormones - ANSWERSPolypeptides and amine hormones that are
derived from amino acids
Types of hydrophobic hormones - ANSWERSSteroid hormones and amines that are not
derived f from amino acids
The effect of the target cell depends on the receptor (t/f) - ANSWERSTrue
What do hydrophilic ligands bind to? - ANSWERSExtracellular receptors (and act
through G-protein signal transduction pathways)
What do hydrophobic ligands bind to? - ANSWERSintracellular receptors of target cell
What signaling are local regulators associated with? - ANSWERSAutocrine and
paracrine
Cytokines - ANSWERSPeptide local regulator that utilizes Autocrine signaling
Released during inflammatory immune responses and can stimulate a greater response
from other immune system cells.