Portage Pathophysiology Module 9 Exam
with Updated Question and Verified Answers
(Actual ANSWERS) @2026/2027!!!
1. Define endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine signaling.
Answer:
• Endocrine: Hormones are released into circulation to act on a target organ (e.g.,
TSH, ADH)
• Paracrine: Hormones act locally on cells close to where they are released (e.g.,
estrogen, testosterone)
• Autocrine: Hormones produce a biologic action on the cell that released them
(e.g., insulin)
Rationale: Understanding these three types of signaling is fundamental to endocrine
pathophysiology. Endocrine signaling involves hormones traveling through the
bloodstream to distant targets, paracrine signaling affects nearby cells, and autocrine
signaling affects the same cell that produced the hormone .
2. True or False: An endocrine hormone is released into circulation to act on a
target organ.
Answer: True
Rationale: By definition, endocrine hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and
travel to distant target organs to exert their effects. This distinguishes them from
paracrine and autocrine hormones .
3. True or False: A paracrine action occurs when a hormone exerts an action on the
cells that produced it.
Answer: False
,Rationale: Paracrine action occurs when a hormone acts on nearby cells, NOT the cells
that produced it. When a hormone acts on the same cell that produced it, this is called
autocrine action .
4. True or False: Target cells must have receptors to recognize a hormone and
translate the signal into a cellular response.
Answer: True
Rationale: Hormones exert their effects by binding to specific receptors on target cells.
Without receptors, the cell cannot respond to the hormone signal. This is a fundamental
principle of endocrinology .
5. True or False: Hormones travel through the bloodstream attached to transport
carriers only.
Answer: False
Rationale: While many hormones (especially steroid hormones) travel bound to
transport carriers, some hormones travel freely in the bloodstream. For example, peptide
hormones typically circulate in free form .
6. What are the different structural types of hormones?
A. Amines and amino acids
B. Peptides and proteins
C. Steroids (made from cholesterol)
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Rationale: The three structural types of hormones are: (1) amines and amino acids (e.g.,
epinephrine, thyroxine), (2) peptides and proteins (e.g., insulin, growth hormone), and
(3) steroids, which are made from cholesterol (e.g., cortisol, estrogen, testosterone) .
, 7. What is the function of the hypothalamus?
A. It produces releasing hormones that stimulate the pituitary
B. It regulates homeostasis, body temperature, and hunger
C. It links the nervous system to the endocrine system
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Rationale: The hypothalamus serves to link the nervous system to the endocrine
system. It regulates homeostasis, body temperature, hunger, behavior, emotion, and
pain. The hypothalamus produces releasing hormones, which stimulate the pituitary to
release stimulating hormones .
8. What is the role of the pituitary gland?
A. It produces releasing hormones
B. It is known as the "master gland"
C. It regulates body temperature
D. It produces insulin
Answer: B. It is known as the "master gland"
Rationale: The pituitary gland is known as the "master gland" since it stimulates target
organs to secrete their hormones. It is controlled by the hypothalamus .
9. Explain the concept of negative feedback and give an example.
Answer: Negative feedback is how the body maintains homeostasis, or equilibrium. The
brain is constantly monitoring hormone levels to keep levels within its certain range or
set-point. Negative feedback prevents over-secretion of any hormone. Example: The
action of ADH, which dilutes the blood. Once the blood is dilute, the hypothalamus
detects the dilute levels and stops releasing ADH .
10. Explain the concept of positive feedback and give an example.
with Updated Question and Verified Answers
(Actual ANSWERS) @2026/2027!!!
1. Define endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine signaling.
Answer:
• Endocrine: Hormones are released into circulation to act on a target organ (e.g.,
TSH, ADH)
• Paracrine: Hormones act locally on cells close to where they are released (e.g.,
estrogen, testosterone)
• Autocrine: Hormones produce a biologic action on the cell that released them
(e.g., insulin)
Rationale: Understanding these three types of signaling is fundamental to endocrine
pathophysiology. Endocrine signaling involves hormones traveling through the
bloodstream to distant targets, paracrine signaling affects nearby cells, and autocrine
signaling affects the same cell that produced the hormone .
2. True or False: An endocrine hormone is released into circulation to act on a
target organ.
Answer: True
Rationale: By definition, endocrine hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and
travel to distant target organs to exert their effects. This distinguishes them from
paracrine and autocrine hormones .
3. True or False: A paracrine action occurs when a hormone exerts an action on the
cells that produced it.
Answer: False
,Rationale: Paracrine action occurs when a hormone acts on nearby cells, NOT the cells
that produced it. When a hormone acts on the same cell that produced it, this is called
autocrine action .
4. True or False: Target cells must have receptors to recognize a hormone and
translate the signal into a cellular response.
Answer: True
Rationale: Hormones exert their effects by binding to specific receptors on target cells.
Without receptors, the cell cannot respond to the hormone signal. This is a fundamental
principle of endocrinology .
5. True or False: Hormones travel through the bloodstream attached to transport
carriers only.
Answer: False
Rationale: While many hormones (especially steroid hormones) travel bound to
transport carriers, some hormones travel freely in the bloodstream. For example, peptide
hormones typically circulate in free form .
6. What are the different structural types of hormones?
A. Amines and amino acids
B. Peptides and proteins
C. Steroids (made from cholesterol)
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Rationale: The three structural types of hormones are: (1) amines and amino acids (e.g.,
epinephrine, thyroxine), (2) peptides and proteins (e.g., insulin, growth hormone), and
(3) steroids, which are made from cholesterol (e.g., cortisol, estrogen, testosterone) .
, 7. What is the function of the hypothalamus?
A. It produces releasing hormones that stimulate the pituitary
B. It regulates homeostasis, body temperature, and hunger
C. It links the nervous system to the endocrine system
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Rationale: The hypothalamus serves to link the nervous system to the endocrine
system. It regulates homeostasis, body temperature, hunger, behavior, emotion, and
pain. The hypothalamus produces releasing hormones, which stimulate the pituitary to
release stimulating hormones .
8. What is the role of the pituitary gland?
A. It produces releasing hormones
B. It is known as the "master gland"
C. It regulates body temperature
D. It produces insulin
Answer: B. It is known as the "master gland"
Rationale: The pituitary gland is known as the "master gland" since it stimulates target
organs to secrete their hormones. It is controlled by the hypothalamus .
9. Explain the concept of negative feedback and give an example.
Answer: Negative feedback is how the body maintains homeostasis, or equilibrium. The
brain is constantly monitoring hormone levels to keep levels within its certain range or
set-point. Negative feedback prevents over-secretion of any hormone. Example: The
action of ADH, which dilutes the blood. Once the blood is dilute, the hypothalamus
detects the dilute levels and stops releasing ADH .
10. Explain the concept of positive feedback and give an example.
