PHGY 216 -Module 1-Practice Questions
With 100% Correct Answers 2026
Updated.
Are glands structurally connected? - Answer No
What are the 6 functions of the endocrine system? - Answer 1. Maintaining a constant internal
environment via regulation of metabolism and electrolyte/water balance
2. adaptive stress response
3. growth and development
4. reproduction
5. RBC production
6. Regulation of circulation and digestion (with ANS)
Are hydrophilic hormones bound in plasma? - Answer No because they're water soluble
Hydrophilic hormones can be either: - Answer amines (single aa residue) or peptides (multiple
aas)
What are the two types of amine hormones? - Answer 1. Catecholamines (50% free, 50%
bound)
2. Thyroid hormones (not hydrophilic)
Name and describe the 4 steps of synthesis of peptide hormones - Answer 1. Synthesis-
preprohormones are made by ER ribosomes
2. Packaging- Golgi packages the active hormone into secretory vesicles
3. Storage- stored until a signal is received
4. Secretion- the signal causes exocytosis of the vesicles and the hormones are released into
blood
How are lipophilic hormones transported in the blood? - Answer With carrier molecules
What are the 2 types of lipophilic hormones? - Answer 1. Amine thyroid hormones
2. Steroid hormones
What compound are steroid hormones synthesized from? - Answer Cholesterol
,What determines which steroid hormone is produces? - Answer The specific enzymes in a
tissue
Are lipophilic hormones stored? Why or why not? - Answer No. This is because they are so
lipophilic that they are released as they are synthesized.
How is the amount of lipophilic hormone released regulated? - Answer By regulating the
synthesis of the hormone in the first place
Can bound hormones interact with their receptor? - Answer No
How do lipophilic hormones interact with their receptor if they are bound? - Answer There's a
dynamic equilibrium of bound and unbound lipophilic hormones so a small amount of the
hormone is always unbound.
Which hormones bind to receptors on the outer surface of the plasma membrane of their target
cells? Why is this? - Answer 1. Peptide hormones
2. Catecholamines
Because they're hydrophilic so they cannot cross the membrane to enter the target cell
Which hormones bind to receptors on the inner surface of the plasma membrane of their target
cells? Why is this? - Answer 1. Steroid hormones
2. Thyroid hormones
Because they are lipophilic so they can cross the membrane to enter the cell
How do lipophilic hormones cause an effect in the cell? - Answer By using second messenger
systems to amplify the signal
Explain how cAMP is used as a second messenger (6 steps) - Answer 1. Hormone binds to
receptor
2. G protein is activated
3. Adenylyl cyclase molecules are activated
4. ATP is converted to cAMP
5. cAMP activates protein kinase A
6. Protein kinase A phosphorylates and activates target proteins which bring about the desired
result
, Explain how calcium is used as a second messenger - Answer 1. Hormone binds to its receptor
2. G protein is activated
3. Phospholipase C enzymes are activated
4. Phospholipase C enzymes convert PIP2 to IP3 and DAG
5. IP3 mobilizes intracellular calcium
6. calcium activates calmodulin, creating the calcium-calmodulin complex
7. this complex activates CaM kinase
8. CaM kinase phosphorylates and activates target proteins which bring about the desired
response
Steroid and thyroid hormones cause their effect in which 2 ways: - Answer 1. Regulating gene
transcription
2. Regulating protein synthesis
Explain how lipophilic hormones regulate protein synthesis: (6 steps) - Answer 1. free
lipophilic hormones diffuse across the plasma membrane and interact with nuclear/intracellular
receptors
2. the hormone-receptor complex binds with the Hormone Response Element (HRE) within the
DNA
3. binding to DNA activates specific genes and makes mRNA
4. mRNA exits the nucleus
5. mRNA binds to a ribosome and proteins are synthesized
6. the new proteins lead to the cellular response of the hormone
The endocrine system works closely with what other system? - Answer Nervous system
Differences between neural and endocrine systems: (3) - Answer 1. Neural is fast, endocrine is
slow
2. Duration of neural is short, endocrine is long
3. Neural has a specific target, endocrine has many targets
Do the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary communicate with eachother? - Answer
No
What type of tissue is the anterior pituitary made of? - Answer Glandular epithelial cells
What type of tissue is the posterior pituitary made of? - Answer Neural tissues
With 100% Correct Answers 2026
Updated.
Are glands structurally connected? - Answer No
What are the 6 functions of the endocrine system? - Answer 1. Maintaining a constant internal
environment via regulation of metabolism and electrolyte/water balance
2. adaptive stress response
3. growth and development
4. reproduction
5. RBC production
6. Regulation of circulation and digestion (with ANS)
Are hydrophilic hormones bound in plasma? - Answer No because they're water soluble
Hydrophilic hormones can be either: - Answer amines (single aa residue) or peptides (multiple
aas)
What are the two types of amine hormones? - Answer 1. Catecholamines (50% free, 50%
bound)
2. Thyroid hormones (not hydrophilic)
Name and describe the 4 steps of synthesis of peptide hormones - Answer 1. Synthesis-
preprohormones are made by ER ribosomes
2. Packaging- Golgi packages the active hormone into secretory vesicles
3. Storage- stored until a signal is received
4. Secretion- the signal causes exocytosis of the vesicles and the hormones are released into
blood
How are lipophilic hormones transported in the blood? - Answer With carrier molecules
What are the 2 types of lipophilic hormones? - Answer 1. Amine thyroid hormones
2. Steroid hormones
What compound are steroid hormones synthesized from? - Answer Cholesterol
,What determines which steroid hormone is produces? - Answer The specific enzymes in a
tissue
Are lipophilic hormones stored? Why or why not? - Answer No. This is because they are so
lipophilic that they are released as they are synthesized.
How is the amount of lipophilic hormone released regulated? - Answer By regulating the
synthesis of the hormone in the first place
Can bound hormones interact with their receptor? - Answer No
How do lipophilic hormones interact with their receptor if they are bound? - Answer There's a
dynamic equilibrium of bound and unbound lipophilic hormones so a small amount of the
hormone is always unbound.
Which hormones bind to receptors on the outer surface of the plasma membrane of their target
cells? Why is this? - Answer 1. Peptide hormones
2. Catecholamines
Because they're hydrophilic so they cannot cross the membrane to enter the target cell
Which hormones bind to receptors on the inner surface of the plasma membrane of their target
cells? Why is this? - Answer 1. Steroid hormones
2. Thyroid hormones
Because they are lipophilic so they can cross the membrane to enter the cell
How do lipophilic hormones cause an effect in the cell? - Answer By using second messenger
systems to amplify the signal
Explain how cAMP is used as a second messenger (6 steps) - Answer 1. Hormone binds to
receptor
2. G protein is activated
3. Adenylyl cyclase molecules are activated
4. ATP is converted to cAMP
5. cAMP activates protein kinase A
6. Protein kinase A phosphorylates and activates target proteins which bring about the desired
result
, Explain how calcium is used as a second messenger - Answer 1. Hormone binds to its receptor
2. G protein is activated
3. Phospholipase C enzymes are activated
4. Phospholipase C enzymes convert PIP2 to IP3 and DAG
5. IP3 mobilizes intracellular calcium
6. calcium activates calmodulin, creating the calcium-calmodulin complex
7. this complex activates CaM kinase
8. CaM kinase phosphorylates and activates target proteins which bring about the desired
response
Steroid and thyroid hormones cause their effect in which 2 ways: - Answer 1. Regulating gene
transcription
2. Regulating protein synthesis
Explain how lipophilic hormones regulate protein synthesis: (6 steps) - Answer 1. free
lipophilic hormones diffuse across the plasma membrane and interact with nuclear/intracellular
receptors
2. the hormone-receptor complex binds with the Hormone Response Element (HRE) within the
DNA
3. binding to DNA activates specific genes and makes mRNA
4. mRNA exits the nucleus
5. mRNA binds to a ribosome and proteins are synthesized
6. the new proteins lead to the cellular response of the hormone
The endocrine system works closely with what other system? - Answer Nervous system
Differences between neural and endocrine systems: (3) - Answer 1. Neural is fast, endocrine is
slow
2. Duration of neural is short, endocrine is long
3. Neural has a specific target, endocrine has many targets
Do the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary communicate with eachother? - Answer
No
What type of tissue is the anterior pituitary made of? - Answer Glandular epithelial cells
What type of tissue is the posterior pituitary made of? - Answer Neural tissues
