Student Name:
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit): AC-AQW1GW
Lab Report Format Expectations
Utilize college level grammar and professional formatting when completing this worksheet.
Submissions without proper formatting, all required photos or sufficient responses will be rejected. Pre-
lab Questions
1. What is the function of the endocrine system?
The endocrine system is a sophisticated system of glands responsible for producing and
secreting hormones, which play crucial roles in regulating and coordinating various physiological
processes throughout the body.
2. Research two types of hormones and describe the mode of action for each.
Insulin and thyroid hormones are essential for controlling metabolism and blood glucose levels
in the body.
- Insulin helps lower blood sugar levels by promoting the absorption of glucose by cells from the
blood. It also aids in storing excess glucose as glycogen in the liver and muscles.
- Thyroid hormones accelerate the rate at which cells convert oxygen and nutrients into energy,
affecting vital functions like growth, development, and body temperature regulation.
3. Which gland is both endocrine and exocrine?
Pancreas
4. Which hormones control the fight or flight response?
When faced with danger or stress, our bodies produce adrenaline and noradrenaline hormones,
preparing us for fight or flight responses.
5. What is type 1 diabetes and what is the treatment for this disease?
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by the body's inability to
produce insulin, a hormone necessary for cells to use glucose for energy. People with type 1
, Lab 9 The Endocrine System BIO201L
diabetes manage their blood sugar levels by administering insulin through injections or insulin
pumps.
6. Describe how Ca2+ levels in the blood are regulated by hormones.
PTH (parathyroid hormone) and calcitonin work together to regulate the balance of calcium
levels in the blood. PTH increases calcium levels, while calcitonin decreases them. This
coordinated interaction ensures that the body maintains an appropriate amount of calcium for
essential functions without allowing levels to become excessively high, which could be harmful.
7. How do the nervous and endocrine systems work together to maintain homeostasis of the
body?
The nervous system and endocrine system work together to maintain homeostasis by
communicating and regulating various bodily functions.
EXPERIMENT 1: MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY OF THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Introduction Questions
1. Define what a hormone is.
Hormones act as chemical messengers that enable communication between different organs
and tissues, governing a wide range of bodily functions.
2. How do hormones establish selectivity?
Hormones influence specific cells in the body by attaching to particular receptors located on
those cells.
3. Explain how insulin regulates glucose levels in the blood.
Insulin is essential for controlling blood sugar levels by aiding cells in taking up glucose from the
blood and storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscles.