Gland Physiology

Help Questions

Anatomy › Gland Physiology

Questions 1 - 10
1

Which of the following is not a role of insulin?

Increases glycogenolysis

Increases glycogen synthesis and storage

Increases triglyceride storage

Increases protein synthesis in muscles

Increases cellular uptake of potassium

Explanation

Insulin is made in the beta cells of the pancreas in response to ATP from glucose metabolism. Insulin inhibits glucagon release by alpha cells of the pancreas in a negative feedback mechanism to maintain constant blood glucose levels.

Insulin has several anabolic effects, including increased glucose transport in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, increased glycogen synthesis and storage, increased triglyceride storage, increased protein synthesis in muscles, and increased cellular uptake of potassium and amino acids.

Glycogen is made by pancreatic alpha cells and is secreted in response to hypoglycemia, resulting in glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis to increase circulating blood glucose levels.

2

Which of the following is not a role of insulin?

Increases glycogenolysis

Increases glycogen synthesis and storage

Increases triglyceride storage

Increases protein synthesis in muscles

Increases cellular uptake of potassium

Explanation

Insulin is made in the beta cells of the pancreas in response to ATP from glucose metabolism. Insulin inhibits glucagon release by alpha cells of the pancreas in a negative feedback mechanism to maintain constant blood glucose levels.

Insulin has several anabolic effects, including increased glucose transport in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, increased glycogen synthesis and storage, increased triglyceride storage, increased protein synthesis in muscles, and increased cellular uptake of potassium and amino acids.

Glycogen is made by pancreatic alpha cells and is secreted in response to hypoglycemia, resulting in glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis to increase circulating blood glucose levels.

3

Within the adrenal glands, where are chromaffin cells located?

Adrenal medulla

Zona reticularis

Zona fasciculata

Zona glomerulosa

Adrenal capsule

Explanation

Chromaffin cells are found in the adrenal medulla (adrenal glands are located above the kidneys.) Chromaffin cells are regulated by preganglionic sympathetic fibers and release catecholamines, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) into systemic circulation. The secreted epinephrine and norepinephrine play an important role in the "fight or flight" response elicited by the sympathetic nervous system. The zona glomerulosa is responsible for secreting aldosterone, the zona fasciculata is responsible for secreting cortisol (and a small amount of androgens) and the zona reticularis is primarily responsible for secreting androgens.

4

What is the synthesis site for the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine?

Adrenal medulla

Adrenal cortex

Testes

Pituitary gland

Explanation

Epinephrine is a tyrosine derivative hormone that is synthesized in the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland has two sections: the cortex and the medulla. While the cortex secretes cortisol, aldosterone, and other glucocorticoids, the medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine.

The testes are associated with testosterone production. The pituitary gland secretes several hormones that regulate numerous processes throughout the body. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is linked to mediation of epinephrine production, but it is the sympathetic nervous system that is responsible for stimulating epinephrine release.

5

Antidiuretic hormone is produced by the                      and released by the                     .

hypothalamus . . . neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary)

neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary) . . . neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary)

hypothalamus . . . adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary)

adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary) . . . adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary)

neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary) . . . adrenal medulla

Explanation

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is a hormone that is produced in the hypothalamus and travels down nerve ending from the hypothalamus to be released from the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis). ADH is the hormone that is responsible for reabsorbing water back into the blood stream at the level of the kidney.

6

The adrenal medulla's preganglionic fibers fire directly onto which of the following?

Chromaffin cells

Pheochromocytoma

Paravertebral chains

Smooth muscle

Explanation

The adrenal medulla is a specialized ganglion of the sympathetic nervous system. The adrenal medulla's preganglionic fibers synapse directly onto chromaffin cells located within the adrenal medulla. This causes the chromaffin cells to secrete epinephrine (80%) and norepinephrine (20%) into the circulation.

A Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal medulla that secretes excessive amounts of catecholamines.

7

Within the adrenal glands, where are chromaffin cells located?

Adrenal medulla

Zona reticularis

Zona fasciculata

Zona glomerulosa

Adrenal capsule

Explanation

Chromaffin cells are found in the adrenal medulla (adrenal glands are located above the kidneys.) Chromaffin cells are regulated by preganglionic sympathetic fibers and release catecholamines, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) into systemic circulation. The secreted epinephrine and norepinephrine play an important role in the "fight or flight" response elicited by the sympathetic nervous system. The zona glomerulosa is responsible for secreting aldosterone, the zona fasciculata is responsible for secreting cortisol (and a small amount of androgens) and the zona reticularis is primarily responsible for secreting androgens.

8

Antidiuretic hormone is produced by the                      and released by the                     .

hypothalamus . . . neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary)

neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary) . . . neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary)

hypothalamus . . . adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary)

adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary) . . . adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary)

neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary) . . . adrenal medulla

Explanation

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is a hormone that is produced in the hypothalamus and travels down nerve ending from the hypothalamus to be released from the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis). ADH is the hormone that is responsible for reabsorbing water back into the blood stream at the level of the kidney.

9

The adrenal medulla's preganglionic fibers fire directly onto which of the following?

Chromaffin cells

Pheochromocytoma

Paravertebral chains

Smooth muscle

Explanation

The adrenal medulla is a specialized ganglion of the sympathetic nervous system. The adrenal medulla's preganglionic fibers synapse directly onto chromaffin cells located within the adrenal medulla. This causes the chromaffin cells to secrete epinephrine (80%) and norepinephrine (20%) into the circulation.

A Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal medulla that secretes excessive amounts of catecholamines.

10

What is the synthesis site for the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine?

Adrenal medulla

Adrenal cortex

Testes

Pituitary gland

Explanation

Epinephrine is a tyrosine derivative hormone that is synthesized in the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland has two sections: the cortex and the medulla. While the cortex secretes cortisol, aldosterone, and other glucocorticoids, the medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine.

The testes are associated with testosterone production. The pituitary gland secretes several hormones that regulate numerous processes throughout the body. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is linked to mediation of epinephrine production, but it is the sympathetic nervous system that is responsible for stimulating epinephrine release.

Page 1 of 7