Understanding Specific Hormones - Biology

Parathyroid hormone is responsible for increasing blood calcium levels. Calcitonin has the opposite effect, and lowers blood calcium levels. These two hormones act in a negative feedback loop to keep calcium levels relatively constant. When calcium levels are high, calcitonin is released. When calcium levels are low, parathyroid hormone is released.

Insulin serves to low blood glucose levels, while glucagon acts to increase blood glucose. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) helps conserve water in the body by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys.

Insulin stimulates the reuptake of glucose from the blood into the cells. Thus, the glucose levels in the blood decrease, as the glucose is taken into cells. The cells may either store it as glycogen (in liver and skeletal muscle) or use it in glycolysis to make ATP.

Epinephrine is the hormone that gets you ready for a "fight or flight" response. This means increasing heart rate, increasing the force of heart contractions, increasing blood flow to the muscles, and opening the windpipes. This would help you if you needed to run away or fight by increasing the amount of oxygen thats delivered to the blood. Also, during a fight, flight, or freight response, the pupils dilate to allow more light to enter, making it easier to see in the dark.

Parathyroid hormone is secreted by the parathyroid gland in response to low levels of serum calcium. It acts to increase the resorption of calcium from the bone, kidneys, and intestines. Note that vitamin D is also a hormone that shares this function.

Insulin functions to decrease blood sugars. It does so by acting on adipose tissue to uptake glucose. It causes increased glucose utilization by the muscles. It also inhibits the release of glucagon, which has the opposite effects as insulin.

Gluconeogenesis by the liver occurs in response to very low blood glucose, when the body is in need of sugar. Glucagon causes gluconeogenesis in the liver.

Insulin stimulates the reuptake of glucose from the blood into the cells. Thus, the glucose levels in the blood decrease, as the glucose is taken into cells. The cells may either store it as glycogen (in liver and skeletal muscle) or use it in glycolysis to make ATP.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is a hormone released by the posterior pituitary when there is an imbalance of water in the body. Its function is the same as aldosterone, which also helps regulate water levels in the body. ADH causes channels to open in the collecting duct for water to exit the filtrate and enter the blood, increasing blood volume and retaining water.

In contrast, aldosterone causes channels to open for sodium to exit the filtrate and enter the blood. The blood becomes more concentrated, which draws water out of the filtrate to help dilute the increased sodium levels. This also leads to increased blood volume and water retention.

Parathyroid hormone is responsible for increasing blood calcium levels. Calcitonin has the opposite effect, and lowers blood calcium levels. These two hormones act in a negative feedback loop to keep calcium levels relatively constant. When calcium levels are high, calcitonin is released. When calcium levels are low, parathyroid hormone is released.

Insulin serves to low blood glucose levels, while glucagon acts to increase blood glucose. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) helps conserve water in the body by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys.

Epinephrine is the hormone that gets you ready for a "fight or flight" response. This means increasing heart rate, increasing the force of heart contractions, increasing blood flow to the muscles, and opening the windpipes. This would help you if you needed to run away or fight by increasing the amount of oxygen thats delivered to the blood. Also, during a fight, flight, or freight response, the pupils dilate to allow more light to enter, making it easier to see in the dark.

Parathyroid hormone is secreted by the parathyroid gland in response to low levels of serum calcium. It acts to increase the resorption of calcium from the bone, kidneys, and intestines. Note that vitamin D is also a hormone that shares this function.

Insulin functions to decrease blood sugars. It does so by acting on adipose tissue to uptake glucose. It causes increased glucose utilization by the muscles. It also inhibits the release of glucagon, which has the opposite effects as insulin.

Gluconeogenesis by the liver occurs in response to very low blood glucose, when the body is in need of sugar. Glucagon causes gluconeogenesis in the liver.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is a hormone released by the posterior pituitary when there is an imbalance of water in the body. Its function is the same as aldosterone, which also helps regulate water levels in the body. ADH causes channels to open in the collecting duct for water to exit the filtrate and enter the blood, increasing blood volume and retaining water.

In contrast, aldosterone causes channels to open for sodium to exit the filtrate and enter the blood. The blood becomes more concentrated, which draws water out of the filtrate to help dilute the increased sodium levels. This also leads to increased blood volume and water retention.

Parathyroid hormone is responsible for increasing blood calcium levels. Calcitonin has the opposite effect, and lowers blood calcium levels. These two hormones act in a negative feedback loop to keep calcium levels relatively constant. When calcium levels are high, calcitonin is released. When calcium levels are low, parathyroid hormone is released.

Insulin serves to low blood glucose levels, while glucagon acts to increase blood glucose. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) helps conserve water in the body by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys.

Insulin stimulates the reuptake of glucose from the blood into the cells. Thus, the glucose levels in the blood decrease, as the glucose is taken into cells. The cells may either store it as glycogen (in liver and skeletal muscle) or use it in glycolysis to make ATP.

Epinephrine is the hormone that gets you ready for a "fight or flight" response. This means increasing heart rate, increasing the force of heart contractions, increasing blood flow to the muscles, and opening the windpipes. This would help you if you needed to run away or fight by increasing the amount of oxygen thats delivered to the blood. Also, during a fight, flight, or freight response, the pupils dilate to allow more light to enter, making it easier to see in the dark.

Parathyroid hormone is secreted by the parathyroid gland in response to low levels of serum calcium. It acts to increase the resorption of calcium from the bone, kidneys, and intestines. Note that vitamin D is also a hormone that shares this function.

Insulin functions to decrease blood sugars. It does so by acting on adipose tissue to uptake glucose. It causes increased glucose utilization by the muscles. It also inhibits the release of glucagon, which has the opposite effects as insulin.

Gluconeogenesis by the liver occurs in response to very low blood glucose, when the body is in need of sugar. Glucagon causes gluconeogenesis in the liver.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is a hormone released by the posterior pituitary when there is an imbalance of water in the body. Its function is the same as aldosterone, which also helps regulate water levels in the body. ADH causes channels to open in the collecting duct for water to exit the filtrate and enter the blood, increasing blood volume and retaining water.

In contrast, aldosterone causes channels to open for sodium to exit the filtrate and enter the blood. The blood becomes more concentrated, which draws water out of the filtrate to help dilute the increased sodium levels. This also leads to increased blood volume and water retention.

Parathyroid hormone is responsible for increasing blood calcium levels. Calcitonin has the opposite effect, and lowers blood calcium levels. These two hormones act in a negative feedback loop to keep calcium levels relatively constant. When calcium levels are high, calcitonin is released. When calcium levels are low, parathyroid hormone is released.

Insulin serves to low blood glucose levels, while glucagon acts to increase blood glucose. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) helps conserve water in the body by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys.