Other Endocrine Glands - MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

Endocrine glands secrete hormones into the blood stream, lined with endothelium, allowing them to travel through the blood and to act at a distant site. Exocrine organs, in contrast, secrete products into lumens that are lined with epithelium.

Mammary glands are used in lactation. Because the milk is not secreted into the blood, the mammary glands are not endocrine glands.

The hypothalamus releases hormones into the blood, such as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). The pituitary releases hormones such as prolactin. The adrenal gland secretes hormones such as cortisol.

The adrenal medulla, derived from neural crest cells, is responsible for making and releasing epinephrine and norepinephrine. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are responsible for increasing heart rate and activating the sympathetic nervous system when released.

In contrast, the adrenal cortex is derived from mesoderm and releases steroid hormones like aldosterone and cortisol. Corticotropin-releasing hormone is made by the parvocellular neurons of the hypothalamus.

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are released by the neuroendocrine cells of the adrenal medulla. In times of stress and sympathetic nervous system activation, the adrenal medulla will release epinephrine to cause blood vessel constriction. These hormones allow for the "fight-or-flight" response.

In contrast, the adrenal cortex will secrete cortisol and other mineralcorticoids in response to long-term stress. These hormones are not involved in the fight-or-flight response, and rather serve to prepare the body to endure prolonged harsh conditions, such as dehydration, starvation, and extreme temperatures. Adrenocorticotropic hormone is released from the anterior pituitary to stimulate the adrenal cortex.

Growth hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone do not interact with the adrenal gland.

Hormones cortisol and aldosterone are synthesized in the adrenal glands. Adrenal glands are made up of the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. Adrenal medulla is involved in the synthesize of catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) whereas adrenal cortex synthesizes mineralocorticoids (aldosterone), glucocorticoids (cortisol), and androgens (testosterone, DHT, and DHEA).

Aldosterone is released upon stimulation from the renin-angiotensin system and serves to increase reabsorption of sodium in the collecting ducts of the kidney. Cortisol is released due to stress and serves to increase the metabolic rate.

Luteinizing hormone is produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland.

Antidiuretic hormone is produced by the hypothalamus, but secreted by the posterior pituitary gland. Epinephrine is produced by the adrenal medulla; aldosterone is produced by the adrenal cortex. Thyroxine (T4) is produced by the thyroid.

Of all the hormones listed, antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is the only one that neither acts on, nor is released by, the adrenal cortex. ADH is released from the posterior pituitary and causes the kidneys to retain more water.

Aldosterone (a mineralcorticoid) and cortisol (a glucocorticoid) are both incorrect choices because they are released by the adrenal cortex and would be greatly affected by trauma to that area. ACTH is released by the anterior pituitary and acts to stimulate the adrenal cortex; these hormones act as part of a negative feedback chain, so damage to the target area would temporarily cause more ACTH to be produced. The same goes for CRH, which is released by the hypothalamus and stimulates secretion of ACTH.

Endocrine glands secrete hormones into the blood stream, lined with endothelium, allowing them to travel through the blood and to act at a distant site. Exocrine organs, in contrast, secrete products into lumens that are lined with epithelium.

Mammary glands are used in lactation. Because the milk is not secreted into the blood, the mammary glands are not endocrine glands.

The hypothalamus releases hormones into the blood, such as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). The pituitary releases hormones such as prolactin. The adrenal gland secretes hormones such as cortisol.

The adrenal medulla, derived from neural crest cells, is responsible for making and releasing epinephrine and norepinephrine. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are responsible for increasing heart rate and activating the sympathetic nervous system when released.

In contrast, the adrenal cortex is derived from mesoderm and releases steroid hormones like aldosterone and cortisol. Corticotropin-releasing hormone is made by the parvocellular neurons of the hypothalamus.

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are released by the neuroendocrine cells of the adrenal medulla. In times of stress and sympathetic nervous system activation, the adrenal medulla will release epinephrine to cause blood vessel constriction. These hormones allow for the "fight-or-flight" response.

In contrast, the adrenal cortex will secrete cortisol and other mineralcorticoids in response to long-term stress. These hormones are not involved in the fight-or-flight response, and rather serve to prepare the body to endure prolonged harsh conditions, such as dehydration, starvation, and extreme temperatures. Adrenocorticotropic hormone is released from the anterior pituitary to stimulate the adrenal cortex.

Growth hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone do not interact with the adrenal gland.

Hormones cortisol and aldosterone are synthesized in the adrenal glands. Adrenal glands are made up of the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. Adrenal medulla is involved in the synthesize of catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) whereas adrenal cortex synthesizes mineralocorticoids (aldosterone), glucocorticoids (cortisol), and androgens (testosterone, DHT, and DHEA).

Aldosterone is released upon stimulation from the renin-angiotensin system and serves to increase reabsorption of sodium in the collecting ducts of the kidney. Cortisol is released due to stress and serves to increase the metabolic rate.

Luteinizing hormone is produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland.

Antidiuretic hormone is produced by the hypothalamus, but secreted by the posterior pituitary gland. Epinephrine is produced by the adrenal medulla; aldosterone is produced by the adrenal cortex. Thyroxine (T4) is produced by the thyroid.

Of all the hormones listed, antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is the only one that neither acts on, nor is released by, the adrenal cortex. ADH is released from the posterior pituitary and causes the kidneys to retain more water.

Aldosterone (a mineralcorticoid) and cortisol (a glucocorticoid) are both incorrect choices because they are released by the adrenal cortex and would be greatly affected by trauma to that area. ACTH is released by the anterior pituitary and acts to stimulate the adrenal cortex; these hormones act as part of a negative feedback chain, so damage to the target area would temporarily cause more ACTH to be produced. The same goes for CRH, which is released by the hypothalamus and stimulates secretion of ACTH.

Endocrine glands secrete hormones into the blood stream, lined with endothelium, allowing them to travel through the blood and to act at a distant site. Exocrine organs, in contrast, secrete products into lumens that are lined with epithelium.

Mammary glands are used in lactation. Because the milk is not secreted into the blood, the mammary glands are not endocrine glands.

The hypothalamus releases hormones into the blood, such as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). The pituitary releases hormones such as prolactin. The adrenal gland secretes hormones such as cortisol.

The adrenal medulla, derived from neural crest cells, is responsible for making and releasing epinephrine and norepinephrine. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are responsible for increasing heart rate and activating the sympathetic nervous system when released.

In contrast, the adrenal cortex is derived from mesoderm and releases steroid hormones like aldosterone and cortisol. Corticotropin-releasing hormone is made by the parvocellular neurons of the hypothalamus.

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are released by the neuroendocrine cells of the adrenal medulla. In times of stress and sympathetic nervous system activation, the adrenal medulla will release epinephrine to cause blood vessel constriction. These hormones allow for the "fight-or-flight" response.

In contrast, the adrenal cortex will secrete cortisol and other mineralcorticoids in response to long-term stress. These hormones are not involved in the fight-or-flight response, and rather serve to prepare the body to endure prolonged harsh conditions, such as dehydration, starvation, and extreme temperatures. Adrenocorticotropic hormone is released from the anterior pituitary to stimulate the adrenal cortex.

Growth hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone do not interact with the adrenal gland.

Hormones cortisol and aldosterone are synthesized in the adrenal glands. Adrenal glands are made up of the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. Adrenal medulla is involved in the synthesize of catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) whereas adrenal cortex synthesizes mineralocorticoids (aldosterone), glucocorticoids (cortisol), and androgens (testosterone, DHT, and DHEA).

Aldosterone is released upon stimulation from the renin-angiotensin system and serves to increase reabsorption of sodium in the collecting ducts of the kidney. Cortisol is released due to stress and serves to increase the metabolic rate.

Luteinizing hormone is produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland.

Antidiuretic hormone is produced by the hypothalamus, but secreted by the posterior pituitary gland. Epinephrine is produced by the adrenal medulla; aldosterone is produced by the adrenal cortex. Thyroxine (T4) is produced by the thyroid.

Of all the hormones listed, antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is the only one that neither acts on, nor is released by, the adrenal cortex. ADH is released from the posterior pituitary and causes the kidneys to retain more water.

Aldosterone (a mineralcorticoid) and cortisol (a glucocorticoid) are both incorrect choices because they are released by the adrenal cortex and would be greatly affected by trauma to that area. ACTH is released by the anterior pituitary and acts to stimulate the adrenal cortex; these hormones act as part of a negative feedback chain, so damage to the target area would temporarily cause more ACTH to be produced. The same goes for CRH, which is released by the hypothalamus and stimulates secretion of ACTH.

Endocrine glands secrete hormones into the blood stream, lined with endothelium, allowing them to travel through the blood and to act at a distant site. Exocrine organs, in contrast, secrete products into lumens that are lined with epithelium.

Mammary glands are used in lactation. Because the milk is not secreted into the blood, the mammary glands are not endocrine glands.

The hypothalamus releases hormones into the blood, such as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). The pituitary releases hormones such as prolactin. The adrenal gland secretes hormones such as cortisol.