3020 Lecture 14

Amber Stokes2 minutes read

Conditions like gigantism, acromegaly, dwarfism, and hormonal imbalances affect growth and metabolism, while stress triggers responses from the endocrine and nervous systems. Various hormones, including growth hormone, prolactin, thyroxine, and adrenal hormones, play vital roles in regulating bodily functions, growth, metabolism, calcium balance, and stress responses.

Insights

  • Acromegaly, caused by excessive growth hormone production in adults due to a pituitary gland tumor, results in distinct physical features such as a protruding jaw, elongated fingers, and thickened facial features, showcasing how hormonal imbalances can lead to visible deformities.
  • The endocrine system plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions, from growth and metabolism to stress responses and sleep patterns, with hormones like growth hormone, prolactin, and glucocorticoids impacting growth, parental care behaviors in birds, and stress reactions, emphasizing the wide-ranging influence of hormones on physiological processes.

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Recent questions

  • What is gigantism?

    Gigantism is a condition in children characterized by excessive growth hormone secretion, leading to abnormally increased height.

  • How does acromegaly differ from gigantism?

    Acromegaly, a form of gigantism in adults, results in bone and soft tissue deformities rather than increased height due to excessive growth hormone production.

  • What are the symptoms of acromegaly?

    Acromegaly can cause protruding jaw, elongated fingers, and thickening of facial features as a result of the excessive growth hormone production.

  • How is dwarfism caused?

    Dwarfism can be caused by a deficiency of growth hormone in children, resulting in below-average height due to the lack of proper growth stimulation.

  • How is dwarfism treated?

    Artificial growth hormone can be used to treat dwarfism by stimulating growth in children with growth hormone deficiencies, aiding in achieving a more typical height for their age.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Growth Hormones: Gigantism, Acromegaly, Dwarfism, Prolactin"

  • Gigantism is characterized by excessive growth hormone secretion in children, leading to increased height.
  • Acromegaly, a form of gigantism in adults, results in bone and soft tissue deformities rather than increased height.
  • Acromegaly can cause protruding jaw, elongated fingers, and thickening of facial features.
  • Acromegaly is often caused by a pituitary gland tumor leading to excessive growth hormone production.
  • Dwarfism can be caused by a deficiency of growth hormone in children, resulting in below-average height.
  • Artificial growth hormone can be used to treat dwarfism by stimulating growth in children with growth hormone deficiencies.
  • Growth hormone plays a role in regulating protein, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism in adults.
  • Prolactin stimulates mammary glands to produce milk in mammals and regulates ion and water transport.
  • In birds, prolactin aids in parental care by promoting development of the crop for food storage and the brood patch for incubation.
  • Prolactin in amphibians promotes the transformation from terrestrial to aquatic breeding forms and helps maintain electrolyte balance.

26:55

Thyroid Hormones and Calcium Regulation in Metabolism

  • Triiodothyronine (T3) is a thyroid hormone with three iodine molecules, responsible for increasing metabolic action, heat production, and bone growth.
  • Thyroxine (T4) is another form of thyroid hormone with four iodine molecules, serving as the main secreted form due to its longer half-life and stability.
  • Thyroxine is converted into T3 as needed for effective metabolism regulation.
  • Iodine deficiency can hinder thyroxine production, leading to elevated concentrations of TR and TSH due to insufficient negative feedback.
  • Iodized salt is a common source of iodine in diets to prevent thyroid hormone deficiencies.
  • Hypothyroidism results from low thyroid hormone levels, causing low metabolic rates, weight gain, fatigue, and feeling cold.
  • Hyperthyroidism stems from excessive thyroid hormone production, leading to weight loss, nervousness, high energy levels, warmth, and potential overheating.
  • Calcitonin and parathyroid hormone regulate calcium homeostasis, with calcitonin promoting calcium deposition in bones and reducing kidney calcium uptake.
  • Parathyroid hormone stimulates calcium release from bones, increases kidney calcium reabsorption, activates vitamin D for intestinal calcium absorption, and raises blood calcium levels.
  • Adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, produce stress hormones that mobilize energy rather than solely responding to stress.

51:33

"Stress Response: Adrenal Glands and Glucose Regulation"

  • Energy mobilization sends glucose to areas needed during stress
  • Different parts of adrenal glands respond to short-term and long-term stress
  • Short-term stress is brief, while long-term stress persists
  • Stress initiates responses from endocrine system and nervous system
  • Adrenal cortex releases glucocorticoids for long-term stress response
  • Glucocorticoids affect metabolism, immune system, and repair during stress
  • Adrenal medulla releases catecholamine hormones for short-term stress response
  • Pancreas regulates blood glucose levels through insulin and glucagon
  • Type 1 diabetes lacks insulin-secreting cells, requiring insulin injections
  • Type 2 diabetes has low insulin receptors, managed through diet and exercise

01:15:46

"Melanin, Melatonin, and the Pineal Gland"

  • Melanin levels determine skin color, with lower levels resulting in lighter skin. Melatonin, secreted in the dark, aids in inducing sleep, while exposure to blue light from screens before bed can hinder its production, affecting sleep quality.
  • The pineal gland, located in the human brain, regulates circadian rhythms. In animals like reptiles and amphibians, the pineal gland, often referred to as the "third eye," is positioned at the surface, detecting light and dark to influence their sleep patterns.
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