Question 1

Which endocrine gland is involved in producing immune cells?

Accepted Answer

The thymus gland is involved in producing immune cells called T lymphocytes or T cells.

Question 2

You're treating a patient who is abnormally short and find normal blood levels of growth hormone. Based on this evidence, what can you determine about the patient?

Accepted Answer

If the patient has normal blood levels of growth hormone but is abnormally short, it suggests that they may lack receptors for growth hormone. This is known as Laron syndrome and is a rare genetic disorder. It can cause growth failure, delayed puberty, and other symptoms related to growth hormone deficiency despite having normal levels of the hormone in their blood. Other possible causes of short stature include malnutrition, genetic factors, or underlying medical conditions, which would need to be ruled out through further testing.

Question 3

A patient is exhibiting symptoms that include lethargy, weight gain, and abnormal blood levels of calcium. Where does the patient potentially have a tumor?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms listed suggest hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, which can be caused by a tumor in that gland. The other options listed would not produce the same set of symptoms.

Question 4

What type of cells respond to a particular hormone?

Accepted Answer

Target cells, also known as target tissues, respond to a particular hormone. These cells have specific receptors for the hormone, which allows them to recognize and respond to its signals. Glandular cells produce and secrete hormones, while endocrine cells are a type of glandular cell that release hormones directly into the bloodstream. Receptive cells do not specifically relate to hormone response.

Question 5

Which change is a sign of puberty occurring in males?

Accepted Answer

Underarm hair growth is a sign of puberty occurring in males. This is due to an increase in the production of androgens (male sex hormones) such as testosterone, which stimulates the growth of pubic, underarm and facial hair in boys. Increased fat deposition and breast development are more typical signs of puberty occurring in females, while widening of hips is a female-specific anatomical feature that occurs during puberty due to fat distribution and skeletal growth.

Question 6

True or false: Studies have shown that a woman's life expectancy is diminished due to menstruation.

Accepted Answer

Studies have not shown that menstruation in and of itself decreases a woman's life expectancy. However, certain menstrual disorders or conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or heavy menstrual bleeding can have a negative impact on a woman's health and may increase the risk of certain diseases.

Question 7

You (assume you are male) were told by your mom not to wear tight briefs, as this could make you sterile and infertile. What did she mean by this statement?

Accepted Answer

Sperm production is optimal at a temperature slightly below the core body temperature. Wearing tight briefs can increase the temperature of the testes, potentially reducing sperm production and affecting fertility.

Question 8

Which system is an internal system of regulation and communication involving hormones, glands, and target cells?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which system is an internal system of...

Question 9

Which structure produces immune cells and is part of the lymphatic system?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which structure produces immune cells and is...

Question 10

-Consider the figure illustrating the two major classes of hormones and their actions. Which class of hormones would you expect to be ideally suited for long-term processes such as growth and development?

Accepted Answer

Steroid hormones can turn specific genes on or off, making them ideally suited for long-term processes such as growth and development. This ability allows them to directly influence cellular activity and gene expression over extended periods.

Question 11

Suddenly, you find yourself in a situation in which someone is shooting live ammunition at you. Which hormone is likely to be one of the first secreted as a direct response to this situation?

Accepted Answer

Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is a hormone that is secreted by the adrenal glands in response to stress or danger. Its function is to prepare the body for a fight-or-flight response, which includes increased heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. In a situation where someone is shooting live ammunition at you, epinephrine would be one of the first hormones secreted as a direct response to this danger, in order to prepare your body to either fight back or flee the situation. LH, FSH, and testosterone are not hormones that are directly involved in the body's response to stress or danger.

Question 12

You have just eaten a candy bar and your blood glucose levels are rising. This will activate which organ of the endocrine system?

Accepted Answer

The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin in response to increased blood glucose levels, which helps to bring glucose into cells for energy or storage.

Question 13

A young person suffered a head injury that damaged her pituitary. As this person got older, what condition was the only thing that she and her doctors found that was unaffected by the injury?

Accepted Answer

The pituitary gland is responsible for regulating growth, menstrual cycle, and milk production, but it also plays a role in controlling blood sugar levels through the production of the hormone called insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Therefore, if the head injury damaged the pituitary gland, it is possible that the person's growth, menstrual cycle, and milk production would be affected. However, if their blood sugar level is unaffected, it suggests that the injury did not damage the part of the pituitary gland responsible for producing IGF-1.

Question 14

True or false: In general, the first signs of puberty occur earlier in life for girls than for boys.

Accepted Answer

It is generally true that girls begin puberty earlier than boys, with the average age of onset for girls being around 8-13 years old and for boys being around 9-14 years old. However, there can be significant individual variation in the timing of puberty for both boys and girls.

Question 15

Which structure controls the activity of all the others?

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus controls the activity of the pituitary gland, which in turn regulates the activity of other endocrine glands such as the ovary and testis.

Question 16

True or false: Steroid-based hormones are able to move across cell membranes easily because they are water soluble.

Accepted Answer

Steroid-based hormones are not water soluble, but rather lipid soluble, allowing them to easily cross the cell membrane.

Question 17

Unlike most steroid-based hormones, how will protein hormones typically work?

Accepted Answer

Protein hormones typically cannot cross the plasma membrane of target cells because they are hydrophilic. Therefore, they bind to receptors on the surface of target cells to initiate intracellular signaling cascades.

Question 18

You are a famous endocrinologist and are presented with a case in which a genetically determined male (XY) exhibits secondary female characteristics, including breast development and lack of facial hair growth. What may you hypothesize about this patient?

Accepted Answer

Since the patient is identified as a genetically determined male with secondary female characteristics, one possible reason could be the lack of receptors for the male hormone testosterone. This condition is known as androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) which occurs due to mutations in the androgen receptor gene leading to partial or complete insensitivity to androgens, including testosterone.

Question 19

Why do sex hormones and other steroids take much longer to produce their effects than nonsteroid hormones do?

Accepted Answer

Steroids cause target cells to make new proteins, which takes time. Nonsteroid hormones, such as adrenaline, work by activating existing enzymes or ion channels, whereas steroids must influence gene expression and protein synthesis in order to produce their effects. This process takes longer, which is why the effects of steroids are not seen immediately.

Question 20

The lack of which hormone would cause an adult man to exhibit a low sperm count and possibly be infertile?

Accepted Answer

FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) plays a crucial role in the development of sperms in men. Low levels of FSH can lead to a low sperm count, poor sperm motility, and viability. This can ultimately lead to infertility in men.

Quiz 21: Human Sex Differences: Endocrine, Skeletal, and Muscular Systems