What disease is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S.?
diabetes mellitus
Benign tumors of what structure cause problems with vision and are commonly discovered first by optometrists?
pituitary gland
Manipulation of the function of what structure can treat sleep disorders through changes in hormone levels?
pineal gland
Manipulation of the function of what structure is used as birth control?
ovaries
What are glands which secrete their product onto an epithelial surface either directly or through a duct?
exocrine glands
What are ductless glands whose products are secreted directly into the blood?
endocrine glands
What are regulatory chemicals secreted directly into the blood by the ductless glands and carried to target cells that respond by an alteration of their metabolism?
hormones
What characteristic of endocrine glands ensures that their products enter the bloodstream immediately?
they are highly vascular
What is the study of the endocrine system?
endocrinology
What is the master control center of the endocrine system?
hypothalamus
What is a synonym for pituitary gland?
hypophysis
Where is the pituitary gland located?
hypophyseal fossa of the sella turcica
The pituitary gland is connected to what part of the brain?
hypothalamus
What structure connects the pituitary gland to the brain?
infundibulum
What portion of the pituitary is a true endocrine gland in that it produces hormones and releases them into the bloodstream?
anterior pituitary
What part of the brain controls the function of the pituitary gland?
hypothalamus
What is a portal system?
two capillary plexuses interconnected by a portal vein
Why do some authors not consider the posterior pituitary to be an endocrine gland?
it stores but does not make hormones
What hormones are stored in the posterior pituitary?
antidiuretic hormone & oxytocin
What are the three gross anatomical components of the thyroid gland?
left & right lobes and isthmus
What microscopic, spherical structures make up the thyroid gland?
thyroid follicles
What hormone is produced by the follicles of the thyroid gland?
thyroid hormone
What cells lie between the follicles of the thyroid gland?
parafollicular cells
What hormone is produced by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland?
calcitonin
Where are the parathyroid glands located?
posterior surface of the thyroid gland
How many parathyroid glands are there?
4
What hormone is produced by the parathyroid glands?
parathyroid hormone
How many adrenal glands are there?
2
Where are the adrenal glands located?
superior surface of each kidney
Whar are the two parts of the adrenal glands?
adrenal cortex & adrenal medulla
The adrenal cortex produces what group of hormones?
cortocosteroids
The adrenal medulla is a part of what portion of the nervous system?
sympathetic division of the ANS
The adrenal medulla produces what hormones?
adrenal & nopinephrine
What is a heterocrine gland?
performs both endocrine & exocrine activities
What are the heterocrine glands of the body?
gonads
What are the clusters of endocrine cells of the pancreas?
pancreatic islets
The pancreas produces what hormones to regulate blood glucose levels?
glucagon & insulin
Where is the pineal gland located?
posterior region of the epithalamus
What hormone does the pineal gland produce?
melatonin
Where is the thymus located?
within the medistinum
What is the function of the thymus?
cell-mediated immunity
What type of vascular system contains two capillary plexuses interconnected by a vein?
portal system
What endocrine gland has lateral lobes located on either side of the trachea and larynx and an isthmus anterior to the trachea immediately inferior to the larynx?
thyroid gland
What endocrine glands lies on the superior surface of each kidney?
adrenal glands
What endocrine gland functions in cell-mediated immunity?