Subject: Biology

TEACHER: Ms. R. Doyle

COURSE: 5th/6th Year
ACADEMIC LEVEL: Higher
ACADEMIC YEAR: 22/23

TOPIC: The Endocrine System

 CONTENTS

Contents
Definitions ......................................................................................................... 4
Hormones .......................................................................................................... 5
Types of glands .................................................................................................. 5
Endocrine glands and their functions ................................................................ 5
Pituitary Gland - main endocrine gland ............................................................. 6
Deficiency disorders .......................................................................................... 8
Uses of hormones .............................................................................................. 8
Feedback Mechanism ........................................................................................ 8
Revision Questions .......................................................................................... 10
Exam Paper Questions ..................................................................................... 11

NAME. SUBJECT. CYCLE. YEAR.

Definitions:
• Hormone: protein that carries chemical messages around the human body dissolved in
blood

• Exocrine: ducted glands, tubes carry products secreted by glands e.g.; kidney, sweat gland
• Endocrine: ductless glands, secrete hormones into blood

• Feedback mechanism: when one hormone controls the level of itself or another hormone in
the blood or the amount produced a gland

• Positive feedback mechanism: production of one hormone increases the production of a

second hormone by a gland e.g. High levels of TSH increase the production of thyroxine by
the thyroid

• Negative feedback mechanism: the production of the second hormone (thyroxine) results in
a decrease of the first hormone (TSH) by a gland (pituitary) e.g.; high levels of thyroxine now
cause a decrease in TSH in the pituitary gland

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Endocrine glands produce hormones.

Hormones are:
• Made of proteins
• Carry chemicals messages
• Made by endocrine glands
• Transported around the human body in the blood to the target area
• Produced in one area; act in another area
• Slow response time
• General Target Area
• Long lasting effect
• Similar to growth regulators in plants

Types of glands
• Exocrine: ducted glands, tubes carry products secreted by glands e.g.; kidney, sweat gland
• Endocrine: ductless glands, secrete hormones into blood

Endocrine glands and their functions

(with the exception of the actual pancreas and kidney)

Gland Location Hormone Function

Thyroid Throat Thyroxine Controls metabolic
rate, growth and
development
Thymus Thoracic Cavity Thymosin Maturing of
lymphocytes
Islets of Langerhans Pancreas (endocrine) Insulin Regulates sugar levels
in cells in blood
Pancreas (exocrine) Pancreas (exocrine) Pancreatic juices Digestion of food
(lipase, amylase)
Kidney (exocrine) Pelvic Cavity
Adrenal Abdominal Adrenaline Fight or flight
Ovary Pelvic region Oestrogen Develop sexual
characteristics
Development of the
endometrium
Progesterone Maintenance of the
endometrium
Testis Outside body Testosterone Develop male sexual
characteristics

Uterine tissue (placenta) is an example of an endocrine gland from week 12 of pregnancy as it

produces progesterone to maintain the endometrium during pregnancy.

N.B. Pancreas is dual function and acts as both an endocrine (islets of Langerhans- insulin) and an
exocrine (pancreas- lipase, amylase) gland. (Common Q- know what each type produces)

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Pituitary Gland - main endocrine gland
Gland Location Hormone Function
Pituitary Brain FSH Stimulate egg and
(follicle stimulating sperm formation
hormone)
LH Ovulation (in female)
(luteinising hormone)
Oxytocin Stimulates contraction
in birth
Prolactin Stimulates milk
production
TSH Stimulates thyroid to
(thyroid stimulating produce thyroxine
hormone)
ADH Regulates
(anti diuretic reabsorption of water
hormone) in kidney

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Deficiency disorders
Disorder Symptoms Causes Treatment
Hypothyroidism Tiredness, lack of Not enough thyroxine Thyroxine tablets
(underactive) energy, weight gain, produced
cold, dry brittle skin
Hyperthyroidism Weight loss, sweating, Over production of Radioactive treatment
(overactive) swollen neck thyroxine or remove part of
thyroid
Diabetes Excessive thirst, Not enough insulin Insulin injections and
weight loss, tiredness, produced controlled
high blood sugar carbohydrate intake

Uses of hormones:
• Contraceptive pill- oestrogen or progesterone
• HRT- oestrogen and progesterone
• Treatment of hormonal deficiencies- thyroxine tablets for underactive thyroid
• Sex change- hormone depending on gender change
• Anabolic Steroids
o artificial male hormone testosterone
o Promote muscular growth
o Unfair advantage
o Can lead to kidney, liver and heart damage
o Male traits in females
o Banned in EU

Again make sure to know the differences between nerves and hormones (done out on nervous
system notes)

Feedback Mechanism
Feedback mechanism: when one hormone controls the level of itself or another hormone in the
blood or the amount produced a gland

Positive feedback mechanism: production of one hormone increases the production of a second
hormone by a gland e.g. High levels of TSH increase the production of thyroxine by the thyroid

Negative feedback mechanism: the production of the second hormone (thyroxine) results in a
decrease of the first hormone (TSH) by a gland (pituitary) e.g.; high levels of thyroxine now cause a
decrease in TSH in the pituitary gland

Example: TSH and the thyroid. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH-produced on the pituitary
gland) controls the quantity of thyroxine produced by the thyroid. High levels of TSH send a
message in the blood to the thyroid to increase the production of thyroxine. This is the positive
feedback mechanism. As a result of this high level of thyroxine this sends a message back to the
pituitary to stop the production of TSH. This is known as a negative feedback mechanism

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Revision Questions
1. State two ways in which the endocrine system differs from the nervous system
2. How are hormones released from endocrine glands?
3. Glands can be divided into two categories; endocrine and exocrine glands. Explain the
underline terms
4. The pancreas (islets of Langerhans) is considered to be both an endocrine and exocrine
gland. Name a product released from both the exocrine and endocrine part of the gland
5. What are hormones
6. Name the gland found in the pancreas
7. Name a deficiency disease of the endocrine system and the gland associated with the
deficiency disease
8. For the deficiency disease named above state the 1. Cause, 2. Symptoms, 3. Treatment, 4,
prevention
9. What is the role of the feedback mechanism in the endocrine system?
10. Explain the term positive feedback mechanism
11. Explain the term negative feedback mechanism
12. Using a named hormone as an example, explain how it contributes to the feedback
mechanism
13. State two commercial uses of hormones
14. What are steroids and state one reason for the concern associated with their consumption
15. State two symptoms are person might experience if they were to suffer from
hypothyroidism
16. State a method of treatment for a person suffering from hyperthyroidism
17. What is the role of insulin in the body?
18. Name the gland that produces TSH and what is the role of TSH in the body

19. Complete the following table

Gland Location Hormone Function

Thyroid Throat

Pancreas (endocrine) Insulin Regulates blood sugar

Islets of Langerhans Pancreas (exocrine) Digestion of food

Fight or flight

Ovary Pelvic region Develop sexual

characteristics
Testis Testosterone

Pituitary Controls reabsorption

of water

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Exam Paper Questions

2013 Q 10 (a) and (b)

10. (a) (i) What term is used for glands that secrete hormones?
__________________________________________________________________________________
(ii) How do these glands differ from those that do not secrete hormones?
__________________________________________________________________________________
(iii) Explain why the pancreas may be described as a dual-function gland.
__________________________________________________________________________________
(b) Answer the following by reference to hormones, other than sex hormones, which you have
encountered in the course of your studies.
(i) What is the chemical nature of many hormones? ________________________________________
(ii) In the case of each of two named hormones secreted in the human body state:
1. The precise location of the gland that secretes it.
1. ______________________ 2. ____________________
2. A function of the hormone.
1. _____________________ 2. ________________________
(iii) In the case of one of the hormones referred to in part (b) (ii):
1. Give a deficiency symptom. _________________________________________________________
2. Give a symptom of excess secretion. __________________________________________________
3. Give a corrective measure for either its deficiency or its excess, clearly stating which you have
chosen.
(iv) Explain why hormonal responses are slower than nervous responses.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2011 Q11 (c)

(i) What is a hormone?
________________________________________________________________________
(ii) State two ways in which hormones are similar to the group of substances referred to in
(b)(i). (plant regulators)
1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
(iii) 1. What is meant by feedback in relation to hormone action?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Give a brief account of the feedback mechanism for a named hormone.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
(iv) Describe one deficiency symptom of a named hormone.

Named Hormone __________________________________________

Deficiency Symptom _____________________________________________________________

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2010 Q11 (c)
(i) What term is used to describe the glands that secrete hormones in the human body?
_________________________________________________________________________________
(ii) 1. Name a hormone-producing gland in the human body. ________________________________
2. Where in the body is the gland located? _______________________________________________
3. Name a hormone that this gland secretes. _____________________________________________
4. State a role of this hormone. _______________________________________________________
5. Describe what happens if the body experiences a deficiency of this hormone.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
(ii) Give two examples of the use of hormone supplements.

1. ___________________________ 2. _____________________________________

2007 Q15 (b)

(i) Other than the secretion of hormones, how does an endocrine gland differ from an
exocrine gland?
Endocrine Gland ____________________________________________________
Exocrine Gland ______________________________________________________
(iii) State two ways in which hormone action differs from nerve action.
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
(iii) Copy the following table into your answer book and fill each of the empty boxes.

Endocrine Gland Location Hormone Role of Hormone

Pancreas Insulin
Thyroid Gland
Fight or Flight

(iv) In the case of a named hormone give:

1. a deficiency symptom, ____________________________________________________________
2. a corrective measure. ____________________________________________________________

2005 Q14 (c)

Answer the following questions in relation to systems of response to stimuli in the human body.
(i) The pancreas is both an exocrine gland and an endocrine gland. Explain the underlined
terms.
Exocrine ________________________________________________________________
Endocrine _______________________________________________________________
(ii) Name a product of the endocrine portion of the pancreas and state one of its functions.
___________________________________________________________________________
(iii) Name a disorder other than cancer for each of the following and indicate a possible cause
and a means of treatment:
1. Musculoskeletal system __________________________________________________

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