HTHSCI 1H06 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Signal Transduction, Pituitary Gland, Posterior Pituitary
29 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Broadcasts hormonal messages all over the body. Produces hormones in one area and then they wander around your body. Endocrine hormones last from minutes to days while neurotransmitters work from fractions of seconds to minutes. The onset of action of a hormone is seconds to minutes which is much slower than neurotransmitters that can take only milliseconds. Released by ductless glands throughout the body into the bloodstream. Many of the top drug prescriptions are for hormones. Produces huge amounts of endocrine substances; particularly sex steroids during pregnancy. Gigantism due to hypersecretion of growth hormone. Cushing"s syndrome due to hypersecretion of corisol (moon face) Diabetes can be due to low amounts of insulin or insensitivity to insulin. Hypothyroidism is often due to a low amount of circulating thyroid hormone and depending on the cause there may be a goiter. Goiter is likely due to low iodine in the diet.
