HDF 371 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Pituitary Gland, Kisspeptin, Adrenarche
18 May 2018
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Chapter 1: Biological Transitions
Puberty: An Overview
Endocrine system – the system of the body that produces, circulates, and regulates hormones.
Hormones – highly specialized substances secreted by one or more endocrine glands.
Glands – organs that stimulate particular parts of the body to respond in specific ways to
particular hormones.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons – specialized neurons that are activated by
certain pubertal hormones.
Set point – a physiological level or setting (e.g., of a specific hormone) that the body attempts
to maintain through a self-regulating system.
Feedback loop – a cycle through which two or more bodily functions respond to and regulate
each other, such as that formed by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the gonads.
Pituitary gland – one of the chief glands responsible for regulating levels of hormones in the
body.
Hypothalamus – a part of the brain that controls the functioning of the pituitary gland.
Gonads – the glands that secrete sex hormones: in males, the testes, in females, the ovaries.
Androgens – a class of sex hormones secreted by the gonads, founds in both sexes, but in
higher levels among males than females following puberty.
Estrogens – a class of sex hormones secreted by the gonads, found in both sexes, but in higher
levels among females than males following puberty.
HPG (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal) axis – the neuro-physical pathway that involves the
hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the gonads.
Adrenarche – the maturation of the adrenal glands that takes place during adolescence.
Cortisol – a hormone produced when a person is exposed to stress.
Kisspeptin – a brain chemical believed to trigger the onset of puberty
Leptin – a protein produced by the fat cells that may play a role in the onset of puberty through
its impact on kisspeptin.
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Document Summary
Endocrine system the system of the body that produces, circulates, and regulates hormones. Hormones highly specialized substances secreted by one or more endocrine glands. Glands organs that stimulate particular parts of the body to respond in specific ways to particular hormones. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gnrh) neurons specialized neurons that are activated by certain pubertal hormones. Set point a physiological level or setting (e. g. , of a specific hormone) that the body attempts to maintain through a self-regulating system. Feedback loop a cycle through which two or more bodily functions respond to and regulate each other, such as that formed by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the gonads. Pituitary gland one of the chief glands responsible for regulating levels of hormones in the body. Hypothalamus a part of the brain that controls the functioning of the pituitary gland. Gonads the glands that secrete sex hormones: in males, the testes, in females, the ovaries.
