Biology

336Human Physiology
Problem Set 2:
Endocrinology

This problem set is composed of 29 short answer and multiple-choice questions covering material from the
endocrinology section.

Please try answering all of the questions before attending tutorial/SI sessions (to be announced on Blackboard).
The TAs will review any questions youre having trouble with and answer questions on these and other topics.

**Please, DO NOT ask the TAs for an answer key. They have been instructed to not passively hand out the
answers. The answer keys WILL NOT be posted on Blackboard nor will they be emailed to you. **

Once you have attempted the problem set, you can also ask questions in office hours. GOOD LUCK!

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2)









3)

What are the three major chemical classes that endocrine hormones fall into? Define each.

What is the difference between signals sent from the endocrine system in comparison to nervous
system signals? Why are these differences significant to each of their respective tasks and
functions?

What is the difference between the receptor locations for peptide hormones and steroid/thyroid
hormones? What specific characteristic of these hormones accounts for this difference in
location?

4)

5)

6)

If steroid hormones must be bound to protein carriers to travel through the blood, how are they
able to bind to intracellular receptors? (The protein carriers cannot diffuse through the
membrane.) Please explain your answer and draw a picture to illustrate this process.

Pancreatic -cells are the first target cells reached by Insulin following secretion by pancreatic -
cells in response to high blood glucose levels. Binding of Insulin to receptors on the -cells
reduces the -cell secretion of Glucagon.

What kind of signaling molecule is Insulin in the example above?
A)
a paracrine signal.
B)
an endocrine signal.
C)
an autocrine signal.
D)
a neuronal signal.
E)
an intracellular signal.
Which of the following statements does NOT apply to hormones?
A)
Hormones are chemical signals that travel from one organ to another via the
bloodstream.
B)
In some cases, the same chemical substances can also function as local regulators and/or
neurotransmitters.
C)
All hormones are derived from cholesterol.
D)
Hormones are secreted into the blood by ductless glands.
E)
Some hormones are secreted by neural tissue.

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8)

9)

10)

11)





12)

13)

Catecholamines belong to which chemical class of hormones?

A)
Pancreatic hormones
B)
Steroid hormones
C)
Peptide and protein hormones
D)
Amine hormones
E)
Hydrophobic hormones
Hormones that produce genomic effects elicit a __________ response compared to hormones
that acting through signal transduction pathways.
A)
faster
B)
slower
C)
equal
Cholesterol is a precursor for the synthesis of:
A)
cortisol.
B)
aldosterone.
C)
estradiol.
D)
two of the above
E)
all of the above

Which of the following statements about steroid hormones is CORRECT?
A)
Steroid hormones generally are peptides.
B)
Steroid hormones always bind to cell surface receptors.
C)
Act directly an adenylyl cyclase to regulate cAMP production.
D)
Steroid hormones are synthesized from cholesterol.
E)
Activate the Mitogen Activated Protein (MAP) Kinase pathway that results in the
regulation of various transcription factors.

Which of the following statements regarding steroid hormones is FALSE? Steroid hormones:
A)
are polar molecules.
B)
include Insulin and the sex hormones Testosterone and Progesterone.
C)
directly activate phospholipase C.
D)
are ligands for the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR).
E)
All of the above.
Once a steroid hormone is synthesized, it is ________.
A)
immediately capable of diffusing across the membrane
B)
stored in a vesicle until released
C)
bound to albumin until released from the cell
D)
stored in a unique protein structure that maintains steroids in the cell
E)
bound to the mitochondria until released
Once a peptide hormone is synthesized, it is ________.
A)
immediately capable of diffusing across the membrane
B)
stored in a vesicle until released
C)
bound to albumin until released from the cell
D)
bound to the mitochondria until released
E)
destroyed by the lysosomes


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16)

17)

18)

The adrenal cortex produces only:

A)
steroid hormones
B)
amine hormones
C)
catecholamine hormones
D)
peptide hormones
E)
glycoprotein hormones
The hypothalamus is connected to the anterior pituitary by:
A)
axon projections from hypothalamic neuronal cells.
B)
short blood vessels.
C)
sinuses.
D)
long bundles of protein.
E)
Both A and B.
Consider the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). What do the numbers
3 and 4 refer to?
A)
The relative half-life of the hormones (3 or 4 hours).
B)
The number of tyrosine molecules linked together to form the hormones.
C)
The number of Iodines found in each hormone.
D)
The number of enzymes required for synthesis of each hormone.
E)
None of the above.

What is the definition of a prohormone?
A)
A longer protein or peptide that is cleaved into shorter ones, at least one of which is a
protein hormone.
B)
Hormones that bind to endocrine glands and stimulate the secretion of a second
hormone.
C)
Hormones that bind to endocrine glands and inhibit the secretion of a second hormone.
D)
Hormones that stimulate the expression of receptors for a second hormone, promoting
the action of the second hormone.
E)
Steroid hormones that are inactivated by having hydroxyl-groups removed from their
structure.

A chemical is called a neurohormone when it is:
A)
released by a neuron, but travels in the blood like a hormone.
B)
released by an endocrine gland, but binds to receptors of a neuron.
C)
released by neurons and endocrine glands.
D)
known to be involved in communication, but scientists have not yet decided which system
uses it.
E)
None of the above.

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21)

22)

Which of the following approaches should be taken to stimulate steroid hormone synthesis and
secretion in adrenal cortical cells lacking normal levels of Protein Kinase A (PKA) expression?
A)
Increasing the activity of Cholesterol esterase in the adrenal cortical cells.
B)
Increasing the activity of Adenylyl cyclase in the adrenal cortical cells.
C)
Increasing the secretion of Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior
pituitary gland.
D)
Increasing the expression of Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Receptors by the adrenal
cortical cells.
E)
Inhibiting the activity of Adenylyl cyclase in the adrenal cortical cells.
Which of the following is an example of permissiveness?
A)
Glucagon increases blood glucose levels and Insulin decreases blood glucose levels.
B)
Glucagon, Epinephrine, and Cortisol all increase blood glucose levels.
C)
Estrogen stimulates the synthesis of Progesterone receptors.
D)
All of the above.
E)
None of the above.
Which of the following statements is an accurate description of the structure and function of the
posterior pituitary? The posterior pituitary is:
A)
an endocrine gland that secretes Vasopressin and Prolactin.
B)
a collection of axonal projections from the hypothalamus that is stimulated to secrete
Oxytocin and Vasopressin by hypophysiotropic hormones.
C)
a collection of axonal projections from the hypothalamus that secrete Vasopressin and
Oxytocin into the blood.
D)
an endocrine gland that releases Oxytocin and Somatostatin when action potentials arrive
along axons from the hypothalamus.
E)
a collection of axonal projections that secrete hypophysiotropic hormones to control the
secretion of the anterior pituitary hormones.
Which of the following statements describes an endocrine disorder involving the secondary
hypersecretion of hormone X?
A)
A growing tumor secretes hormone Y that stimulates the gland that secretes hormone X.
B)
Cells of a growing tumor manufacture hormone X in unregulated fashion.
C)
Negative feedback from a tumor that hypersecretes hormone Z inhibits the gland that
secretes hormone X.
D)
Hormone X is secreted by a growing tumor in the anterior pituitary gland.
E)
Hormone X is secreted in unregulated fashion by a tumor growing in a tissue that does not
normally secrete hormone X.

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24)

25)

Josh is a mixed martial arts fighter. In a recent match he was crescent kicked in the head and
briefly lost consciousness. Now, a month later, he has come to your clinic complaining of nausea,
vomiting, weakness, and fatigue. Your clinical exam establishes that he is experiencing
hypoglycemia, though blood pressure and coloration of the skin are normal. What is your
preliminary diagnosis given his symptoms and injury?
A)
Primary hypocortisolism
B)
Secondary hypocortisolism
C)
Tertiary hypercortisolism
D)
Primary hypercortisolism
E)
Secondary hypercortisolism
To confirm your diagnosis in Question # 23 above, you order a blood panel examining hormone
levels. What would you expect given the patients symptoms and injury?
A)
CRH ACTH Cortisol
B)
CRH ACTH Cortisol
C)
CRH ACTH Cortisol
D)
CRH ACTH Cortisol
E)
CRH ACTH Cortisol
How would you recommend treating Josh, the patient in Question # 23 above?
A)
Surgical removal of the pituitary gland
B)
Prescription of cortisol injections
C)
Surgical removal of a portion of the adrenal cortex
D)
Discontinuance of steroidal anti-inflammatories
E)
Prescription of insulin injections



26) The parathyroid glands are a collection
of 4 small glands located on the rear surface of
the thyroid gland in the neck.
A protein hormone, appropriately named,
Parathyroid hormone (PTH), produced by the
parathyroid glands acts to increase plasma Ca2+
concentration.

A) Draw a figure illustrating the normal sequence of events involved in the synthesis, processing,
and secretion of the protein hormone, Parathyroid hormone.

B) Compare the figure you drew in (A) to the synthesis, processing, and secretion of the steroid
hormone, Cortisol. What are the similarities and differences between the two pathways?

C) A familial form of hypoparathyroidism is caused by a single point mutation in the gene encoding
the Preproparathyroid hormone. As a consequence of this point mutation, the signal sequence
cannot be cleaved from the prepro-form of the mutant hormone. What effect(s) might this
mutation have on the synthesis, processing, and secretion of the Parathyroid hormone?

27)

Compare permissiveness, additive effects, synergism, and antagonism as they relate to hormone
interactions.

28)

Compare the primary hypersecretion of cortisol to secondary hypersecretion in response to

changes in CRH levels. Describe the changes in blood levels of CRH, ACTH, and cortisol that are
observed with each.

29)

Explain how cortisol suppresses the immune system, and why this is sometimes a useful therapy.
What are some negative side effects of cortisol therapy? Why do doctors prescribe cortisol in
doses that taper off at the end of the therapy period? Why do doctors sometimes prefer to
prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)?

30) Supplementary activitiesphysiology crosswords. Crossword activities are an excellent way to

refresh your memory and actively recall terms and concepts for each section. Though not every term
might have been used in class, this is material youll need to know on standardized tests, and in
professional and graduate school. When you have a spare moment, give them a try. They will help you
on your physiology exams in this course and beyond.