Week 5 Worksheet

1. Compare and contrast the three classes of hormones by completing the table below.

Polypeptide Steroid Amines

Water Solubility Soluble Insoluble Soluble
(catecholamines)/
Insoluble (thyroid)
Receptor Location Plasma Membrane Inside Cell Extracellular/Intracellular
Release From Cell Fast (in min.) Slow (hours or Catecholamines: Fast
days) Thyroid: Slow
Molecular Membrane Potential Transcription Catecholamines: 2nd
Mechanism of or Protein activity in Factors messengers, enzyme
Action cell activity
Thyroid: alter gene
transcription
Example Insulin Cortisol Dopamine

2. Complete the table below regarding the endocrine disorders covered in lecture.

Disorder Cause Symptoms

Growth Hormone Deficiency Variety; i.e. tumor in pituitary
Hypopituitarism
Hyperprolactinemia
Empty Sella Syndrome
Delayed growth and short
stature in children;
muscular weakness, fatigue,
decreased bone mass, and
obesity in adults
Variety of causes including Decrease in pituitary
tumors, trauma, decreased hormone production,
pituitary blood supply, fatigue, muscle weakness,
infection, sarcoidosis, an changes in body fat
autoimmune process, radiation, composition, lack of
surgical removal of the ambition, social isolation
pituitary, or side effect of
pituitary surgery
Pituitary tumor that prevents Galactorrhea, amenorrhea,
regulation of prolactin and decreased sex drive in
production men
sella, structure that surrounds Hypopituitarism,
the pituitary, increases in size headaches, high blood
and puts pressure on pituitary pressure, fatigue, low sex
and causes it to shrink drive, infertility
Hypothyroidism Low plasma concentrations of Fatigue, cold intolerance,
thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) constipation, dry skin,
weight gain, puffy face,
hoarseness, muscle
weakness
Hyperthyroidism High plasma concentrations of Unintentional weight loss,
thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) heat intolerance, rapid heart
beat, irregular heartbeat,
heart palpitations, increased
appetite, nervousness,
anxiety, and irritability
Glucocorticoid disease Adrenal insufficiency: plasma Hyperpigmentation, severe
(Addison’s disease) concentrations of cortisol are fatigue, weight loss,
chronically lower than normal gastrointestinal problems,
lightheadedness or fainting,
salt cravings, or muscle or
joint pains
Cushing’s Disease Excessive adrenal growth and Uncontrolled metabolism of
cortisol secretion; plasma bones, muscles, skin, and
concentrations of cortisol are other organs → bone
excessively higher than normal strength diminishes and can
lead to osteoporosis,
muscles weakening, skin
thins and easily bruises;
severe fatigue, depression,
cognitive difficulties, new
or worsened high blood
pressure, headaches,
infections, skin darkening
Gigantism Excess growth hormone and Very tall stature; well above
IGF-1 concentrations in the normal height, irregular
blood BEFORE puberty, menstrual cycle, excessive
caused by benign tumors of the perspiration with slight
anterior pituitary gland activity, delayed puberty,
double vision, deafness
Acromegaly Excess growth hormone and Enlarged bones and facial
IGF-1 concentrations in the features; bones in hands,
blood AFTER puberty, caused feet, and jaw grow,
by benign tumors of the excessive sweating and
anterior pituitary gland body odor, fatigue and joint
or muscle weakness, small
outgrowths of skin tissue,
coarse, oily, thickened skin,
pain and limited joint
mobility
Hypocalcemia Loss of parathyroid gland
function, vitamin D
inadequacy or resistance,
hypoparathyroidism, calcium
deficiency
Hypercalcemia Primary hyperparathyroidism,
overactive parathyroid glands,
excessive vitamin D, levels of
calcium in blood are
excessively higher than normal
Paresthesia, muscle spasms,
cramps, tetany, circumoral
numbness, seizures,
memory loss, scaly skin,
rough hair texture,
Tiredness, lethargy, muscle
weakness, nausea, and
vomiting, excessive thirst
and frequent urination, bone
pain

3. In what ways do the potentials of cardiac contractile cells differ from those of nodal
cells?

The potentials of cardiac contractile cells differ from those of nodal cells in that cardiac

contractile cells use Na+ for depolarization while nodal cells use both Na+ and Ca2+ for

depolarization, cardiac contractile cells generate force while nodal cells sets rhythm of heart,

cardiac contractile cells have a resting potential while nodal cells don’t, nodal cells have F-type

Na+ channels and T-type Ca2+ channels while cardiac contractile cells don’t, and cardiac

contractile cells have two types of K+ channels (delayed rectifier K+ channels and regular K+

channels) while nodal cells only have one type of K+ channels.