ENDOCRINE SYSTEM EXHIBITION STATIONS

Station 1) Functions Station 2) Hormones

The endocrine system is a series of glands that release
hormones into the bloodstream to help control your
organs.
You need your endocrine system to maintain
homeostasis, growth and reproduce.
The hormones are used to regulate:
✔ Metabolism
The chemicals produced by glands are
called hormones.
Hormones are specific to certain “target
tissues” or cells.
How can a hormone influence certain cells?
The hormones are able to influence the cells
of the target tissue by attaching to specific
receptors found on the plasma membrane or

✔ Growth and Development nuclei.

✔ Sexual function
✔ Sleep
✔ Mood
✔ Stress
✔ Response to Injury
Explain what’s happening in the diagram
below:

Hormone easily diffuse into cell

membrane. Hormone binds to
receptor protein. Hormone-receptor
protein complex enters the nucleus
binding to target
Vanessa geneRoots
Jason Biology on the DNA.
Transcription of gene creates mRNA
that is translated into desired
protein into cytoplasm.

Station 3) The Four Main Parts of the Endocrine System are

as follows:

1. Glands 3. Bloodstream
2. Hormones 4. Receptors

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 ENDOCRINE SYSTEM EXHIBITION STATIONS
Station 4) ENDOCRINE SYSTEM ANALOGY Read through station 4 and determine which part
of the analogy (text message, radio waves, cell phone) represents which part of the endocrine
system: hormones, bloodstream, receptor/ target cell

Text message you Cell phone (device where

want to send Radio waves signal is received)

Hormones Bloodstream Target Cell

Each part of the endocrine system works together to communicate a need or occurrence so that your
body can react appropriately to maintain homeostasis. This involves a series of messages or signals.

Station 5 GLANDS and Station 6 ORGANS = glands

= organs
Pineal
PINEALGland
GLAND

Vanessa Jason Biology Roots Thalamus

PITUITARY GLAND

Pituitary
PITUITARY Gland
GLAND

Thyroid Gland
THYROID GLAND

Thymus
THYMUS

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ADRENAL GLANDS
Adrenal Gland

Kidneys
Pancreas
PANCREAS

Uterus The endocrine system

contains many glands,
Ovaries (female) but also relies on organs
that have a secondary
Testes (male) endocrine function.

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 Station 7) Examples of Hormones
The effects of hormones can be slow and long lasting. It could take several minutes or even several
several days for a cell to fully respond to a hormone.

Gland/Organ Hormone Function Location of gland

Produced (info is found at station 5)

Epinephrine Helps body regulate stress. Kidneys

Adrenal glands
Norepinephrine

Pineal gland Melatonin Regulates sleep-wake cycles. Thalamus (brain)

Thyroid Thyroxine Regulates metabolism. Thyroid (throat)

Insulin Regulates blood sugar. Pancreas

Pancreas
(abdomen)
Estrogen Estrogen assists with the Uterus (pelvic)
development of eggs and
development of female sex
Ovary characteristics.
Progesterone Progesterone prepares the uterus
for a fertilized egg.

Responsible for sperm production Pelvic

Testis Testosterone and development of male sex
characteristics

Station 8) Hormone Action

Two general groups of hormones: steroid hormones and amino acid hormones.

Steroid Hormone Amino Acid Hormone

What is the hormone made Lipids Proteins or modified amino acids
out of?

Can it pass through the cell Can pass through the cell Cannot generally pass through
membrane? (Y/N) membrane easily the cell membrane

Where is receptor located? Passes straight through into Amino acid hormones must bind
cytoplasm inside cell and to receptor outside cell on
can travel to nucleus from plasma membrane
there

Does it rely on secondary No. Binds to protein specific
messengers? (Y/N) to its target cell and initiates
RNA to transcribe specific
genes.
Yes. Series of reactions cause
secondary messengers to
deliver hormone’s message
inside cell until protein is
activated.

Can affect genes and Yes. Affects gene expression Yes. This protein can alter the
produce
Vanessa dramatic
Jason Biology changes
Roots www.biology-roots.com and can produce dramatic cell’s activity.
 Station 8) Hormone Action Continued

Determine which type of hormone

(steroid or amino acid) is being
Diagram (see station) depicted in the diagram. Explain why
(writing “because the diagram said so
is not a valid answer”).

Amino Acid Hormone:

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● hormone must bind with a
RECEPTOR outside of cell in
cytoplasm
● enters nucleus and transcribed
A mRNA is translated into proteins
that ALTER CELL ACTIVITY

Steroid Hormone:

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B

Station 9) Hypothalamus – Label

Main function= maintain

Thalamus
homeostasis in the
body

Hypothalamus

Pituitary

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 Station 10) Pituitary Gland Station 11) Anterior and posterior parts
of the pituitary
The pituitary gland is the master
endocrine gland — it controls the other Front part of pituitary= anterior
endocrine glands (and it’s only the size Back part of pituitary = posterior
of a bean!)
Posterior pituitary is a projection of the hypothalamus; it
The hypothalamus and pituitary are DOES NOT make its own hormones, but it does store and
connected by nerves and blood secrete hormones created by the hypothalamus.
vessels.

When the hypothalamus sends a

message to the pituitary, it releases its
own hormones or stimulates other
glands to release theirs.

Anterior pituitary
Station 12) Hormones Produced
Posterior pituitary
by the Pituitary Gland
Pituitary Hormone Secreted Effect
Antidiuretic (ADH) Stimulates the kidneys to reabsorb
Vanessa Jason Biology Roots water.
Posterior
pituitary
Oxytocin Simulations contractions of the uterus
during childbirth; stimulates the
release of milk
Follicle stimulating hormone Stimulates the production of eggs and
(FSH) sperm.

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Luteinizing hormone Stimulates cells to make estrogen and
testosterone.
Anterior
pituitary Thyroid stimulating hormone Stimulates the production of thyroxine
(TSH) from thyroid gland.
Adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) Stimulates the release of hormones
from the adrenal cortex, including
cortisol.
Growth hormone (GH) Stimulates protein synthesis and
growth in cells
Prolactin Stimulates milk production in nursing
mothers
Melanocyte stimulating Stimulates melanocytes to produce
hormone (MSH)
Vanessa Jason Biology Roots www.biology-roots.com melanin (skin pigment)
 Station 13) Hypothalamus and Pituitary Together
Role of the hypothalamus: Links nervous system (brain) to endocrine system (pituitary) through
pituitary gland — communicates to make sure the body is getting what it needs.
How hypothalamus helps achieve homeostasis: If the body is not getting what it needs, it turns on
hormone secretion, or turns off hormone secretion to help the body achieve homeostasis.

Station 14) Control of the Endocrine Station 15) Feedback Analogy:

The endocrine system is regulated by feedback mechanisms Explain how a feedback mechanism
that function to maintain homeostasis. is like a thermostat:
SIMPLIFIED IDEA OF A FEEDBACK MECHANISM:
If you set it to a certain temperature,
Is everything ok?
it communicates with your heating
system to turn on (sends an electrical
No signal that turns the heater on). Once
Yes the set temperature is reached, the
heating system is turned off
Turn ON hormone temporarily.
Hormone secretion - this
No
secretion
action OR creates a message that What would the “homeostasis” be
is turned a change needs to be
required in this analogy? (Hint: look at the
OFF made.
temperature on the thermostat).
Set temperature
Hormone delivers message
Problem
to target cells.
is fixed ✔

Cells receive messages and Station 17) Illegal Use of HGH

help to fix the problem.
What makes hGH “illegal”?
Taking hGH without a prescription
Station 16) Negative Feedback Control
is what makes it illegal.
Problem Detected: low blood sugar
Why is this problem occurring? As body grows, cells are When is hGH prescribed?
actively using more energy (low glucose levels). Synthetic hGH may be prescribed
for those with severe growth
What does your body do to help “fix” the problem? Signals
problems
the hypothalamus to stimulate pituitary gland to release hGH.
How does this fix the problem? hGH (human growth Why is it prohibited in sports
hormone) stimulates liver to convert glycogen into glucose organizations?
faster, releasing into blood and increasing blood sugar. Because it may give athletes an
advantage over others (plays a role
What is the hypothalamus’ role in this feedback loop? _____
in bone and muscle growth but
__________________________________________________
also metabolism)
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Station 18) Negative Feedback Control: Insulin
Problem Detected: too high/low blood sugar
If blood sugar is low, the pancreas releases a
hormone called glucagon (binds to liver cell receptors
and releases glycogen as glucose). If blood sugar is
high, the pancreas can release insulin, which targets
liver and muscle cells to take in glucose, thus lowering
blood sugar.
Name one other way the body may react to low blood
sugar: Pituitary releases hGH, stimulating liver to
release glycogen as glucose, increasing blood sugar.
Station 20) Adrenal Hormones
Where are the adrenal glands located? on the kidneys
When is adrenaline released? stressful times (sports
competitions or fighting off disease)
What are adrenaline’s target tissues? vital organs such
as the liver and heart (increases heart rate and BP;
breathing rate, faster muscle contractions/movement,
blood sugar levels)
When do you think it might be important for your
body to use adrenaline? times of stress or danger
(fight or flight and survival)
Station 22) Metabolism
Thyroxine is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland
that helps regulate metabolism.
How? Stimulating cells to become more active and
create more energy (your metabolism!).
Low thyroxine causes the hypothalamus to release
thyroid releasing hormone (TRH), 🡪 which stimulates
the pituitary to release thyroid stimulating hormone
(TSH); 🡪this stimulates the thyroid to make more
thyroxine; 🡪 the hypothalamus senses this and stops
secreting TRH.
Station 19) Feedback Mechanism: Water
Balance
Why do you sweat during exercise? Temp
increases, sweat mechanism to cool down. .
How might sweating negatively affect your
body? Losing water (blood water levels
decrease / dehydration) .
What does the hypothalamus do if you are
dehydrated? Senses → stimulates pituitary
to release ADH (antidiuretic hormone).
Hormone = antidiuretic (ADH)
Target = kidneys
What does the antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
do? Binds to receptors on kidneys and
causes to retain water instead of releasing it
as waste (makes you feel thirsty to replenish
any lost water).
Does the body continuously release ADH?
Why or why not? No. As the water in the
blood reaches a more normal state, the
hypothalamus stops the pituitary from
making more ADH (not wasting energy).
Station 21) Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped
gland located above the base of the throat.
How does the pituitary control the thyroid
gland? Creates TSH (thyroid stimulating
hormone) and stimulates the thyroid.
HORMONES SECRETED BY THE THYROID:
• Metabolism is controlled by T4 .
• Growth and development, metabolism
and heart rate is controlled by T3.
• Calcium levels are controlled by
calcitonin.
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Station 23 ) Hypothyroidism Station 24 ) Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism= underactive thyroid. Symptoms Hyperthyroidism= overactive thyroid. Symptoms
include slow metabolism, and a sluggish feeling, include weight loss, heart rate ↗, warm skin,
leading to weight gain. irritability tremors, restlessness .

Leading cause= Iodine deficiency. Causes= include an autoimmune disease called

Eating foods high in iodine, such as seafood, eggs, Graves disease, hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules
and raw dairy products can reverse (secretes their own thyroid hormones) thyroiditis
hypothyroidism. or cancer.

*Nodules are common and most are harmless.

Station 25) Parathyroid

Parathyroid glands are tiny glands located on the thyroid, each about the size of a grain of rice. They
produce the parathyroid hormone (PTH), which raises calcium levels in the blood.
Calcium is needed for your bones, heart, kidneys, and nervous system.

Hypothalamus senses low calcium levels 🡪 stimulates parathyroid glands to produce PTH 🡪 PTH causes
calcium to be released from places it’s stored in the body: the kidneys and bones 🡪 Calcium is released
into the blood in what is known as reabsorption.
*What do you think the hypothalamus does (or does not do) from this point? _______________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
.

Station 26) Diabetes

Diabetes is characterized as high blood sugar levels known as hyperglycemia

Typically, when blood sugar is too high, the pancreas secretes insulin, which lowers the amount of sugar
in the blood.

Type 1 Diabetes- pancreas does not produce insulin as it should due to a defect that causes the body’s
immune system to attack the insulin producing cells of the pancreas.
Treatment includes insulin injections or other medication.

Type II Diabetes- typically genetic or related to obesity. Muscles and organs have an insulin resistance;
they do not react to insulin in order to lower the blood sugar levels.
Treatment: Diet, exercise, and medications.
.
Station 27) Endocrinologist Name 5 things that an endocrinologist may be able to help treat:

Short stature, late puberty, gigantism, hyper/hypothyroidism, diabetes, reproductive issues

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