Endocrine glands and signaling
Mon, Apr 5, 2027 · Week 12 · Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human Body Systems)
Today's goal: Students will map the major endocrine glands and the hormones they secrete using teacher notes and the PLTW online task.
What a finished product looks like
This is a model of the work you should turn in today. Use it to check your own: match the structure and the level of detail, do not copy it. Your data and wording should be your own.
Annotated glands and primary hormones:
- Pituitary: growth hormone (also signals other glands).
- Thyroid: thyroid hormone (sets metabolic rate).
- Pancreas: insulin (and glucagon) for blood sugar.
- Adrenal glands: adrenaline (the stress response).
Vocabulary in my own words:
- Hormone: a chemical messenger that travels in the blood to change how a distant organ works.
- Target cell: the specific cell a hormone is meant to affect.
- Receptor: the matching dock on a target cell that the hormone binds to; without the right receptor, the hormone has no effect on that cell.
My lingering question: how does one gland (the pituitary) control several others at once?
| Gland | Primary hormone | Main job |
|---|---|---|
| Pituitary | Growth hormone | Growth, signals other glands |
| Thyroid | Thyroid hormone | Sets metabolic rate |
| Pancreas | Insulin | Lowers blood glucose |
| Adrenal | Adrenaline | Stress response |
Also due today: Submit your annotated diagram to the Schoology assignment for HBS Endocrine Day 2.
WebXam problem for today's skill
One exam-style question that uses exactly what you practiced today. Try it before you reveal the answer, then read why each choice is right or wrong.
Tap an answer to see the full explanation. Nothing is recorded or graded.