Endocrine System and Cortisol Essay

Endocrine System and Cortisol Essay Endocrine System and Cortisol Essay Husson University: Lisa Mazzarelli, Instructor Lab 1: Anatomy and Physiology Lab II Study Guide Endocrine System Anatomy and Physiology; Dissection Ex 3, pg. 721, and PhysioEx #4. 1 Introduction This week begins your study of the endocrine system. You will perform a dissection of a cat specimen to identify the major organs of the endocrine system. You will be using the same cat specimen for the duration of the semester, so it is important to start off on the right track. A good, clean, and careful first dissection will make the rest of them go much faster and easier! You will learn endocrine physiology through a PhysioEx simulation exercise. Note: Bring a laptop computer and the PhysioEx CD to lab. Recall from your study of the organ systems in the human body, the endocrine system works with the nervous system to coordinate the function of various physiological systems in the body in order to maintain homeostasis. The endocrine system consists of tissues and glands that secrete hormones. The major organs of the endocrine system are: Pineal gland, Hypothalamus, Pituitary gland, Thyroid gland, Parathyroid glands, Thymus, Adrenal glands, Pancreas, Ovaries, and Testes. Endocrine Anatomy: What to focus On Dissection Exercise 3: Endocrine Organs, page 721 You will be working in teams of 3. Sometimes it makes things easier to have one person cutting while another person assists with holding parts back or down, while the third person keeps relatively clean hands to page through and read the instructions or point out structures on the diagrams or pictures. It is advisable to alternate duties with each dissection exercise so that each member gets some practice with dissection, assisting , and reading directions. Activities 1 and 2.  Follow the instructions for opening the ventral body cavity of your cat specimen.  Identify the following endocrine organs on the cat: 1. Thyroid gland 2. Thymus 3. Pancreas 4. Adrenal glands 5. Gonads: Ovaries (female) or Testes (male): Make sure to observe a specimen of the opposite sex than yours. Also be sure to observe how different things look between the pregnant verses non-pregnant female specimens.  Identify the following endocrine organs on the brain model: o Hypothalamus o Pineal gland o Pituitary gland Husson University: Lisa Mazzarelli, Instructor 2 Endocrine System Physiology: PhysioEx Exercise 4 Information highlights for Activity 4: Adrenal insufficiency is an endocrine, or hormonal, disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of certain hormones. The adrenal glands are located just above the kidneys. Adrenal insufficiency can be primary or secondary. Primary adrenal insufficiency, also called Addison's disease, occurs when the adrenal glands are damaged and cannot produce enough of the hormone cortisol and often the hormone aldosterone. Addison's disease affects one to four of every 100,000 people, in all age groups and both sexes.1 Secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs when the pituitary gland, a bean-sized organ in the