UP:SC15.HAP.13

Students know:

The endocrine system is composed of glands that produce endocrine secretions that go directly into the blood and are cellular signals.
Hormones work through a feedback loop—they attach to receptors on target cells, cause a metabolic change within the target cell, which causes the target cell (effector) to act in response to the stimulus or signal.
Chemicals that carry out the job of a hormone by turning on a cell response are called agonists.
Chemicals that carry out the job of a hormone by turning off a cell response are called antagonists.
There are two types of hormones—peptide hormones are usually involved in rapid body changes and lipid hormones play a role in body fluid control and sexual reproduction.
The human endocrine system is composed of ten endocrine glands: hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, parathyroid glands, thyroid, thymus, adrenal, pancreas, ovary and testis.
Each of the endocrine glands produces specific hormones that effect various functions within the body.
Each endocrine gland needs some type of feedback signal to control its level of hormone production.
Diseases of the endocrine system can cause too much or too little hormone secretion.
Changes in hormone production contribute to aging.

Students are able to:

Gather, read, and interpret scientific information about the endocrine system and its structure, including endocrine glands and the hormones they produce.
Evaluate, based on evidence, the claim that endocrine glands secrete hormones that help the body maintain homeostasis through feedback loops.
Communicate scientific information, in multiple formats (e.g., orally, graphically, textually) to explain the structure and function of the endocrine system, as a whole, and of its intrinsic parts.
Use scientific literature to identify conditions and diseases that effect the endocrine system.
Evaluate, based on evidence, how these conditions and diseases affect the body.
Analyze data in order to make a valid and reliable scientific claim about how the body responds to the identified conditions and diseases in its attempt to maintain homeostasis.
Analyze data to determine a correlation and possible cause and effect relationship.

Students understand that:

The endocrine system is composed of several glands throughout the body that secrete hormones to specific target tissues.
The endocrine system uses feedback loops to maintain homeostasis within the human body.
Genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors can contribute to the development of endocrine disorders.
Lifestyle choices and various medications can help alleviate some endocrine disorders.
Multiple systems interact to play a part in endocrine function and pathology.

Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Cause and Effect; Structure and Function