Understanding Negative Feedback Loops - High School Biology

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Question

Which of the following hormones will be elevated in the body when blood sugar levels are high?

Answer

Hormones will be elevated in response to the conditions of the body. In other words, the body's hormones will be elevated in order to provide a negative feedback response. When blood glucose is high, insulin is released to lower these levels to the normal range. In contrast, when blood glucose is low, glucagon is released to raise these levels back to normal.

Thyroxine (T4) is released by the thyroid in order to increase the basal metabolic activity of the body, causing it to produce more ATP energy. Parathyroid hormone is released to stimulate osteoclast activity and raise blood calcium levels when they are too low.

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Question

In primary hypothyroidism, patients are frequently diagnosed with a low free T4 (low thyroid hormone), but a high TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). Which answer best explains the association, if there is any?

Answer

TSH is secreted by the anterior pituitary in response to TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone), which is secreted by the hypothalamus. TSH then acts on the thyroid to stimulate the release of thyroid hormone into the blood. Adequate levels of thyroid hormone then cause negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary to decrease the release of TRH and TSH.

In primary hypothyroidism, the problem lies in the thyroid-- the thyroid is not releasing enough thyroid hormone and it can be due to a variety of causes. What's important here is that there is no negative feedback on the pituitary to decrease its synthesis of TSH and therefore, the TSH levels are higher. It's just not able to function to increase the level of thyroid hormone and bring it to normal.

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Question

Increase in thyrotropin-releasing hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone can lead to increase activity of the heart, brain maturation, bone maturation and increased in metabolic rate. Increased in thyrotropin-releasing hormone also leads to an increase in what hormone being produced by the pituitary?

Answer

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone leads to the stimulation of prolactin at the same time as thyroid-stimulating hormone. Oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone are produced by the hypothalamus and stored and secreted by the posterior pituitary. Somatostatin and growth hormone are not influenced by thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

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Question

Which of the following is not released by the anterior pituitary?

Answer

Oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone are released from the posterior pituitary. All other choices are released from the anterior pituitary.

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