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BIO 304 . WEEK 5 . FRIDAY . LAB WORKBOOK
Major Endocrine Glands
Pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas: who makes what, who controls them.
Print this page. You will draw your own diagrams from the directions below, then hand-label the structures listed. Drawing by hand is the integrity mechanism for this course.
1A. What you will draw
The major endocrine glands sit at predictable locations in the body and produce specific hormones with specific targets. Today you'll draw a body outline locating each gland, then zoom in on the pituitary and its hypothalamic control.
Box A. Endocrine gland locations
Directions
- Draw a simple body outline (head, trunk, limbs).
- At the base of the brain (deep inside the skull): pituitary gland. Label.
- In the neck (anterior, below the larynx): thyroid gland. Label.
- On top of each kidney (just above the kidneys): adrenal glands. Label.
- In the abdomen, behind the stomach: pancreas. Label.
- In the pelvis: ovaries (in females) or testes (in males). Label.
- In the chest (upper thorax): thymus (label, large in children, smaller in adults).
- Add small notes next to each gland with ONE major hormone it produces.
Draw here. Sketch by hand.
Box B. Pituitary close-up
Directions
- Draw the hypothalamus (above) connected to the pituitary gland (below) by a stalk (infundibulum).
- Split the pituitary into two parts: ANTERIOR pituitary (larger, glandular) and POSTERIOR pituitary (smaller, nervous tissue).
- Anterior pituitary: hypothalamic neurons release releasing hormones into a portal blood system that travels to the anterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary then releases its OWN hormones into the general circulation. Label hypothalamic-pituitary portal system.
- List 4 anterior pituitary hormones: TSH, ACTH, FSH/LH, GH, Prolactin (pick any 4 and label).
- Posterior pituitary: hypothalamic neurons send axons directly into the posterior pituitary. Their hormones (ADH, oxytocin) are stored there and released directly into circulation.
- Label ADH and oxytocin as posterior pituitary hormones.
Draw here. Sketch by hand.
1C. Structures to label (19)
After you finish each drawing, label every structure below directly on your sketch.
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary gland
- Anterior pituitary
- Posterior pituitary
- Thyroid gland
- Adrenal gland
- Pancreas
- Ovary / Testis
- Thymus
- TSH
- ACTH
- Growth hormone (GH)
- ADH (vasopressin)
- Oxytocin
- Insulin
- Glucagon
- Thyroid hormone (T3/T4)
- Cortisol
- Epinephrine
Part 2 of 2
Physiology Lab
2A. Gland, hormone, target, effect
Fill in the table. Pick one major hormone per gland and complete each row.
| Gland | Hormone | Main target tissue | Main effect |
|---|
| Anterior pituitary | | | |
|---|
| Thyroid (follicular cells) | | | |
|---|
| Adrenal cortex | | | |
|---|
| Adrenal medulla | | | |
|---|
| Pancreas (beta cells) | | | |
|---|
| Pancreas (alpha cells) | | | |
|---|
| Posterior pituitary | | | |
|---|
Insulin and glucagon are both made by the pancreas but have opposing effects on blood glucose. Predict which is released after a meal, which during fasting, and explain how their opposing actions stabilize blood glucose.
The anterior pituitary releases trophic hormones (TSH, ACTH, FSH/LH) that act on OTHER endocrine glands. Explain why this multi-step system gives finer regulation than a single hormone acting directly, using the negative feedback concept.
2B. Synthesis questions
Answer each in 2 to 4 sentences. Use the language from this week's lecture and your drawings as evidence.
1. Type 1 diabetes destroys pancreatic beta cells. Predict the patient's blood glucose level after a meal AND after an overnight fast, and explain mechanistically what is happening in each state.
2. Cushing's syndrome is caused by excess cortisol. Predict the patient's symptoms (across blood glucose, body fat distribution, immune function, bone density). For each, explain mechanistically why cortisol produces that effect.
3. A pituitary tumor compresses the posterior pituitary and reduces ADH release (diabetes insipidus). Predict the patient's urine output, blood sodium concentration, and behavior. Why is ADH critical for water homeostasis?
3. What to submit
Complete both the Anatomy Lab (your own drawings, hand-labeled, plus the structures list) and the Physiology Lab (activity and synthesis questions). Photograph or scan every page and upload to Canvas before the deadline listed on the schedule. Hand-drawn, hand-labeled work is the integrity mechanism for this course. Typed or AI-generated diagrams are not accepted.