Division 2 MST
Anatomy and Physiology Unit
2011-2012
Endocrine System Inquiry
How do man-made substances in the environment impact our hormones?
Purpose: The endocrine system controls the chemical messengers (hormones) in the body. The
class will research several chemical “disruptors” and the hormones that they affect. The chemicals are
called disruptors because they “disrupt” the way the hormone normally works. This research will be
posted to a group blog at parkermst.posterous.com. This research will then be used to learn about the
7 key endocrine glands and the hormones they release into the body.
PART A:
1. With a partner you will be assigned to one of the following 7 topics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Hormone
Gonadotropin releasing hormone
Thyrotropin
Thyroxine
Parathyroid hormone
Cortisol
Insulin
Estrogen
disrupted by
disrupted by
disrupted by
disrupted by
disrupted by
disrupted by
disrupted by
Chemical disruptor
PCB
PBDE-47
Cadmium
Lead
Nicotine
Dioxine
Bisphenol A
2. Use the internet to research and then discuss the following prompts in your blog post:
a. Describe what the chemical disruptor is commonly used for and how people can be
exposed to it.
b. Describe the endocrine gland that releases and controls the hormone’s level in the body.
c. Describe the organ the hormone affects and the hormone’s normal function in that organ.
d. Describe what can happen in the body if the hormone doesn’t work properly.
3. Post a summary of your research to the class blog. You can post by sending an e-mail to
parkermst@posterous.com. The summary line of your e-mail will be the blog post heading, the
message should be the answers to the prompts, images attached to the e-mail will be placed in
the post, and links will also automatically format so viewers can click on the links in the post.
PART B:
1. Read through the class posts for each of the 7 hormones at parkermst.posterus.com.
2. Fill out the chart on the back of this sheet as you read each post.
Division 2 MST
Anatomy and Physiology Unit
2011-2012
Fill out the table below. We may add hormones that aren’t on the blog to the empty boxes in the
hormones column. These are 7 of the key endocrine glands, but there are others in the body.
Endocrine Gland
Hormone
Gonadotropin
releasing hormone
Thyrotropin
Thyroxine
Parathyroid hormone
Cortisol
Insulin
Estrogen
Target Organ
Effect on the body