Pineal Gland Alyson Yun, David Seco, Brianna McCarthy, Jack Kahvejian Period 1

Pineal Gland  The Pineal Gland is a small endocrine Gland  It is located in the vertebrate brain

Hormones Associated With the Pineal Gland  Melatonin  Regulates other hormones  Maintains the Circadian Rhythm  This is your body’s 24hr clock that regulates when you wake up and go to sleep Click herehere

Hormones con’t  Serotonin  80-90% is found in your gastrointestinal tract  It affects:  Mood/ social behavior  Appetite/ digestion  Sleep  Memory  Sexual desire/ function  Click herehere

Depression and Anxiety  Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, meaning it helps neurons send information to each other.  It signals brain cells that an individual feels relaxed and happy or sad and depressed.  Low levels of serotonin often lead to depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia, and addiction.  Some causes could come from being alone or being mistreated by their parents or other people.  Click herehere

Symptoms  Persistent sad or in an "empty" mood  Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism  Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)  SAD is a melatonin deficiency disorder, low levels of melatonin can results in anxiety, stress and seasonal affective disorder  Abnormalities with melatonin have been quickly linked to a variety of mood and disorders  Some causes for the changes are the different types of seasons, this also plays a role in sleep patterns  Some symptoms are insomnia, feeling depressed, low energy, suicidal thoughts

The Pancreas Gland Brianna McCarthy, Jack Kahvejian, David Seco, Alyson Yun Period 1 Anatomy

The Pancreas Gland  The pancreas gland is located behind your stomach  It is 6 inches long  The pancreas is an exocrine gland as well as an endocrine

Insulin  Insulin helps control blood glucose levels  This happens by signaling the liver, muscle, and fat cells to take in glucose from the blood  Insulin helps cells to take in glucose to be used for energy  If the body has enough energy, insulin signals the liver to take up glucose and store it as glycogen  Click herehere

Glucagon  The pancreas releases glucagon when concentration of glucose in the bloodstream falls too low  Glucagon causes the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose, which is released into the bloodstream  High blood glucose levels stimulate the release of insulin  Glucagon and Insulin are interdependent Click herehere

Diabetes  Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body uses blood sugar (glucose)  Glucose is a vital to your health because it supplies the cells with energy  Diabetes means you have too much glucose in your blood  The pancreas doesn’t always produce enough insulin, which results in type 2 diabetes  Some possible causes of diabetes are genetic risk factors and environmental factors  Click herehere

Symptoms  Excessive thirst  Increased urination  Fatigue  Weight loss  Blurred vision  Swollen gums  Tingling hands and feet

Hypoglycemia  Hypoglycemia is when your level of blood sugar gets too low  The body doesn’t have enough energy to use as fuel  Some causes of hypoglycemia are your diet, some medication conditions, and exercise  Some symptoms are confusion, dizziness, feeling shaky, and hunger

Fun Facts  Baking Soda is produced by the pancreas, since one of its unique functions is it creates bicarbonate, which is basically standard baking soda  It has its own version of taste buds similar to what the tongue has. The receptors “taste” how sweet the food that is being eaten is and will release the appropriate amount of insulin as a result  Up until 1902, people thought it was the brain and not the pancreas that released substances  When you sleep or die, your pineal gland releases a drug called DMT, which is an illegal hallucinogenic that is naturally produced by the body. Some researchers believe that accounts of people dying and "going to heaven" are caused by the release of DMT

Concept Check Questions  1. How might seasonal depression and melatonin levels be related to each other?  In humans, low levels of melatonin contributes to feelings of depression. This explains why people tend to feel unhappy during seasons when daylight is scarce due to cloudy skies or shorter winter days.  2. How does glucagon affect the body's metabolism?  Glucagon has the opposite role as insulin, and encourages the metabolism of fats as a way pf preserving existing glucose until blood sugar levels return to normal.  3.) What is the role of the insulin receptor?  When it is activated by insulin, the insulin receptor causes an increase in glucose absorption by all body cells.

Bibliography Hendrickson, Kirstin. "Diseases Associated with Serotonin." Live Strong. N.p., 2 Sept Web. 13 Mar Mayo Clinic Staff. "Diseases and Conditions Diabetes." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Staff, 31 July Web. 13 Mar Shmaefsky, Brian. Applied Anatomy & Physiology: A Case Study Approach. St. Paul, MN: EMC/Paradigm, Print. ​