1. Looking at Neurotransmitters and Glands
Natures Text Messages
Looking at Neurotransmitters and Glands

2. Neurotransmitters Vesicles= storage bins
Located where the axon ends before the synapse
Inside there is 1000 of chemical molecules (messengers)
Each type of molecule is a different shape & size
If a circuit is for pain, molecules inside that vesicle have a unique makeup > only pain message sent to brain

3. Neurotransmitter The molecules inside vesicles
Send nerve info from axon over the synapse to the dendrite receptor
Each circuit contains a diff specific molecule for each activity that circuit control
Ex. Movement, pain, pleasure etc.

4. Neurotransmitters Right now scientist know of 60 NT 4 main NT
Acetylcholine
Dopamine
Endorphins
Serotonin

5. Serotonin
80 to 90 % of the human body's total serotonin is located in the cells in the gut, where it is used to regulate intestinal movements.
The remainder is in the central nervous system
functions: mood, appetite, sleep, muscle contraction, and some cognitive functions including memory and learning.

6. Dopamine Most associated w/ movement
Shortage of Dopamine = Parkinson's
Cell that makes dopamine dies off
Only know disease that is caused by shortage of one single neurotransmitter

7. Acetylcholine Most common/well studied Movement of body Memory
Botulism = shuts off the release of Ach > paralysis
Alzheimer’s = part of the brain does not produce Ach not working properly > less Ach is available to the person

8. Endorphins Pain relievers Make us happy
Natural morphine produced by the body
Prevents nerve cells from releasing more pain signals

9. Long Messages: Hormones
Glands
store and release hormones
Hormones
Passed in body through bloodstream
Turn on other parts of the body
Chemicals that stay in the body for long periods of time

10. Pituitary Gland Master Gland of body Attached to the hypothalamus
Send messages that will start glands going
Determine how short or tall people are
Releases growth hormones
Releases it in fits and starts
Problems can cause extreme height 8’11’’ shortest person 23.2’
Like all systems requires normal environment: case of boy locked in a closet

11. Adrenal Gland
Releases adrenaline into bloodstream during an emergency or thought of an emergency (speech)
Breath rapidly, muscles tense up, sugar dumped into body for energy, armpits and feet sweet, clots blood in case we get cut

12. Thyroid Gland Pituitary signals the thyroid
Thyroid controls metabolism
Speed with which the body operates
Active: can’t sit still, jumping around
Underactive: sluggish
Very slow: lead to mental retardation
Related to the body breaking down food and converting it to energy

13. The Gonads Sex glands that make the sperm and egg Male : Androgen
Female: Estrogen
Everyone has both
These hormones cause humans to look female or male

14. Ticket out the door
What might happen if the glands described today were too active or not active enough