Make your own free website on

Dr. Podolin's Endocrine Exam Questions

I would like to put the data that answers the questions online...Email me if you want to contribute.

On your exam (Thursday August 26, 1999), you will be given 2 out of the following 5 Endocrine essay questions.  Each question will be worth 10 points.  An answer worthy of 10 points will:
    a:) Integrate lecture material, assigned reading and other pertinent sources
    b:) Be original

1)    Describe the relationship between the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary gland.  Why is the anterior pituitary called the master gland?  What is negative feedback?

2)  Compare a fed vs. fasted state in terms of which hormones (insulin, glucagons, cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, growth hormone) and which metabolic pathways (glycogen synthesis, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, lipolysis, lipogenesis, protein synthesis, protein breakdown) predominate.  Be sure to include at least one tissue in which the pathway occurs.

3)  Discuss how the following would affect TSH levels and thyroid hormone production:
    a)  Iodine deficiency
    b)  Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin
    c)  Hypothyroidism due to autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland (Hashimoto's thyroiditis)

4)  Discuss how a person maintains calcium balance (hormones, target tissues).  Now explain what happens when that person experiences chronic hypocalcemia.

5)  Differentiate among the causes of Cushing's Syndrome (i.e., Cushing's Disease, ectopic tumor, glucocorticoid excess, adrenal tumor).


Return to the MNA 2001 Homepage