Practice identifying major endocrine glands, the hormones they release, and how hormones help control body processes such as growth, metabolism, stress response, and blood sugar balance.
Read each problem carefully. Use complete sentences when explaining your thinking.
How chemical messengers help the body communicate and stay balanced
Health - Grade 6-8
- 1
Define the endocrine system in your own words. Include the words glands, hormones, and bloodstream in your answer.
- 2
Explain how hormones are different from nerves as ways for the body to send messages.
- 3
The pituitary gland is sometimes called the master gland. Explain why this nickname is used.
- 4
Match each gland to one important job: thyroid gland, pancreas, adrenal glands. The jobs are: helps control metabolism, helps control blood sugar, helps the body respond to stress.
- 5
A student eats lunch, and their blood sugar rises. Explain how the pancreas helps bring blood sugar back toward a healthy level.
- 6
A person has not eaten for several hours, and their blood sugar begins to drop. Explain how the pancreas can help raise blood sugar.
- 7
Describe one way the adrenal glands help the body during a stressful or dangerous situation.
- 8
The thyroid gland releases hormones that affect metabolism. Explain what metabolism means in this context.
- 9
Look at this feedback loop: blood sugar rises, the pancreas releases insulin, cells take in glucose, blood sugar decreases. Identify whether this is positive feedback or negative feedback, and explain your choice.
- 10
Explain how hormones know which cells to affect.
- 11
Name two endocrine glands involved in puberty and describe one change their hormones help control.
- 12
The pineal gland releases melatonin. Explain how melatonin is related to sleep.
- 13
A doctor says that a patient's endocrine system helps maintain homeostasis. Explain what homeostasis means and give one endocrine example.
- 14
Complete the cause-and-effect statement: If the body needs more energy from stored sugar, then the pancreas may release the hormone __________, which helps the liver release glucose into the blood.
- 15
Create a simple chart with three columns labeled gland, hormone, and main effect. Fill in the chart using three of these examples: pancreas and insulin, thyroid and thyroid hormones, adrenal glands and adrenaline, pineal gland and melatonin.