Download A2.3.2.HormonesWild - Project Lead the Way: Biomedical Sciences

Activity 2.3.2: Hormones Gone Wild
Introduction
The endocrine system releases hormones to maintain homeostasis and uses
feedback to regulate the levels of these chemical signals. Hormones help balance
the amount of water in our body, the amount of calcium in our blood and bones, and
the amount of growth in cells and tissues. In your study of diabetes, you learned that
when there is a problem with the hormone insulin, the body has trouble controlling
blood sugar and maintaining homeostasis. Too much or too little of a hormone can
really throw off the body’s balance. And sometimes, this imbalance not only affects
what goes on inside, but affects what we see on the outside.
In this activity, you will work in teams to solve a medical mystery. A troubled patient
is coming to you for advice. While doctors have been able to classify each of the
strange symptoms he has been experiencing for the past year, they can not pinpoint
how they all fit together. The endocrine system is clearly malfunctioning, but doctors
can not find the source of the problem. Work with your team to investigate the
hormones and glands of the endocrine system and use information you find to piece
together the clues provided by your patient and make a diagnosis. You will work
through this case in two parts. You must successfully complete Part I before you can
move on to Part II.
Equipment
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Computer with Internet access and Inspiration® software
Endocrine system graphic organizer
Student dry erase board
Dry erase markers
Markers or colored pencils
Anatomy in Clay® Maniken®
Yellow clay
Paper towels
Laboratory journal
Procedure
Part I: Making the Diagnosis
1. Read the patient file of Lincoln Grant found on the next page.
Lincoln is a 27 year-old man who has been experiencing strange medical symptoms
over the past year. He knows something is wrong, but doctors are having a hard
time piecing together the clues. Previous doctors’ notes report:
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Lincoln has noted a gradual enlargement of his body tissue. He is long past
puberty, but the bones of his face and jaw seem to be growing thicker and
changing shape. Even his hands and feet look larger.
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Human Body Systems Activity 2.3.2 Hormones Gone Wild – Page 1
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Lincoln has put on a considerable amount of weight in the past year. His diet has
not changed and he still plays basketball two times a week with his friends. He’s
getting plenty of rest, but he still feels sluggish.
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Lincoln and his wife have been trying to get pregnant for over a year. Worried
about their chances, they decide to visit the doctor. Routine lab tests reveal that
Lincoln has an extremely low sperm count.
Most recently, Lincoln has reported some problems with his vision. He has noticed
that images are blurry and that he sometimes sees double. Doctors are baffled by
what Lincoln is reporting. His varied symptoms make the overall cause of his
problems hard to pinpoint, but doctors are sure the answer lies in the endocrine
system.
2. Work with a team of four to investigate the clues provided in the case report.
3. Obtain a dry erase board and assorted colors of dry erase markers from your
teacher. With your group, begin an evidence board. Use this board to brainstorm
ideas and visualize connections.
4. List Lincoln’s symptoms on the board and work together to generate ideas about
their cause. As you complete additional research and have new ideas, share
them with the group and add them to the board. Use paper towels to erase items
from the board. Only the group as a whole can decide to remove ideas. The
format of this organizer is up to you. You may create lists. You may create a
concept map. Use this visual aid to help you piece together the clues.
5. Use the websites listed below (as well as others you may find) to begin your
investigation. Research how a problem with hormones of the endocrine system
could lead to Lincoln’s symptoms. Could he have too much of a hormone? Too
little? Is there a problem with a specific gland? His disorder may involve multiple
hormones and glands. See if you can find a pattern in Lincoln’s symptoms.
o Nemours Foundation- A Body Basics Article: Endocrine System
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/endocrine.ht
ml
o The Hormone Foundation – Endo 101: Endocrine Glands
http://www.hormone.org/Endo101/page2.cfm
o Medline Plus – Medical Dictionary: Hormones
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hormones.html
o Tour of the Endocrine System
http://www.innerbody.com/image/endoov.html
o Biology at University of Cincinnati Clermont College: Endocrine
System
http://www.biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio105/endocrin.htm
6. List the hormone or glands that might be involved next to each symptom on your
evidence board. List the target organ(s) of these hormones.
7. Brainstorm connections between these hormones.
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Human Body Systems Activity 2.3.2 Hormones Gone Wild – Page 2
8. Discuss reasons why Lincoln may be having vision problems. Add theories to
your evidence board. Use this information to help you decide on the overall
cause of Lincoln’s symptoms.
9. When you think you have a diagnosis, walk your teacher through the evidence on
your board and make your case. If your diagnosis is correct, write a summary of
your findings in your laboratory journal and move on to Part II. If your diagnosis is
not quite there, use clues provided by your teacher to expand your research.
Part II: The Powerful Pituitary
In Part I of the case, you learned that Lincoln most likely has a problem with his pituitary
gland, specifically a tumor in the anterior region. Although not much bigger than a raisin,
the pituitary gland releases a total of nine hormones, many of which trigger other
endocrine glands to secrete hormones of their own. The pituitary gland monitors body
function and sends signals to other organs and glands to make adjustments and to
maintain a proper internal environment.
10. Take out your endocrine system graphic organizer.
11. Use colored pencils or markers to draw and label the glands, target organs and
hormones you have investigated in Lincoln’s case. Begin with the pituitary gland.
Use the same format you used to draw on the organizer in Activity 2.3.1. Make
sure to draw an arrow from the gland to the target organs and write the name of
the hormone along the arrow.
12. Research two additional hormones of the pituitary gland. Add these hormones to
your graphic organizer.
13. Work with your partner to design and build a pituitary gland on your Maniken®.
Use yellow clay to build this organ.
14. Research the connection between the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus,
another structure in the brain. The hypothalamus and the pituitary form the chief
link between the nervous and the endocrine system. Take notes in your
laboratory journal.
15. Use Inspiration to create a feedback loop or diagram that shows how the body
regulates the level of thyroid hormones in the body (and thus maintains normal
metabolism). This loop or diagram should include the pituitary gland and the
hypothalamus as well as the names of important hormones. Make sure to show
how hormones exert feedback to maintain proper thyroid function. Draw arrows
to and from important glands and hormones. Think about how the levels of one
hormone may impact the release (or lack thereof) of another hormone.
16. Refer back to your blood glucose feedback loop from Activity 2.3.1 for ideas on
how to organize your thinking and to design your loop. However, as long as you
can explain your diagram, you are free to use whatever format you feel displays
a clear relationship between the glands and demonstrates the idea of feedback.
17. Work with your partner to design and build a thyroid gland on your Maniken ®.
Use pink or red clay to build this gland.
18. Answer the conclusion questions.
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Human Body Systems Activity 2.3.2 Hormones Gone Wild – Page 3
Conclusion
1. Describe an example that illustrates this statement: “Some hormones control the
release of other hormones.”
2. The pituitary gland is often called the “control center of the endocrine system.”
Why do you think this is an appropriate title?
3. Explain how Lincoln’s endocrine system disorder affected other body systems.
4. Explain the role the hypothalamus plays in regulating hormone action.
© 2014 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Human Body Systems Activity 2.3.2 Hormones Gone Wild – Page 4