Homeostasis & ResponseDefinitions

Key Definitions

Part of Hormones & BehaviourGCSE Biology

This definitions covers Key Definitions within Hormones & Behaviour for GCSE Biology. Topic 8: Hormones & Behaviour It is section 4 of 9 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.

Topic position

Section 4 of 9

Practice

15 questions

Recall

20 flashcards

Key Definitions

Adrenaline: A hormone produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress or danger; prepares the body for the fight-or-flight response by increasing heart rate, breathing rate, and blood glucose.
Thyroxine: A hormone produced by the thyroid gland that controls the basal metabolic rate; regulated by negative feedback involving TSH from the pituitary gland.
Adrenal glands: A pair of endocrine glands located above the kidneys; produce adrenaline in response to stress signals from the nervous system.
Thyroid gland: An endocrine gland in the neck that produces thyroxine; controlled by TSH from the pituitary gland via negative feedback.
Fight-or-flight response: The physiological response to perceived threat; triggered by adrenaline to prepare the body for rapid physical action.
Metabolic rate: The speed at which chemical reactions take place in the body's cells; controlled in the long term by thyroxine.
Negative feedback: A control mechanism in which the body's response to a change acts to reverse or oppose that change, maintaining a stable internal condition.

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Hormones & Behaviour. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Practice Questions for Hormones & Behaviour

Which response does adrenaline prepare the body for?

  • A. Fight or flight
  • B. Rest and digest
  • C. Growth and repair
  • D. Cooling down
1 markfoundation

State two effects of adrenaline on the body during a fight-or-flight response.

2 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

Name three effects of adrenaline on the body.
1. Increases heart rate (more blood to muscles). 2. Raises blood glucose levels (provides energy). 3. Dilates pupils and increases breathing rate (heightens alertness).
What is adrenaline and what does it do?
Adrenaline is a hormone released by the adrenal glands (on top of the kidneys) during stress or danger. It prepares the body for 'fight or flight' — increasing heart rate and releasing glucose for energy.

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