Homeostasis & ResponseTopic Summary

Knowledge Organiser

Part of Hormones & BehaviourGCSE Biology

This topic summary covers Knowledge Organiser within Hormones & Behaviour for GCSE Biology. Topic 8: Hormones & Behaviour It is section 9 of 10 in this topic. Use this topic summary to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 9 of 10

Practice

15 questions

Recall

20 flashcards

Knowledge Organiser

Key Terms
  • Adrenaline: Fight-or-flight hormone; from adrenal glands
  • Thyroxine: Metabolic rate hormone; from thyroid gland
  • Adrenal glands: Above kidneys; activated by nervous system
  • Thyroid gland: In neck; controlled by TSH from pituitary
  • Metabolic rate: Speed of chemical reactions in cells
  • Negative feedback: Response opposes the original change
  • TSH: Thyroid-stimulating hormone from pituitary
Must-Know Facts
  • Adrenaline: increases heart rate, breathing rate, blood glucose; diverts blood to muscles
  • Thyroxine: controls basal metabolic rate
  • Thyroxine negative feedback: low thyroxine → more TSH → more thyroxine
  • Hormonal response is slower but longer-lasting than nervous response
  • Hypothyroidism = too little thyroxine → slow metabolism, weight gain, tiredness, feeling cold
  • Adrenaline triggers glycogen breakdown in liver → raises blood glucose
  • Both nervous and hormonal systems involved in fight-or-flight

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

How do hormones reach the brain?
Hormones travel through the bloodstream to reach target organs including the brain, where they can influence neurotransmitter production.
How do hormones affect behaviour?
Hormones act as chemical messengers that influence brain function, neurotransmitter activity, and behavioural responses like mood and alertness.

Want to test your knowledge?

PrepWise has 15 exam-style questions and 20 flashcards for Hormones & Behaviour — with adaptive difficulty and instant feedback.

Join Alpha