Question

Please draw and explain for each step as you go.

It all goes together just want to check my work.
Jane Doe is a 37-year old woman with rheumatoid arthritis who is currently being treated with high doses of cortisol (glucocorticoids) to suppress her immune system during an acute flare up.
1. the regulation of cortisol levels before Jane’s treatment, make sure to list all organs and hormones involved by name and in correct order. 3pts
2. Write the name and describe/draw the unique pathway (connection) the hormone travels between the 1st and 2nd organ you listed above, 3pts
3. state the benefit of this pathway described in 2. 1pts
4. Add at least 2 effector organs (target organs) of cortisol to your drawing and state at least one action induced by cortisol for each organ. 4 pts
5. Explain the benefit of these actions in a stress situation 2pt
6. Draw the effect of the cortisol treatment prescribed by the doctor on your regulation pathways drawn in 1. use a 2nd color. 3 pts
7. Jane’s Doe’s doctor warns her not suddenly to stop taking the medication, she needs to follow the prescribed protocol for tapering her dose once the 2-week course is completed. Can you explain what would happen if she stops to quickly? 3pts

Answer 1

The regulation of cortisol levels before Jane's treatment involves the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the adrenal glands. The hypothalamus secretes corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH then stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol.

ACTH travels through the bloodstream from the pituitary gland to the adrenal glands, where it stimulates the secretion of cortisol.

The unique pathway described in 2 helps regulate cortisol levels in the body by providing a feedback mechanism. When cortisol levels are low, the hypothalamus secretes CRH, which stimulates the pituitary gland to release ACTH. ACTH then stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. When cortisol levels are high, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland are inhibited from secreting CRH and ACTH, respectively, which results in decreased cortisol secretion by the adrenal glands.

The effector organs of cortisol include the liver and skeletal muscle. Cortisol stimulates gluconeogenesis in the liver, which increases blood glucose levels. Cortisol also stimulates protein breakdown in skeletal muscle, which provides amino acids for gluconeogenesis and tissue repair.

The actions induced by cortisol in the liver and skeletal muscle help the body respond to stress by providing a source of energy for the brain and other tissues. This is important in a stress situation where the body needs to mobilize energy quickly to respond to a threat or challenge.

The cortisol treatment prescribed by Jane's doctor will result in increased cortisol levels in the body, which will suppress the immune system and help reduce inflammation during an acute flare-up of rheumatoid arthritis.

If Jane stops taking her medication too quickly, she may experience symptoms of cortisol withdrawal, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, and decreased blood pressure. This is because her body has become dependent on the exogenous cortisol to maintain normal physiological function, and sudden withdrawal can result in a deficiency of this hormone. Tapering the dose of the medication over time allows the body to gradually adjust to lower cortisol levels, which reduces the risk of withdrawal symptoms.