Question 1: Define Adrenaline and explain its primary function in the human body.

Answer: Adrenaline is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses by increasing heart rate, blood flow, and energy availability.

Question 2: Describe how Thyroxine helps regulate the body's metabolic rate.

Answer: Thyroxine, produced by the thyroid gland, increases the rate at which cells release energy from nutrients, thus regulating the metabolic rate.

Question 3: Explain the mechanism by which Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream.

Answer: When the brain perceives stress, the hypothalamus signals the adrenal medulla to secrete Adrenaline into the bloodstream, triggering the fight or flight response.

Question 1: A blood test shows that a patient's Thyroxine level is 150 nmol/L. Normal range is 60-120 nmol/L. Calculate how many nmol/L the level exceeds the upper normal limit.

Answer: 30 nmol/L

Question 2: If a sudden stressful event causes Adrenaline levels to rise from 50 nmol/L to 300 nmol/L within 2 minutes, calculate the rate of increase in nmol/L per second.

Answer: Rate = (300 - 50) nmol/L ÷ (2 × 60 seconds) = 250 nmol/L ÷ 120 seconds ≈ 2.08 nmol/L per second

Question 1: Describe a simple experiment to measure the effect of Thyroxine on metabolic rate in a laboratory setting. Include variables to control and safety precautions.

Answer: Students could measure oxygen consumption in samples of tissue or organisms with and without added Thyroxine, controlling variables such as temperature, age, and activity level. Safety precautions include handling chemicals carefully, avoiding ingestion or inhalation of substances, and using appropriate protective equipment.

Question 1: A study reports that during stress, Adrenaline levels in individuals vary between 200 nmol/L and 400 nmol/L. Explain what factors might cause this variation among different individuals.

Answer: Factors include individual stress response, physical fitness, age, hormonal regulation efficiency, and whether the stress is acute or chronic.

Question 2: In a clinical trial, patients with hyperthyroidism showed Thyroxine levels averaging 250 nmol/L, whereas healthy individuals had levels around 100 nmol/L. Interpret these findings in terms of metabolic rate.

Answer: Higher Thyroxine levels in hyperthyroid patients indicate an increased metabolic rate, which can lead to symptoms such as weight loss, rapid heartbeat, and heat intolerance. The data suggest an overproduction of Thyroxine disrupts normal metabolic regulation.

Question 1: Explain how understanding the roles of Adrenaline and Thyroxine can benefit medical treatments for hormonal imbalances.

Answer: Knowledge of these hormones allows for targeted therapies, such as hormone replacement for hypothyroidism or medications to regulate Adrenaline during stress-related disorders.

Question 2: Describe a technological advancement that utilises hormone regulation to improve health or industry.

Answer: Development of hormone assays and biosensors enables early diagnosis of hormonal disorders. Additionally, biotechnological methods like recombinant DNA technology are used to produce synthetic hormones for therapeutic use, improving treatment precision and availability.