Endocrine System
Learning Objectives
Discuss the parts and
functions
of the
endocrine system
Name the endocrine glands
and the hormones
secreted by each.
Explain the pathophysiology
of
diseases
related to the endocrine glands
HOW DO THE ENDOCRINE
GLANDS PROMOTE PROPER
FUNCTIONING OF THE BODY
SYSTEMS?
Endocrine System
•endo meaning within and
crine meaning to secrete
•includes all the glands of the
body and the hormones
produced by those glands
Endocrine System
•Ductless glands that release
hormones directly into the
tissues or to the bloodstream and
carried to the target cells
What is the difference between an exocrine gland and an endocrine gland?
Hormones
Choose one
hormone
and state
its
importance
Hormones
• chemicals secreted by the cells that affect the functions
of other cells
• most hormones enter the bloodstream
•target cells of a hormone are the cells that contain the
receptors for the particular type of hormone
Hormones
Classification of Hormones
• Steroidal hormones - soluble in lipids and can cross the cell
membranes easily
•Nonsteroidal hormones - made of amino acids or proteins that
cannot pass through the cell membrane of their target cells
•Prostaglandins - also known as tissue hormones that affect nearby cells
and tissues
Why do steroidal hormones pass through cell membranes
easily and nonsteroidal hormones do not?
Why do steroidal hormones pass through cell membranes
easily and nonsteroidal hormones do not?
Nonsteroidal hormones Enzyme trigger a second
are not fat soluble Bind to a receptor which triggers an enzyme messenger to activate
processes in the cell
Parts and Functions of the
Endocrine System
Hypothalamus
•Located in the diencephalon of
the brain and produces the
hormones oxytocin and
antidiuretic hormone
•helps stimulate or inhibit many
of the body’s key processes
such as : Heart rate and blood
pressure and body temperature
Hypothalamus
• Fluid and electrolyte balance
• Appetite and body weight
• Sleep cycles
• portion of the brain that maintains
the body’s internal balance
(homeostasis)
• Influences the pituitary gland in
releasing hormones
Hormones of the Hypothalamus
Anti-diuretic hormone(ADH):also called
vasopressin; increases water
reabsorption into the blood by the
kidneys. This decreases urinary output
and increases blood volume.
What is the good effect of this process?
• Dehydration stimulates the secretion
of ADH
• In severe hemorrhage, ADH is
released will also cause
vasoconstriction, which will help
maintain blood pressure.
Hormones of the Hypothalamus
Oxytocin - stimulates contraction
of the uterus at the end of
pregnancy and stimulates release
of milk from the mammary
glands.
Hormones of the Hypothalamus
Prolactin-releasing hormone: prompts
the anterior pituitary to stimulate breast
milk production through the production
of prolactin.
Pituitary gland
•small lump of tissue called the master
gland because it controls several other
hormone glands in your body
•Also known as hypophysis located at
the base of the brain
Pituitary gland
•releases many hormones which affect
growth, sexual development,
metabolism and human reproduction
Hormones of the Pituitary Gland
Growth hormone (somatotropin) –stimulates cells to
produce insulin-like growth factors and also helps in
the repair of tissues
•Melonocyte-stimulating hormone-stimulates
synthesis of melanin and its disbursements to the skin
cells of the epidermis
•Adrenocorticotropic hormone –stimulates the
adrenal cortex to release its hormones
•Thyroid-stimulating hormone –stimulates the thyroid
gland to release its hormones
•Follicle-stimulating hormone-in females this
stimulates the production of estrogenby the ovaries; in
males it stimulates the sperm production
•Luteinizing hormone –in females, this stimulates
ovulation; in males it stimulates the production of
testosterone
Pineal gland
•Small gland located between the
cerebral hemispheres
•produces the hormone melatonin that
helps to regulate the human sleep-wake
cycle known as the circadian rhythm
Pineal gland
•Light sensitivity causes melatonin to be
produced only in low light or darkness.
Increased melatonin production causes
humans to feel drowsy at nighttime
when the pineal gland is active
Thyroid gland
•Consists if two lobes and sits below the voice box or
larynx
•Thyroid follicles produce thyroxine (T4) and
triiodothyronine (T3)
Both of these hormones Thyroxine (T4) and T3 functions
for regulation of energy and protein synthesis
• Secretion of thyroxine and T3 is stimulated by thyroid-
stimulating hormone (TSH)
What is necessary for the synthesis of these hormones?
• The third hormone produced by the thyroid
gland is calcitonin, which is secreted by parafollicular
cells.
•Calcitonin is released when calcium ion levels
in the blood rise above a certain set point.
Calcitonin functions to reduce the
concentration of calcium ions in the blood by
aiding the absorption of calcium into the
matrix of bones.
The stimulus for secretion of calcitonin is
hypercalcemia
•The hormones T3 and T4 work together to
regulate the body’s metabolic rate. Increased
levels of T3 and T4 lead to increased cellular
activity and energy usage in the body.
Hyperthyroidism
• High amounts of T4, T3, or both can cause an
excessively high metabolic rate. This is called a
hypermetabolic state.
• When in a hypermetabolic state, one may
experience a rapid heart rate, elevated blood
pressure, and hand tremors.
• Can cause more frequent bowel movements,
weight loss, and, in women, irregular
menstrual cycles
Graves’ disease
• autoimmune disorder that causes
hypersecretion of thyroxine
• Symptoms: weight loss accompanied by
increased appetite, increased sweating,
fast heart rate, feeling of warmth, and
fatigue. Also present may be goiter and
exophthalmos, which is protrusion of
the eyes.
Why does hypothyroidism
exhibits all these symptoms?
Parathyroid gland
•produce the hormone parathyroid
hormone (PTH)
• Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is an
antagonist to calcitonin and is
important for the maintenance of
normal blood levels of calcium and
phosphate.
Thymus gland
•Lies between the lungs
•Secretes a hormone called thymosin which
promotes the production of certain
lymphocytes known as T lymphocytes
Adrenal gland
•Two glands that sit on top of your kidneys that are made up
of two distinct parts-the adrenal medulla and the adrenal
cortex
•Adrenal medulla is the central portion of the gland and
secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones
increase heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure
•Adrenal cortex is the outermost portion of the adrenal gland
which secretes hormones like aldosterone and cortisol.
Aldosterone stimulates the body to retain sodium which is
important for maintaining blood pressure.
Cortisol is a representative of the group of hormones called
glucocorticoids. It increases the use of fats and
excess amino acids (gluconeogenesis) for energy and
decreases the use of glucose. It also has an anti-inflammatory
effect by which it blocks the effects of histamine and stabilizes
lysosomal membranes
•The adrenal medulla helps to produce several
“stress hormones,” including adrenaline
• The adrenal cortex secretes three types of
steroid hormones: mineralocorticoids,
glucocorticoids, and sex hormones
•Addison’s disease is the result of hyposecretion
of the adrenol cortical hormones in which most
cases are idiopathic
• Deficiency of cortisol is characterized by the
following: hypoglycemia,decreased
gluconeogenesis, and depletion of glycogen in
the liver.
• Aldosterone deficiency leads to retention
of potassium and excretion of sodium and
water in urine which may result to dehydration,
low blood volume, and low blood pressure.
Cushing’s syndrome is the result of
hypersecretion of the adrenal cortex, primarily
cortisol.
• The cause may be a pituitary tumor or a tumor
of the adrenal cortex
• Excessive cortisol promotes the following: fat
deposition in the trunk of the body, extremities
remain thin, skin becomes thin and fragile, and
healing after injury is slow. The bones also
become fragile
Pancreas
•It is considered as an exocrine gland as it
secretes digestive enzymes into a duct that leads
to the small intestine
•It is also considered as an endocrine gland
because it contains sturcturesknows as islets of
Langerhansthat secrete hormones into the
bloodstream
•The islets of Langerhans consist of two types of
cells: alpha cells which secrete glucagon and beta
cells secrete insulin
Hormones of the Pancreas
•Glucagon stimulates the liver to change glycogen
to glucose and to increase the use of fats and
excess amino acids for energy production.
• Insulin increases the transport of glucose from
the blood into cells by increasing the
permeability of cell membranes to glucose.
Diabetes Mellitus
•Type 1 diabetes - characterized by destruction
of the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans and a
complete lack of insulin. Type 1 is called insulin-
dependent diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes - insulin is produced but
cannot exert its effects on cells because of a
loss of insulin receptors on cell membranes . It
is called non–insulin-dependent diabetes
Gonads
•Ovaries and testes are reproductive organs that
secrete hormones
•Ovaries release estrogen and progesterone
•Testes produce testosterone
AGING AND THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
•endocrine glands decrease their secretions
with age
• decreases in adrenol cortical hormones
• decrease in muscle mass
• increase in fat storage
• lower basal metabolic rate
Common Diseases and Disorders of the Endocrine System
