Endocrine System

consists of ductless glands that secrete

hormones into the circulatory system.
Endocrine derived from Greek words endo
and krino meaning within and to
separate.
- The word implies that intercellular
chemical signals are produced within and
secreted from endocrine glands, but the
signals have effects at locations that are
away from, the endocrine glands that
secrete them.
Functions of the Endocrine System

Water balance
Uterine contractions and milk release
Growth,
metabolism,
and
tissue
maturation
Ion regulation
Heart
rate
and
blood
pressure
regulation
Blood glucose control
Immune system regulation
Reproductive functions control

Chemical signals
-molecules release from one location that
move to another location to produce a
response.
body.
Functional
classification
intercellular chemical signals

of

1. Autocrine- Secreted by cells in a local

area and influences the activity of the
same cell type from which it was
secreted.
2. Paracrine- Produce by a wide variety
of tissues and secreted into tissue
spaces: usually has a localized effects
on other tissues.

3. Hormone- Secreted into the blood by

specialized cells: travels some distance
to target tissues: influences specific
activities
4. Neurohormone- Produce by neurons
and functions like hormones
5. Neurotransmitter
or
neuromodulator- Produce by neurons
and secreted into extracellular spaces
by presynaptic nerve terminals: travels
short distances; influences postsynaptic
cells.
6. Pheromone- Secreted into the
environment; modifies physiology and
behavior of other individuals
Receptors
-

Chemical signals bind to proteins or

glycoproteins
(called
receptor
molecules) to produce a response.
- The portion of each receptor molecule
where a chemical signal binds is a
receptor site.
- The shape and other characteristics of
each receptor site allows only a specific
chemical signal to bind to it. The
tendency for each receptor site to bind
to a specific chemical signal and not to
others is called specificity.
Hormones
-intercellular chemical signals secreted
by endocrine glands are
-derived from the Greek word normon
meaning to set into motion
- set responses by cells into motion.
- distributed to all parts of the body but
only certain tissues, called target
tissues, respond to each type of
hormone.

The levels of hormones circulating in the

blood are tightly controlled by three
homeostatic mechanisms:
1. Blood levels of chemicals- Directly
controlled by the blood levels of certain
chemicals.
2. HormonesSecretion
of
some
hormones is controlled by other
hormones.
3. Nervous system- Secretion of some
hormone is controlled by the nervous
system
Glands and their Hormones
-

Hypothalamus
-body temperature, emotions,
sexual activities
-"boss"
-monitors blood
-regulates Anterior Pituitary Gland
-releases hormones directly through
posterior pituitary gland
-controls endocrine cells of adrenal
medullae
- Pituitary Gland/hypophysis
location: base of our brain
A. Anterior
-made up of epithelial cells
-releasing hormone and inhibiting
hormone

Regulation of Hormone Secretion

The secretion of hormones is controlled

by negative-feedback mechanisms.

Growth hormone
Most tissues(cells in liver)
Increases protein synthesis, breakdown
of lipids, and release of fatty acids from
cells; increases blood glucose levels.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
triggers thyroid gland to secrete thyroid
hormones
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH)
Adrenal cortex
stimulates secretion of hormones in
adrenal glands

Melanocyte-stimulating
hormone(MSH)
- Melanocytes in skin
- Increases melanin production in
melanocytes to make the skin darker in
color
Luteinizing hormone (LH) or
interstitial cell-stimulating
hormone (ICSH)
- preparation for pregnancy
- production of testosterone hormone in
testes
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
stimulates sperm production in male
testes
stimulates estrogen hormone secretion
and egg development in female ovaries
Prolactin
formation of mammary glands(female)
and production of milk
B. Posterior
-contains neuron cells originate in
hypothalamus
-made up of nerve cells
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
- Kidney
- Increases water absorption
- maintain proper balance in bloodstream
Oxytocin
- Uterus
Increases uterine contractions
- Mammary gland
Increases milk from mammary gland
- Thyroid gland
-growth agent
Thyroid hormones (thyroxine and
triiodothyronine)
- Most cells of the body
- increases Oxygen consumption
- Increase metabolic rates, essential for
normal process of growth and
maturation
Calcitonin
- Primarily bone

Decreases rate of bone breakdown;

prevents large increase in blood Ca2+
levels following a meal
Parathyroid glands
-regulate calcium and phosphate
balance in blood plasma
-location: attached to the back of
thyroid gland
Parathyroid hormone
Bone, kidneyIncreases rate of bone
breakdown by osteoclasts; increases
vitamin D synthesis, essential for
maintenance of normal blood calcium
levels
Adrenal Glands/ Suprarenal Glands
location: top of kidney
Adrenal medulla(inner)
Epinephrine
/Adrenaline(emergency glands) and
Norepinephrine
Heart, blood vessels, liver. Fat cells
Increases cardiac output; increases
blood flow to skeletal muscles and
heart; increases release of glucose and
fatty acids into blood; in general,
prepares the body for physical activity
Adrenal cortex(outer)
Mineralocorticoids(ex. aldosterone)
Kidneys; to lesser degree, intestine and
sweat glands
Increase rate of sodium transport into
body; increase rate of potassium
excretion secondarily favor water
retention
Glucocorticoids (ex. cortisol)
Most tissues
Increase fat and protein breakdown;
increase glucose synthesis from amino
acids; increase blood nutrient level;
inhibit inflammation and immune
response
Pancreas
-regulates blood sugar levels
Insulin

Especially liver skeletal muscle, adipose

tissue
Increases uptake and use of glucose
and amino acids
Glucagon
Primarily liver
Increases breakdown of glycogen and
release of glucose into the circulatory
system

- Gonads
A. Testes
primarily secrete androgens(most
important being testosterone)
B. Ovaries
-secretes Estrogens and
Progesterone
- Most tissue
- Aid in uterine and mammary gland
development and function, external
genitalia structure, secondary sexual
characteristics, sexual behavior and
menstrual cycle
- Thymus gland
Thymosin
- Immune tissues
- Promotes immune system development
and function

Pineal body
Melatonin
At least the hypothalamus
Inhibits secretion of gonadotropinreleasing hormone, thereby inhibiting
reproduction

Disease
Dwarfismhormone

hyposecretion

of

growth

Giantismhormone

hypersecretion

of

growth

Acromegalyexcessive
appositional
growth of the skeleton resulting in
thickening of the digits and facial features
(lantern jaw and protruding bone ridges)
Diabetes
insipidusproduction of ADH in the
nucleus of the hypothalamus.

Decreased
supraoptic

mental deficiency and immature sexual

development

Non function of the parathyroid gland

produces below normal level of calcium

Graves disease- overproduction of

thyroid hormone of adenoma of the
thyrotrophic cells of the anterior pituitary a
thyroid tumor or an autoimmune reaction.

high BMR and high body temperature

with profuse sweating
Increased appetite with weight loss
Muscular tremor and nervousness
Cardiac arrhythmias
Toxic goiter and exophthalmia

DiGeorge syndrome- occurs in children

without a thymus gland. Lack of thymosin
production. Thymosin is needed to
stimulate the differentiation of T
lymphocytes

Hypersecretion of parathyroid
hormone

Little or no immune response

Inability to resist bacterial, viral or
fungal infections

Myxedema- occurs in the adult due to low

thyroxin production
-

Low BMR and lower body

temperature
Goiter due to low levels of iodine in
the blood

Cretinism- due to hypothyroidism in infant

or children. They exhibit stunted growth,

An excess of parathyroid hormone

production id due to a tumor of parathyroid
gland
-

High blood calcium

Decalcification of bones which leads to
fractures
Cardiac arrhythmias
Tetany in skeletal muscles

Hyposecretion of parathyroid hormone

Spontaneous nerve depolarization

causing muscular spasm, twitches and
convulsions

Hyposecretion of insulin
Due to lack of insulin from nonfunctioning
beta cells of pancreatic islets. Two primary
forms of diabetes
Type I or juvenile onset diabetesoccurs in people younger than 20 years
(insulin dependent diabetes)
Type II or late onset diabetes mellitus
usually occurs in people who are over the
age of 40 and overweight. In many cases
diet and exercise can reverse symptom

Prepared by:
Ma. Arlene D. Briones
Princess Morales