FACULTY OF SCIENCE

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

UDDD1124

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I

EXPERIMENT NO. ( 7 )

EXPERIMENT TITLE

( ENDOCRINE SYSTEM )

STUDENT NAME : TAN YEU LUN

STUDENT ID : 16ADB02666

LECTURER : MS.ALICIA HO LAI YEE

PRACTICAL GROUP : P2

DATE OF SUBMISSION : 17 / 8 /2017

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Introduction

Endocrine system is made up of glands that produce and secrete hormones directly into
circulatory system which carry by the blood to the target cell. (Zimmerman, 2016) The major endocrine
glands are pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, adrenal glands,
pancreas, ovaries for female and testes for male. The glands are directly controlled by the stimulation
from the nervous system, by chemical receptors in the blood and hormones produced by other glands.
Hormones produce from endocrine system that maintain homeostasis, regulate metabolism, growth,
development and reproduction. The effect of the hormone is slow but long lasting from a few hours up
to weeks.

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 Result

Pars
Intermedia

Pars
Nervosa

Pars
Distalis

Title : Mammal Hypophysis sec.

Magnification : 10X.40X

Colloid

Parafollicular
cell

Follicular
epithelial
cell

Thyroid
follicle

Title : Mammal Thyroid and Parathyroid Gland sec.

Maginification : 10X.40X
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 Oxyphil
cells

Principal
cells

Title : Mammal Thyroid and Parathyroid Gland sec.

Magnification : 10X.40X

Islet of
Langerhans

Acinar cell

Title : Human Pancreas sec.

Magnification : 10X.40X
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 Zone
glomerulosa

Cortex
Zone
fasciculata

Zone
reticularis

Medulla

Title : Mammal Adrenal Gland sec.

Magnification : 10X.10X

Sinusoid

Demarcation
zone

Chromaffin
cell
Title : Mammal Adrenal Gland sec.
Magnification : 10X.40X
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 Pineal body

Pituitary Hypothalamus
gland

Thyroid gland
Parathyroid

Thymus
gland
Adrenal
glands

Pancreas

Ovaries

Testes

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Endocrine Gland General Function(s)
Adrenal glands Divided into cortex and medulla regions; Adrenal cortex secrete hormones
that raise the blood glucose level, promotes reabsorption of sodium ion and
excretion of potassium ion in kidney. Adrenal medulla secrete hormones
that influence the part of the nervous system that is involved in the “fight or
flight” response.
Hypothalamus Activates and controls the part of the nervous system that controls
involuntary body functions, the hormonal system, and many body functions,
such as regulating sleep and stimulating appetite.
Ovaries and Secrete hormones that influence female and male characteristics, respectively.
testes
Pancreas Secretes insulin and glucagon that controls the blood glucose level in the
body.
Parathyroid Secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH) that maintains the calcium level in the
glands blood.
Pineal body Involved with daily biological cycles.
Pituitary gland Produces a number of different hormones that influence various other endocrine
glands.
Thymus gland  Plays a role in the body's immune system. Secrete thymosin that stimulates
the development of disease-fighting T cells.
Thyroid gland Produces hormones that stimulate body heat production, bone growth and body’s
metabolism.

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Discussion
Pituitary gland is also known as hypophysis which is a pea-sized structure. The pituitary gland
is located in the hypophyseal fossa of sella turcica of the sphenoid bone and is just below the
hypothalamus. The pituitary gland is attached to the hypothalamus by a stalk composed of neuronal
axons called hypophyseal-portal veins. (Kemp, 2016) Pituitary gland is the smallest endocrine gland in
the human body. It is differentiated into three lobes, which are anterior and posterior. Anterior lobe also
called adenohypophysis is the largest part of the glands that responsible to synthesize and release most
of the pituitary hormones. It composed of pars distalis, pars intermediate and pars tuberalis. Pars distalis
is the largest part of the gland. It develops from the Rathke pouch which is the depression in the anterior
wall of the pharynx. (Charles, 2014) It is made up of specialized epithelial cells to secrete trophic
hormone. Pars intermediate is an avascular zone located between pars distalis and neurohypophysis. It
will cease to exist during adulthood. Pars tuberalis is a superior circumferential extension of the pars
distalis that surrounds the infundibular stalk of the posterior pituitary gland. Posterior pituitary gland
also called neurohypophysis which is an extension from the hypothalamus. This portion of the pituitary
gland composed of pars nervosa and infundibulum. It consists of axon and axon terminals of the
hypothalamic neurosecretory cell. The infundibulum connects the posterior pituitary gland to the
hypothalamus.

Thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that located in the neck and below the larynx. It composed
of right and left lateral lobes connected by an isthmus. Thyroid gland is covered by a capsule of
connective tissue that is made up of secretory parts called follicles. The follicles are lined with simple
cuboidal epithelial cells. They are filled with colloid in the cavities within these follicles. Colloid
consists mostly of an iodinated glycoprotein called thyroglobulin. (Bailey, 2016) The follicular cells
which produce and secrete thyroxine and triiodothyronine when stimulated by thyroid releasing
hormone (TSH). There are other hormone-secreting cells called parafollicular cells which scattered
among follicular cells and in spaces between the spherical follicles. They secrete calcitonin so called C
cells.

Parathyroid glands located in the neck and found on the posterior surface of the thyroid gland.
In the human body, there are four pea-size of parathyroid glands. The two glands with higher positions
called superior parathyroid glands and lower positioned called inferior parathyroid glands. Each gland
is a yellowish-brown structure covered by a thin capsule of connective tissue. Parathyroid gland consists
of tightly packed secretory cells associated with capillaries network. It composed of 2 epithelial cells
called chief cells and oxyphil cells. Chief cells responsible for the production of parathyroid hormone.
It appears dark when loaded with the hormone and clear when the hormone is secreted. The oxyphil
cells which are lighter in color and the number is increased with age. The function of these cells still
unknown.
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 Pancreas is an elongated and flattened organ consist of head body and tail. It is located
posterior and slightly inferior to stomach. It consists of two types of secretory tissue. Pancreas is a part
of the endocrine system but also part of digestive system. For the endocrine portion, pancreas consists
of grouped cells around blood vessels. The grouped cells are called pancreatic islets or islet of
Langerhans. The pancreatic islet composed of three hormone-secreting cells which are alpha (A) cells,
beta (B) cells, delta (D) cells. Alpha cells secrete glucagon, beta cells secrete insulin and delta cells
secrete somatostatin. The presence of cells that secrete pancreatic polypeptide called F cells. Under the
microscope, the darker-stained cells called acini which are the exocrine portion of pancreas. The
pancreatic islets were seen as lightly-stained clusters of cells and surrounded by acini. (Barron, 2010)
The cytoplasm of alpha cells appears as red and usually lie next to capillaries while the cytoplasm of
beta cells appears in pink to orange. Delta cells with pale blue cytoplasm when viewing under
microscope.

Adrenal glands are also known as suprarenal glands located on both sides of the body in the
retroperitoneum which are superior and slightly medial to the kidney. The adrenal glands are pyramids
in shape. Adrenal glands are surrounded by capsule and lie within renal fascia. For each adrenal gland,
it is highly vascular and composed of two regions. The outer part called adrenal cortex and the inner
part called medulla. Both of them are secreting distinct hormones. The adrenal cortex is the outermost
layer of the adrenal gland. It can be divided into three layers which are zona glomerulosa, zona
fasciculata and zona reticularis. (Robert, 2015) Zona glomerulosa layer located at the outer side. It lies
under the capsule surrounding the gland. The cells in this layer form oval groups which are separated
by the connective tissue. This layer of cells mainly secretes mineralocorticoids such as aldosterone by
the action of aldosterone synthase. The next deeper layer is zona fasciculata which located between zona
glomerulosa and zona reticularis. The cells of this layer produce glucocorticoids such as cortisol. The
cells are arranged in columns radially oriented towards the medulla. The deepest layer of the cortex is
zona reticularis which lies directly adjacent to the medulla. The cells in this layer responsible to secrete
androgens. The cells form irregular cords which are separated by capillaries and connective tissue. The
adrenal medulla is located centrally in the adrenal gland which is surrounded by the adrenal cortex. It
appears dark brown in colour. The adrenal medulla consists of special cells called chromaffin cells which
are irregular shaped cells and organized in cluster around blood vessel. The adrenal medulla secretes
epinephrine and norepinephrine which produce a flight-or-fight response.

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Reference

 Bailey, R., 2016. Thyroid Gland and Hormones. [Online]. Available at:
https://www.thoughtco.com/thyroid-gland-anatomy-373251 [Accessed: 14 August 2017].

 Barron, J., 2010. The Endocrine System: The Pancreas & Diabetes. [Online]. Available at:
https://jonbarron.org/diabetes-blood-sugar-levels/endocrine-system-pancreas-diabetes
[Accessed: 14 August 2017].

 Charles, H. E., 2014. Pituitary gland. [Online]. Available at:

https://www.britannica.com/science/pituitary-gland [Accessed: 14 August 2017].

 Kemp, S., 2016. Endocrine System Anatomy: Facts on Glands and Functions. [Online].
Available at:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_endocrine_system/article_em.htm
[Accessed: 13 August 2017].

 Robert, M. S., 2015. An Overview of the Adrenal Glands. [Online]. Available at:
https://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-adrenal-glands [Accessed: 14 August
2017].

 Zimmerman, K. A., 2016. KMWorld Magazine. [Online]. Available at:

http://www.kmworld.com/Authors/Kim-Ann-Zimmerman-450.aspx [Accessed: 14 August
2017].

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