The Endocrine System

• Controls many body • Derives its name from

functions the fact that various
– exerts control by glands release
releasing special hormones directly into
chemical substances into the blood, which in turn
the blood called
hormones
transports the
– Hormones affect other hormones to target
endocrine glands or body tissues via ducts.
systems
 The Endocrine System
• Pituitary gland: a small
gland located on a stalk
• Consists of several hanging from the base of the
brain - AKA
glands located in
various parts of the • “The Master Gland”
body. – Primary function is to
control other glands.
– Produces many
hormones.
– Secretion is controlled by
the hypothalamus in the
base of the brain.
 The Endocrine System
• The two segments are:
• The Pituitary Gland is – Posterior Pituitary:
divided into 2 areas, • produces oxytocin
which differ and antidiuretic
hormone (ADH)
– structurally and – Anterior Pituitary:
functionally • produces
– each area has thyroid-stimulating
separate types of hormone (TSH)
hormone production. • growth hormone (GH)
• adrenocorticotropin
(ACTH)
• follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH)
 The Endocrine System
• And even more… • Posterior Pituitary
– luteinizing hormone – Oxytocin (the
(LH) natural form of
pitocin)
– prolactin
• stimulates gravid
uterus
• Let’s go over these • causes “let down”
of milk from the
one at a time... breast.
– ADH (vasopressin)
causes the kidney to
retain water.
 The Endocrine System
• Anterior Pituitary • Anterior Pituitary…
– Primarily regulates – Growth hormone
other endocrine (GH)
glands • ↓ glucose usage
– rarely a factor in • ↑ consumption of
endocrinological fats as an energy
emergencies source
– TSH stimulates the – ACTH stimulates the
thyroid gland to adrenal cortex to
release its release its hormones
hormones, thus ↑
– FSH & LH stimulates
metabolic rate
maturation & release
of eggs from ovary.
 The Endocrine System
• The Thyroid Gland • Within the colloid are
the thyroid hormones:
– lies in the anterior
neck just below the – thyroxine (T4)
larynyx. – triiodothyronine (T3)
– Two lobes, located • When stimulated
on either side of the (by TSH or by
trachea, connected cold), these are
by a narrow band of released into the
tissue called the circulatory system
isthmus. and ↑ the
– Sacs inside the metabolic rate.
gland contain colloid – “C” cells within the
thyroid produce the
hormone calcitonin.
 The Endocrine System
• Calcitonin, when • Myxedema symptoms:
released, lowers the – Facial bloating
amount of calcium in – weakness
the blood. – cold intolerance
• Inadequate levels of – lethargy
thyroid hormones = – altered mental
status
hypothyroidism, or
– oily skin and hair
Myxedema.
– TX: replacement of
thyroid hormone.
 The Endocrine System
• Increased thyroid – Long term
hormone release hyperthyroidism:
causes • Exopthalmos
hyperthyroidism, – bulging of the
commonly called eyeballs (picture
Graves’ disease. Barbara Bush)
– Signs and • In severe cases - a
symptoms: medical emergency
• insomnia, fatigue called thyrotoxicosis
• tachycardia can result.
• hypertension
• heat intolerance
• weight loss
 The Endocrine System
• Parathyroid Glands – produce parathyroid
– small, pea-shaped hormone - ↑ level of
glands, located in the calcium in blood
neck near the thyroid
– usually 4 - number can – Hypocalcemia can
vary result if parathyroids
– regulate the level of are removed or
calcium in the body destroyed.
 The Endocrine System
• Pancreas • Islets of Langerhans
– a key gland located in – specialized tissues in
the folds of the which the endocrine
duodenum functions of the
– has both endocrine and pancreas occurs
exocrine functions – include 3 types of cells:
– secretes several key • alpha (α )
digestive enzymes • beta (β)
• delta (∂)
– each secretes an
important hormone.
 The Endocrine System
• Alpha (α) cells release • The surge of glucagon
glucagon, essential for stimulates the liver to
controlling blood release glucose stores
glucose levels. (from glycogen and
• When blood glucose additional storage
levels fall, α cells ↑ sites).
the amount of • Also, glucagon
glucagon in the blood . stimulates the liver to
manufacture glucose -
• gluconeogenesis.
 The Endocrine System
• Beta Cells (β) release • Insulin is rapidly
insulin (antagonistic to broken down by the
glucagon). liver and must be
• Insulin ↑ the rate at secreted constantly.
which various body • Delta Cells (∂)
cells take up glucose. produce somatostatin,
Thus, insulin lowers which inhibits both
the blood glucose glucagon and insulin.
level.
 The Endocrine System
• Adrenal Glands • accounts for 95% of
– 2 small glands that sit adrenal cortex hormone
atop both kidneys. production
– secretes the hormones • ↑ the level of glucose in
norepinephrine and the blood
epinephrine (closely • Released in response to
related to the stress, injury, or serious
sympathetic infection
component of the
autonomic nervous
system).
 The Endocrine System
• Gonads and Ovaries: • Ovaries:
– the endocrine glands – located in the
associated with human abdominal cavity
reproduction. adjacent to the uterus.
– Female ovaries – Under the control of
produce eggs LH and FSH from the
– Male gonads produce anterior pituitary they
sperm manufacture
• estrogen
• both have endocrine • protesterone
functions.
 The Endocrine System
• Estrogen and • Testes:
Progesterone have – located in the scrotum
several functions, – produce sperm for
including sexual reproduction
development and – manufacture
preparation of the testosterone -
• promotes male growth
uterus for implantation and masculinization
of the egg. – Controlled by anterior
pituitary hormones
FSH and LH.
 The Endocrine System
• Endocrine • Complications of
Emergencies: Diabetes:
• Diabetes Mellitus – contributes to heart
– one of the most disease
common diseases in – stroke
North America. – kidney disease
– ↓ insulin secretion by – blindness
the Beta (β) cells of
the islets of
Langerhans in the
pancreas.
 The Endocrine System
• Pathophysiology of • The other 2 major
Diabetes: food sources are
• Glucose Metabolism – proteins
– Glucose (dextrose) is a – fats
simple sugar required • Most sugars in the
by the body to produce human diet are
energy.
complex and must be
– Sugars, or
broken down into
carbohydrates, are 1 of
3 major food sources simple sugars:
used by the body. glucose, galactose and
fructose - before use.
 The Endocrine System
• Breakdown of sugars • To be converted into
is carried out by energy, glucose must
enzymes in the gastro first be transmitted
intestinal system. through the cell
– As simple sugars, these membrane. BUT - the
are absorbed from the glucose molecule is
GE system into the large and doesn’t
body.
readily diffuse through
– More than 95% enter
the cell membrane.
the body as glucose.
 The Endocrine System
• Glucose must pass into • The rate at which
the cell by binding to a glucose can enter the
special carrier protein cell is dependent upon
on the cell’s surface. insulin levels.
– Facilitated diffusion - – Insulin serves as the
doesn’t use energy. messenger - travels via
The carrier protein blood to target tissues.
binds with the glucose – Combines with specific
and carries it into the insulin receptors on the
cell. surface of the cell
membrane.