Endocrine

System

Endocrine System
A gland in any organ that produces a secretion.
Are organized groups of tissues which use

materials from blood or lymph to make new

compounds called hormones.
Are also called ductless glands and glands of
internal secretion.
Hormones are secreted directly into bloodstream.
Secretions are transported to all areas of the
body where they have a special influence on
cells, tissues and organs.

Function of the endocrine system

To secrete hormones or chemical messengers

which coordinate and direct the activities of

target cells and target organs.

Pituitary Gland
Tiny structure having a diameter about 10mm

and weight approximately 0.5 g, about the

size of a grape.
Is known as the master gland because of its
major influence on the bodys activities. It is
even more amazing when you consider the
size of this incredible gland.

Pituitary Hormones and Their Known Functions

PITUITARY HORMONE
KNOWN FUNCTION
Anterior Lobe
TSH - thyroid - stimulating hormone
Stimulates the growth and the secretion
(thyrotropin)
of the thyroid gland
Stimulates the growth and the secretion
ACTH - adrenocorticotropic
of the adrenal cortex
stimulates growth of new graafian
(ovarian) follicle and secretion of
FSH - follicle-stimulating hormone
estrogen by follicle cells in the female
and the production of sperm in the
male
Stimulates ovulation and formation of
LH - luteinizing hormone (female)
the corpus luteum. Corpus luteum
secretes progesterone
ICSH - Interstitial cell-stimulating
hormone (male)

Stimulates testosterone secretion by

the interstitial of the testes.

PRL - prolactin

Stimulates secretion of milk in females.

Function in male is unknown

GH - growth hormone (somatotropin,

STH)

Accelerates body growth and causes

fat to be used for energy; this helps to
maintain blood sugar

Posterior Lobe - Hormones Produced by the Hypothalamus

Vasopressin-antidiuretichormone
(ADH)

Maintains water balance by

reducing urinary output. It acts on
kidney tubules to reabsorb water
into the blood more quickly. In large
amounts, it causes contriction of
arteries

Oxytocin

Promotes milk ejection and causes

contraction of the smooth muscles
of the uterus

Thyroid Gland
Is a butterfly-shaped mass of tissues located in the anterior

part of the neck.

It is about 2 inches long, with two lobes joined by strands of
thyroid tissues called the isthmus.
Thyroid gland has a rich blood supply. It fact, it has been
estimated that about 4 to 5 liter (some 8.5 to 10.5 pints) of
blood pass through the gland every hour.
Thyroid gland secretes three hormones: thyroxine,
triiodothyronine and calcitonin.
The function of thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are as
follows:
1. Controls the rate of metabolism in the body: how cell use
glucose and oxygen to produce heat and energy.
2. Stimulates protein synthesis and thus helps in tissue
growth.
3. Stimulates the breakdown of liver glycogen

Thyroid Gland
Calcitonin controls the calcium ion

concentration in the body by maintaining a

proper calcium level in the bloodstream.
Approximately 99% of calcium stored in
bones. Calcium is necessary for blood clotting,
holding cell together and neuromuscular
functions.
Proper secretion of calcitonin into the
bloodstream prevents hypercalcemia, a
harmful rise in the blood calcium level.

Thymus Gland
Thymus gland is both an endocrine gland and

lymphatic organ.
Located under the sternum, anterior and
superior to the heart.
Fairly large childhood, it begins to disappear
at puberty.
The major hormone is thymosin which helps
to stimulate the lymphoid cells that are
responsible for the production of T cells, which
fight certain diseases.

Adrenal Glands
The two adrenal glands are located on top of

each kidneys one gland on each kidney.

Each gland has two parts; the cortex and the
medulla.
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from
the pituitary gland stimulates the activity of
the cortex of the adrenal gland.
The hormones secretes by the adrenal cortex
are known as corticoids. The corticoids are
very effective as anti-inflammatory drugs.

The cortex secretes 3 groups of corticoids, each of which is

of great importance :
(a) Mineralocorticoids mainly aldosterone, affects the
kidney tubules by speeding up the reabsorption of sodium
into the blood circulation and increasing the excretion of
potassium from the blood. They also speed up the
reabsorption of water by the kidneys
(b) Glucocorticoids namely cortisone and cortisol, increase

the amount of glucose in the blood. This is done by (1) the

conversion of proteins and fats to glycogen in the liver,
followed by (2) breakdown of the glycogen into glucose.

(c) Sex hormones for both male and female androgens are

male sex hormone which together with similar hormones

from the gonads, bring about masculine characteristics.
Some estrogens are also present.

Fungsi adrenalin dalam

membantu kecemasan
Ia membesarkan arteri-arteri koronari untuk

menambahkan bekalan darah ke otot-otot jantung.

Ia membesarkan bronkus supaya menambah
kandungan udara yang masuk ketika tarikan nafas
berlaku.
Ia mencerutkan salur-salur darah di dalam kulit. Ini
membantu meningkatkan tekanan darah.
Ia menambahkan kadar pertukaran glikogen
kepada glukosa untuk pengecutan otot-otot .
Glukosa merupakan satu sumber tenaga bagi otot
supaya ia boleh bertindak semasa kecemasan.

Fungsi adrenalin dalam

membantu kecemasan
Ia menyebabkan pengecutan otot regang

untuk menegakkan rambut.

Ia juga menambah aktiviti-aktiviti kelenjar
peluh.
Ia membesarkan saiz anak mata.
Ia mengecutkan limpa dan ini menambahkan
isipadu darah yang mengalir di dalam badan.
Ia melambatkan peristalsis salur pencernaan
dan kurang air liur dikeluarkan.

Gonads
The gonads, or sex glands, include the ovaries

and testes.
The ovary us responsible for producing the
ova or egg and the hormone estrogen and
progesterone.
The testes are responsible for producing
sperm and the hormone testosterone.

Female Hormones
Estrogen and Progesterone
Estrogen is produced by the graafian follicle

cells of the ovary. It stimulates the development

of the reproductive organs, including breast, and
secondary sex characteristic such as pubic and
axillary hair.
Progesterone is produced by the cells of the
corpus luteum of the ovary. Progesterone work
with estrogen to build up the lining of the uterus
for the fertilized egg. If no fertilized occurs,
menstruation takes place. The cycles depends
on the secretion of the anterior pituitary gland.

Male Hormone Testosterone

Testosterone is produced by the interstitial of

the testes and is responsible for the

development of the male reproductive organs
and secondary sex characteristics.
Testosterone influences the growth of a beard
and other body hair, deepening of the voice,
increase in musculature and the production of
sperm.
The secretion if the hormone depends on the
pituitary gland.

Pancrease
Located behind the stomach.
Involved in production of insulin by the B cells of the

islets of Langerhans on the pancreas.

B cells produce insulin, which
(1) promotes the utilization of glucose in the cells,
necessary for maintenance of normal levels of blood
glucose
(2) promotes fatty acid transport and fat deposition
into cells
(3) promotes amino acid transport into cells
(4) facilitates protein synthesis

Lack of insulin secretion by the island (islet) cells

causes diabetes mellitus

The A cells contains in the islets of Langerhans secrete
the hormone glucagon.
The action of glucagon may br antagonistic or opposite
to that of insulin.
Glucagons function is to increase the level of glucose
in the bloodstream. This is done by stimulating the
conversion of liver glycogen to glucose.
The control of glucagons secretion is achieved by
negative feedback.
Low glucose levels in the bloodstream stimulate the A
cells to secrete glucagon, which quickly increases the
glucose level in the bloodstream.

Pineal Gland
Is a small pinecone-shaped organ attached by a slim stalk to

the roof of the third ventricle in the brain.

The hormone produced by the pineal gland is called
melatonin.
The pineal gland is stimulated by a group of nerve cells
called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which are located
in the brain over the pathway of fibers of the optic nerve.
The amount of light affects the amount of melatonin
secreted. The darker it is, the more melatonin is produced;
the lighter it is, the less melatonin is produced.
There are no clear answer to the function of melatonin.
However, melatonin causes body temperature to drop. For
example, falling asleep is associated with lowered body
temperature, whereas waking up is associated with rising
body temperature,