HORMONE REGULATION &

THE ENDOCRINE STRUCTURES

Hormone Regulation

Positive feedback: produce

MORE when there is none or when
there is less but needed

Negative feedback:
produce/keep LESS when there is
a lot but not needed; excess will be
delivered to liver to destroy
ENDOCRINE STURUCTURES

Different regulated processes

= different hormones

= different endocrine glands

or tissues
or organs
1. HYPOTHALAMUS
Location: at the base of the brain

Hormones: Releasing and Inhibiting

Hormones
- Turns on and off a particular structure

Target: Pituitary gland (erroneously called

as the MASTER GLAND)
Hormones of Hypothalamus
CRH: Corticotropin-releasing hormone
promotes the release of adrenocorticotropic
hormone

GHRH: Growth hormone-releasing hormone

promotes release of growth hormone

GnRH: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

promotes release of LH and FSH

TRH: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone promotes

the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone
Hormones of Hypothalamus

DA: Dopamine - inhibits the release of

prolactin

SS: Somatostatin antagonistic to GHRH

and TRH
2. PITUITARY GLAND
Location: At the center of the skull, behind the
nose bridge, and below the hypothalamus

A. Hormones of the B. Hormones of the

Anterior Pituitary Posterior Pituitary
ACTH
GH Vasopressin
MSH Oxytocin
TSH
Gonadotropins:
LH/FSH
Endorphins
Prolactin
ACTH
Adrenocorticotropic hormone promotes
steroid production

Target: adrenals
GH
Growth hormone promotes growth

Target: bones and muscles

Disease: Dwarfism
MSH
Melanocyte stimulating hormone
promotes melanin production

Target: skin
TSH
thyroid stimulating hormone promotes
the function of thyroid

Target: thyroid
Gonadotropins
FSH: Follicle stimulating hormones (for sex
cells development)
LH: Luteinizing hormones (for ovulation,
corpus luteum secretions, and
testosterone)
- Promotes sexual function and sex hormone
production

Target: the gonads - ovary and testes

Endorphins
lessens pain

Target: brain
Prolactin
promotes lactation

Target: mammary gland

Vasopressin
lessens the frequency of urination

Target: kidneys
Oxytocin
promotes lactation and uterus contraction
during child birth

Target: breast and uterus

3. PINEAL GLAND
Location: Near the thalamus (the point
where right brain and left brain meet)

Hormone: Melatonin regulates the

circadian rhythm; promotes sleep by
lowering body temperature

Target: Brain
 4. Thyroid
Location: below the voice box Target:

Hormones:
* T3/T4: many cells
* T3: triiodothyronine * Calcitonin: bones
promotes metabolism by
increase in oxygen and energy Disease:
consumption; promotes
protein synthesis
* Hyperthyroidism
* T4: thyroxine a stored form * Hypothyroidism
of T3

* Calcitonin promotes calcium NOTE: Goiter is a

absorption from blood to symptom, not a
bones disease
5. Parathyroid
Location: Embedded on the surface
of thyroid (4 pieces)

Hormones: Parathyroid hormone

antagonistic with calcitonin;
promotes calcium release from
bones making bones to breakdown

Target: bones and digestive tract

6. Thymus
Location: located behind the sternum and
above the heart; fistsize in young people,
thumbsize in adult

Hormone: thymosin promotes immune

system development

Target: WBCs
 7. Pancreas
Location: Digestive system, in between stomach and small
intestine

Hormones (from Islet of Langerhans):

* Insulin for blood sugar absorption; converted to glycogen
* Glucagon for bloodsugar release; converted from glycogen
(NOTE: SOMATOSTATIN IN YOUR BOOK
MUST NOT BE INCLUDED HERE)

Target: blood vessels

Disease: Diabetes mellitus (type 1 insulin-producing cells

die, type 2 body does not produce or use insulin well,
gestational type)

NOTE: PANCREAS IS ALSO AN EXOCRINE GLAND SECRETING

PANCREATIC JUICES FOR FURTHER BREAKDOWN OF SUGARS,
PROTEINS, AND FATS
8. LIVER
Location: opposite side of stomach and pancreas

Hormones:
Angiotensin promotes release of aldosterone
from adrenal cortex to keep blood pressure even
at low sodium level
Thrombopoietin promotes megakaryotes
production for platelets
Hepcidin inhibits iron absorption in the
intestine when there is already too much iron in
the body

Targets: kidney and intestine

9. KIDNEYS
Location: At the lower back; pelvic area
Hormones:
a.Erythropoietin promotes production
of red blood cells
b.Calcitriol increases absorption of
calcium and phosphate from the
gastrointestinal tract and kidneys;
inhibits the release of parathyroid
hormones to keep calcium in bones
10. Adrenals
Location: Above kidneys
Hormones:
In adrenal cortex (coat): corticosteroids for long-
term stress via also increased immune system
activities; may be harmful
a.Glucocorticoids stimulates glycogen and fat
breakdown; inhibits protein synthesis
b.Mineralocorticoids promotes sodium absorption
andwater reabsorption increasing blood pressure;
promotes release of potassium in urine

Target: many cells

10. Adrenals
Location: Above kidneys
Hormones:
In adrenal medulla (middle): epinephrine or
adrenaline and norepinephrine or noradrenaline
for emergency or short-term stress via faster
metabolism
a.Adrenaline increases heart rate; relaxes
smooth muscles; facilitates blood flow to
muscles and brain
b.Noradrenaline squeezes blood vessels to keep
blood pressure in response to stress

Target: many cells

11. Gastrointestinal (GI) tract
Location: the digestive tract

STOMACH
gastrin promotes release of hydrochloric acid (HCl)
ghrelin and neuropeptide Y stimulates appetite
DUODENUM
secretin inhibits release of of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and
promotes release of bicarbonate (anti-acid) from liver,
pancreas, and Brunners gland of duodenum
Cholecystokinin promotes release of digestive enzymes and
bile; a hunger suppressant

Target: gut cells

12. Testes
Location: Pelvic area

Hormones:
androgen, i.e., testosterone promotes male
development
estradiol prevents death of spermatogonium
inhibin prevents further production of FSH to
control sperm production

Target: many cells, testes, pituitary gland

13. Ovaries
Location: Pelvic area

Hormones:
* estrogen for female development
* progesterone for uterine lining thickening for
fetal development
* inhibin - prevents further production of FSH to
keep the reproductive cycles normal

Target: many cells, uterus, pituitary gland