NAAN MUDHALVAN UPSKILLING

PLATFORM
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
 SYNOPSIS

• ENDOCRINOLOGY

• ENDOCRINOLOGIST

• STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

• PATHOLOGY

• DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND PROCEDURES

• MEDICAL TERMS & ABBREVIATIONS

• ICD AND CPT CODES

 INTRODUCTION

• ENDOCRINOLOGY : Study of the structure and workings of the endocrine system, the
associated diseases and conditions, and their treatment.

• ENDOCRINOLOGIST : A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of

endocrine disorders is called an endocrinologist.

• The functions of the body are regulated by two major control systems: the nervous system,
and the endocrine system.

• The endocrine system, also called the hormonal system.

 FUNCTIONS OF ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM
• Regulates the metabolic functions of the body including the rates of chemical reactions in cells

• Secretion of chemical substances called hormones, growth, and homeostasis.

• Allows the body to coordinate the actions of many organs at the same time, and it is vital to normal growth
and survival.
 GLAND

• A gland is any organized collection of cells that secrete or excrete a substance.

• The body contains two types of glands: endocrine glands and exocrine glands.

• The endocrine glands secrete chemical substances directly into the

bloodstream.

• On the other hand, the exocrine glands send their output through ducts.
 ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

The endocrine system consists of glands that secrete hormones.

• They are connected in a functional sense through hormones, chemical messengers that are
carried by the blood from glands to the cells upon which they act.

• Each hormone binds with particular receptors, which are contained in specific target
tissues.

• Each hormone has its own receptor, and the two interact much like a lock and key.

• When a hormone binds with its receptor, the receptor initiates specific biological activities.
ENDOCRINE GLANDS

Thyroid gland
Parathyroid glands (four glands)
Adrenal glands (one pair)
Pancreas (islets of langerhans)
Pituitary gland
Ovaries in female (one pair)
Testes in male (one pair)
Pineal gland
Thymus gland
 • The pineal and the thymus glands, are
PINEAL GLAND included as endocrine glands because they are
ductless.

• The pineal gland, located in the central

portion of the brain, secretes melatonin.

• Melatonin functions to sup4port the body’s

“biological clock” and is thought to induce
sleep.
 THYMUS GLAND

• The thymus gland is located behind the sternum, and like the pineal gland,
little is known about it.

• It secretes thymosin, which promotes the development and functioning of the

immune system in newborns.

• This gland is relatively large in a child but shrinks as one ages

THYMUS GLAND
 THYROID GLAND AND PARATHYROID
GLANDS

• THYROID GLAND

• Composed of a right and a left lobe on either side of the trachea

• Just below a large piece of cartilage called the thyroid cartilage (ADAM’S APPLE)

• The isthmus of the thyroid gland is a narrow strip of glandular tissue that connects the two
lobes on the ventral (anterior) surface of the trachea.

• PARATHYROID GLANDS

• The parathyroid glands are four small oval bodies located on the dorsal aspect of the
thyroid gland. Also called Parathormone
 THYROID GLAND AND
PARATHYROID GLANDS
 THYROID GLAND AND
PARATHYROID GLANDS
 ADRENAL GLANDS

• The adrenal glands are two small glands, one on top of each kidney

• Each gland consists of two parts:

– an outer portion, the adrenal cortex and

– an inner portion, the adrenal medulla.

• The adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla are two glands in one, secreting different hormones
ADRENAL GLANDS
 PANCREAS

• The pancreas is located near and partly behind the stomach in the region of the first and
second lumbar vertebrae

• The endocrine tissue of the pancreas consists of specialized hormone-producing cells called
the islets of Langerhans or islet cells.

• More than 98% of the pancreas consists of exocrine cells(glands and ducts). These cells
secrete digestive enzymes into the gastrointestinal tract.

• The islets of Langerhans produce insulin (produced by beta cells) and glucagon (produced
by alpha cells). Both play a role regulating blood glucose (sugar) levels.
PANCREAS
 HYPOTHALAMUS AND PITUITARY

• The hypothalamus is part of the brain, but it is considered an endocrine gland because it
releases its hormones into the blood to act at sites outside the brain.

• The primary function of the hypothalamus is to control the actions of the pituitary gland.

• The pituitary gland sits in the sella turcica, a bony cavity at the base of the brain.

• Physiologically, the pituitary gland is divided into the anterior pituitary gland
(adenohypophysis) and the posterior pituitary gland (neurohypophysis).
 PITUITARY GLAND - “MASTER
GLAND”
Pituitary gland - “master gland”

Instructions for other glands to secrete hormones.

Hypothalamus directs the behavior of the pituitary gland

The hypothalamus receives instructions from the central nervous system concerning what
hormones the pituitary should secrete.

Because the release of these hormones is controlled by neurons, they are called neuro-
hormones
PITUITARY GLAND - “MASTER
GLAND”
PITUITARY
PITUITARY
 HYPOTHALAMUS

• Hypothalamic-releasing hormones
• – corticotropin-releasinghormone (CRH) – stimulates ACTH
• – gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) - stimulatesLH, FSH, PRL (prolactin)
• – growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) – GH (growth hormone)
• – thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) - TSH, PRL
• Hypothalamic inhibiting hormones
• – dopamine – inhibits PRL, LH, FSH, TSH
• – somatostatin – inhibits GH, TSH
HYPOTHALAMUS
 OVARIES & TESTES

OVARIES

The ovaries are two small glands located in The lower abdominal region of the female.

The ovaries produce the female gamete, the Ovum, as well as hormones that are Responsible for
female sex characteristics and Regulation of the menstrual cycle.

TESTES

• The testes are two small ovoid glands suspended from the inguinal region of the

male by the spermatic cord and surrounded by the scrotal sac.

• The testes produce the male gametes , spermatozoa, as well as the male hormone called
testosterone.
OVARIES & TESTES
 METABOLISM

• Metabolism is the total of all chemical and physical changes that occur in body tissue, and it
must be closely regulated to maintain homeostasis.

• It consists of two processes : anabolism and catabolism.

• Anabolism involves building complex substances (proteins) from simple substances. It

requires energy and occurs in all cells as they maintain themselves, divide to form new cells,
and produce substances such as hormones.

• Catabolism is the process of breaking down larger molecules into smaller ones, resulting in
the release of energy
METABOLISM
PATHOLOGY
 PATHOLOGY

• Hyperthyroidism: Overactivity of the thyroid gland; thyrotoxicosis.

• Hypothyroidism: Underactivity of the thyroid gland.

• Thyroid carcinoma : Cancer of the thyroid gland.

• Cushing syndrome : group of signs and symptoms produced by excess cortisol from the adrenal cortex.

• Diabetes mellitus (DM) lack of insulin secretion or resistance of insulin in promoting sugar, starch, and fat
metabolism in cells.

• Acromegaly hypersecretion of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary after puberty, leading to
enlargement of extremities

• Dwarfism congenital hyposecretion of growth hormone; hypopituitary dwarfism.

PATHOLOGY
 PATHOLOGY

Gigantism- Hypersecretionof growth hormone

from the anterior pituitarybefore puberty, leading
to abnormal overgrowth of body tissues
 DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

• The Glycosylated hemoglobin (hba1c) test - by measuring the percentage of red blood cells with glucose
attached, monitors long term glucose control. A high level indicates poor glucose control in diabetic patients.

• Computed tomography (ct) scan - x-ray imaging of endocrine glands in cross section and other views, to
assess size and infiltration by tumor.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – magnetic waves produce images of the hypothalamus and pituitary
gland to locate abnormalities.

• Thyroid scan- scanner detects radioactivity and visualizes the thyroid gland.

• Ultrasound examination- sound waves show images of endocrine organs.

 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

1. andr/o-male 8. toxic/o- poison

2. cortic/o-cortex, outer region 9. ur/o –urine

3. estr/o- female 10. -agon- assemble, gather together

4. gluc/o- sugar 11. -emia- blood condition

5. kal/i-potassium 12. hyper- excessive; above

6. phys/o- growing 13. poly- many or increased

7. somat/o- body 14. hypo- deficient; below; under; less than

normal
 ABBREVIATIONS
AC adrenal cortex
ADH antidiuretic hormone
DKA diabetic ketoacidosis
DM diabetes mellitus
FSH follicle-stimulating hormone
GH growth hormone
LH luteinizing hormone
T4 thyroxine

TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone

NIDDM noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
PTH parathyroid hormone
 ICD AND CPT CODES

ICD CODES CPT codes

• Hyperthyroidism-E05 • Thyroid stimulating hormone- 84443
• Acromegaly-E22.0 • Lipid panel-80061
• Hyperinsulinemia-R73.9
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus-E11.9
• Cushing syndrome-E24.9