The
Endocrine
System
Nervous system
•The nervous system
exerts point-to-point control
through nerves, similar to
sending messages by
conventional telephone.
Nervous control is electrical in
nature and fast.
The Endocrine System
• A system containing many glands that secrete
hormones that send messages in order to maintain
homeostasis
•A group of glands that work together with the
nervous system to coordinate all body functions.
Endocrine gland:
a group of cells organized into a ductless gland (no tubes) that secretes
molecular messengers (hormones) directly into the bloodstream.
Examples: pituitary, adrenal and thyroid
Hormones travel via the bloodstream
to target cells
•The endocrine system
broadcasts its hormonal messages
to essentially all cells by secretion
into blood and extracellular fluid.
Like a radio broadcast, it requires a
receiver to get the message - in the
case of endocrine messages, cells
must bear a receptor for the
hormone being broadcast in order
to respond.
Target Cell
• A cell that a hormone is specifically directed
towards.
Example: ADH works on the collecting
tube in the nephron.
• Target cells contain molecules on their surface
called receptors, to which hormones can bind.
Target cells do their job when hormones are
bound to their receptors.
Target Cells
• In order for a hormone to cause a response, its’ shape must
match the shape of its’ target cell’s receptors.
• If the hormone and the cell’s receptors do not match, the
cell will not be affected and no response by the cell will
occur.
• It’s like the lock and key model
Glands of the Endocrine System
• Pituitary Gland – the master gland. Called this
b/c it controls all other endocrine glands and
b/c it produces the highest number of different
hormones compared to all other endocrine
glands.
• Hypothalamus – senses the hormone levels in
the blood, then tells the pituitary what to do
with either hormones it produces or by direct
nerve stimulation.
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Optic
chiasm
Infundibulum
Pituitary
gland
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• Pineal Gland – produces a hormone (melatonin)
that helps you go to sleep.
• Thyroid Gland – produces hormones that influence
metabolic rate, decrease blood calcium and
increase bone calcium levels.
• Parathyroid Glands – produces a hormone that
increases blood and decreases bone calcium levels.
• Thymus Gland – produces a hormone that
stimulates the immune response in children.
• Adrenal Glands – produces hormones help
prepare the body for stress and control blood
pressure.
• Pancreas – produces hormones that control BSL
(blood sugar level).
• Ovaries – produces hormones that control
female characteristics and menstrual cycle.
• Testes – produces a hormone that control male
characteristics and sperm production.
Endocrine Hormones
Gland Hormones Functions
Thyroid Thyroxin Regulates metabolism
Calcitonin Inhibits release of calcium from the
bones, causes storage of calcium in
bones
Parathyroid Parathyroid Stimulates the release of calcium from
s hormone the bones.
Parathormone/
Parathyromone
Islet cells (in Insulin Decreases blood sugar by promoting
the uptake of glucose by cells.
pancreas) Glucagon Increases blood sugar by stimulating
breakdown of glycogen in the liver.
Testes Testosterone Regulates sperm cell production and secondary
sex characteristics.
Ovaries Estrogen Stimulates egg maturation, controls secondary sex
characteristics.
Progesterone Prepares the uterus to receive a fertilized egg.
Adrenal Epinephrine Stimulates “fight or flight” response.
cortex
Adrenal Glucocorticoids Part of stress response, increase blood glucose levels
medulla and decrease immune response.
Aldosterone Regulates sodium content in the blood.
Testosterone (in Adult body form (greater muscle mass), libido.
both sexes)
Pineal Melatonin Sleep cycles, reproductive cycles in many mammals.
gland
Thymus Thymosin Enables the body to produce antibodies
Gland
Exocrine gland:
• a gland that dumps molecules (ex. enzymes or
tears - not hormones) into ducts that generally
lead out of the body or into another organ. It is a
ducted gland (has tubes).
Exocrine glands are NOT part of the
endocrine system
Examples: salivary, milk, and sweat glands
Hormone
• A chemical that acts like a messenger; a
protein or steroid that causes a response in a
target cell or organ
• Produced by endocrine glands, NOT exocrine
glands.
Examples: ADH (Antidiuretic hormone),
testosterone, thyroxin
Inputs to endocrine cells
Master Gland
• The hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain
both work together to control all secretions by all
endocrine glands.
• The pituitary is called the “MASTER GLAND” because
it is near the top of the chain of command, telling
other glands what to do, and because it produces a
large number of different hormones
• The endocrine glands are essential in helping the body
to maintain Homeostasis.
Posterior Pituitary Hormones
• Manufactured in Hypothalamus, released from
Post. Pit.
• Oxytocin
– Target = smooth ms. Uterus and Breast (&brain)
– Function = labor and delivery, milk ejection,(pair
bonding)
• ADH (Vasopressin AVP)
– Target = kidneys
– Function = water reabsorption
Anterior Pituitary Hormones
HORMONE TARGET FUNCTION
Thyroid (TSH) Thyroid gland TH synthesis &
Stimulating
release
Growth (GH) Many tissues growth
Adrenocortico- Adrenal cortex Cortisol release
Tropin (ACTH) (androgens)
Prolactin (Prl) Breast Milk production
Follicle (FSH) Gonads Egg/sperm prod.
Luteinizing (LH) Gonads Sex hormones
This is what happens
Hypothalamus in the body:
Boss
TSH-RH
Hypothalamus (the boss)
makes TSH-RH (thyroid
stimulating hormone releasing
hormone)
Pituitary (the manager) makes
TSH (thyroid stimulating
Manager Pituitary
hormone)
TSH
Thyroid gland (the worker)
makes TH (thyroid hormone)
Worker Thyroid
TH
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Pituitary Disorders
• Hypersecretion of GH in children
• Gigantism (overall growth)
• Hypersecretion of GH in adults
– Acromegaly: enlarged hands and feet, and big chin, nose, and
forehead
• Hyposecretion of GH
– Pituitary dwarfism
– Proportions are normal, overall size is small
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Gigantism
Robert Wadlow 8’11” Sandy Allen 7’7”
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23
• 7 Feet 7 and 360 Pounds, With Bigger Feet
Than Shaq's. Kenny George leads the nation in
blocked shots per game.
• Andre the
Giant
• Abraham Lincoln
• Lurch, Addams Family
• Yao Ming
• Ron Perlman
Acromegaly
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Pituitary Dwarfism
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Problems with Thyroid
• Goiter
– Too little iodine in the diet
• Hyperthyroidism
– Graves’ Disease is when hyperthyroidism is caused by
an autoimmune disorder.
– Leads to nervousness, weight loss, sweating, and
rapid heart rate.
• Hypothyroidism
– Decreases metabolism, causes obesity
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Goiter
Hypersecretion of TSH or TH
Hypothyroidism
• – Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis - adult hypothyroidism
– Antibodies attack and destroy thyroid tissue
– Low metabolic rate and weight gain are common
symptoms
– Myxedema: non-pitting edema associated with
hypothyroidism
• Cretinism – hypothyroidism in children
– Short, disproportionate body, thick tongue and mental
retardation
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Hypothyroidism
Before and After Treatment
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Hyposecretion of TH/ Cretinism
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 causes hyperthyroidism:
hyperthyroidism, • Exopthalmos
commonly called Graves’ – bulging of the
disease.
eyeballs (picture
– Signs and symptoms: Barbara Bush)
• insomnia, fatigue • In severe cases - a
• tachycardia medical emergency
• hypertension called thyrotoxicosis
• heat intolerance can result.
• weight loss
The Endocrine System
• Prolonged in adrenal
cortex hormone results
in Cushing’s Disease.
• Signs & Symptoms of
Cushing’s Disease:
– in blood sugar levels
– unusual body fat
distribution
– rapid mood swings
Cushing’s Syndrome
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Adrenal Gland Deficiencies
Signs/symptoms:
Water/salt
imbalance, plasma
volume depletion,
low blood glucose,
pigmentation,
Addisonian crisis
(low blood pressure,
low blood glucose,
need to go to the
hospital)
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The Endocrine System
• Endocrine Emergencies: • Complications of
• Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes:
– one of the most – contributes to heart
common diseases in disease
North America. – stroke
– insulin secretion by – kidney disease
the Beta () cells of the – blindness
islets of Langerhans in
the pancreas.
Who is In Charge?
