Topic 8 Endocrine system

8.1.1 Label the location of the major endocrine organs in the human body.

8.1.2 Describe the role of circulating (blood) and local hormones

• Hormones are secreted by endocrine glands to regulate and coordinate a range of bodily
functions.

• Release of most hormones occurs in short bursts, although some are secreted over longer
periods of time in order to stimulate permanent changes to the body.

• Hormones affect only specific target cells by (chemically) binding to specific receptors.

• Circulating hormones travel around the body in the blood. Examples include adrenaline and
testosterone.

• Local hormones act on neighbouring cells without entering the bloodstream and are usually
inactivated quickly. Examples include glucagon and serotonin.

• Paracrine hormones - regional/local - secreted into cytoplasm, the hormone affects cells
nearby(receptors very close to synthesis) and can be quickly inactivated

• Autocrine hormones - very local-secreted into cytoplasm, the hormones affects the cell that
produces the hormone(Receptors very close to synthesis) and can be quickly inactivated

8.1.3 explain how circulating hormone levels are regulated

They are regulated by complex feedback loops that may be influenced by:

• signals from the nervous system, such as adrenaline

• chemical changes in the blood, such as insulin

• other hormones, such as growth hormone

• Negative feedback loop stops the release of hormones and is controlled by the
hypothalamus

8.1.4 Explain the relationship between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland

The hypothalamus is part of both the nervous and endocrine system. It receives nervous
messages and relays them to the pituitary gland (an endocrine gland located in the brain below
the hypothalamus) and directs the pituitary to release hormones that effect body function.

• The hypothalamus can release its hormones to the pituitary gland via nerve impulses and the
posterior pituitary then secretes these directly to target cells

• The hypothalamus also secretes ‘releasing’ chemical hormones that tell the anterior pituitary
gland to secretes tropic hormones.

• The combination of these help regulate a wide range of bodily functions including growth,
and water and temperature regulation.
• Negative feedback loops from circulating hormones back to the hypothalamus tell it to stop
stimulating the pituitary with releasing hormones, therefore stopping the effect on the body.

Examples include:

1. Hypo - GNRH (gonadotropic releasing hormone) - Pituitary - FSH/LH -

testes(testosterone) /ovaries(oestrogen)  Cascade affect - axis

2. Hypo - CRH (corticotropic releasing hormone) - Pituitary - ACTH - Adrenal gland -

Adrenaline

3. Hypo - TRH (thyroid releasing hormone) - Pituitary - TSH - Thyroid - T3 and T4(metabolism)