Physiology – final

Endocrine #2
Sunday 26 /12/2010
Dr. mohammad ja’afar
By :Israa Qudah & Sura al-
Hami

‫بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم‬

We have already talked about the anterior pituitary and the types of
hormones that is secreted from it .

As we said before , the anterior pituitary is the main gland that

regulates the release of hormones in other endocrine glands , and we
have mentioned that we have the Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH),
the Adrenocorticotropic releasing hormone and so on .

See the connection between the hypothalamus and the anterior

pituitary in the pic .

And as I told you before , the posterior pituitary is mainly for storing
not releasing .

As you can see (in the previous pic!) we have:

* the systemic artery coming to the hypothalamus.

* the vain.

* the neuron that release the hormone or the substance that is

coming to the anterior pituitary.

* again in the anterior pituitary we have another set of capillaries

.

the hormones which are released in the hypothalamus will not go

directly to the systemic circulation because :
 1- they are mainly released to control the function of the anterior
pituitary , so they go directly from the hypothalamus to the
anterior pituitary then the secretion of the hormones will be
from the anterior pituitary .

2- if the hormone goes directly to the systemic circulation it will be

diluted , and then it will take along time to reach to the anterior
pituitary.

there is a special connection between the hypothalamus and the

anterior pituitary and this is called hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal
system , this system has two sets of capillaries one in the
hypothalamus and the other in the anterior pituitary , so that the
function of the anterior pituitary is regulated by hormones that have
been released from the hypothalamus .

again hormones which are released in the hypothalamus will not go to

the systemic circulation, they will go to the anterior pituitary directly ,
and the anterior pituitary will release the hormone needed .

For example we have the Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from the
anterior pituitary , TSH is regulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone
from the hypothalamus .

So thyrotropin-releasing hormone is released from the hypothalamus

then it goes directly to the anterior pituitary to stimulate the
production of the TSH and this TSH will go to the thyroid gland .

Now , how this hypothalamus been regulated ?

the neurons in the hypothalamus are mainly sensitive to any change in

our body ,particularly changes in blood .
Most of the changes are driven into the hypothalamus ( we have no
barriers in the capillaries such as those in the brain ) , so the hormone
releasing from the hypothalamus is regulated by different parts of the
brain particularly that part that is related to emotions .

Simple example on this , ladies with the menstrual cycle, during this
period some times when the lady is under stress or when she is
emotionally upset , the menstrual cycle will be disturbed .this
disturbance happen due to the affect of the brain (emotion parts) on
the secretion of hypothalamus hormones ( hormones related to the
menstrual cycle ).

*emotion parts of the brain are mainly the limbic system (mentioned
in the CNS ).

GROWTH HORMONE

The growth hormone (GH) stimulates body growth , including the length
of the bones and the soft tissues development .

When the GH will be stimulated ?!

1- mainly it will increase during deep sleeping ,that’s why as much

as the baby gets sleep , the GH will be increased ,

and also it is reduced during in between sleeping

2- It will increase during exercise

 3- It will increase if the glucose level decrease .

*in adults we don’t need additional bone growth or soft tissue

development But small amount of GH is still released for an Unknown
reason !

Now , GH is released from the anterior pituitary and regulated from

the hypothalamus by two hormones :

1- Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH ) - stimulate to

increase GH.

2- Growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH ) - stimulate to inhibit

GH.

When the growth hormone secretion increases, it will circulate in the

blood then part of it will reach the hypothalamus , this hormone that
reaches the hypothalamus will :

1- Inhibit the neurons that release GHRH .

2- Stimulate the neurons that release GHIH.

• And vise versa .

*The idea is the negative feedback mechanism (mentioned before! ).

Just to mention for you ! : the growth hormone increase body growth
by affecting the metabolic activity that means that it will increase the
breakdown of protein to make the glucose available to the brain
***The Dr said something about stress and what happen to the
glucose level during stress but it was NOT clear to me !! 

you can google it ! :D

The effect of the growth hormone is not direct on the tissue , its
mainly indirect by stimulating the secretion of somatomedin from the
liver .

The End of my part 

Sura’s turn :D

Thyroid Gland

The Thyroid Gland has two lobes , with the isthmus in between, that
connects the two lobes .
Now, the Thyroid Gland secrets what is called the Thyroxin, T3 & T4 ,
both are regulated by Thyroid Stimulating Hormone from Anterior
Pituitary and then Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is regulated by
Thyroxin Releasing Hormone .

If you look to the structure of the gland, you’ll find that the structure
is composed of follicles ( the follicle looks like the alveoli ; sort of a
sac ), and the wall is composed of single cell .

Thyroglobulin

C cell

There are two types of cell :

1. Normal Thyroid Gland which releases the Thyroxin

2. C cells which secretes Calcitonin , which plays a role in calcium

metabolism.

These cells secrete and form the Thyroxin , which is a molecule that
formed inside the follicle .
The formation of T3, T4 is mainly called in-Thyroglobulin , a large
protein molecule which presents inside the follicle. The molecule will
take the amino acid tyrosine and will form the Thyroxin which is
actually T3 & T4 .

T3 is Tri-Iodothyronin ( 3 iodine molecules )

T4 is Tetra-Iodothyronin ( 4 iodine molecules)

Between 80-90% of the Thyroxin in our body is T4, but the active one
is T3, so when there’s a need for, T4 must be changed into T3 .

When both T4 and T3 are formed in our body, T3 presents in small

amount , and T4 presents in large amount .

So we notice that the Thyroxin and the Thyroid Gland function

depends on the availability of Iodine , which is mainly presents in fish .

*** If the Iodine level is low, or NO iodine in our body, the Thyroid
gland will keep forming the Thyroglobulin but T4 & T3 level is low ….

As the activity of the Thyroid Glands increases, the level of TSH

decreases, and vice versa.

Summary

Thyroxin , T3 & T4 , are formed in the follicles through Thyroglobulin

and are regulated by Anterior Pituitary Gland, and TSH , TRH are
regulated in the Hypothalamus.

But , what are the function of Thyroxin ?????

It has an effect which is call Sympathominatic ….

Thyroxin increases :

1. Heart Rate

2. Metabolism

3. Blood pressure

But what will happen if the Thyroid activity increases????

1. Techicardia

2. Sweating

3. Lose of weight

4. Protrusion of the eyeball ( fat tissues in the orbit are less)

5. Tremor

*The sweet end *

Best wishes 

Your colleagues :

Israa Qudah & Sura al-Hami