LESSON 10

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
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hormones bind to receptor proteins in the hormones enter through the cell
cell membrane and a secondary membrane and bind to receptors inside
messenger molecule initiates the cell of the target cell.
response

peptide hormones are water soluble, they response is slower than peptide
often produce fast responses. hormones.
 peptide or amino
acid-derived
hormone 2 Hormone–receptor binding
(first messenger) activates an enzyme that catalyzes
the synthesis of a second messenger,
1 The hormone binds to such as cyclic AMP
a receptor on the plasma cyclic AMP-
synthesizing
membrane of a target cell enzyme (cytoplasm)
(extracellular
fluid) ATP

active
enzyme
receptor product
cyclic AMP

(second messenger) 4 The activated enzymes

catalyze specific reactions
plasma membrane

inactive
reactant
enzyme

3 The second nuclear

messenger activates envelope
other enzymes (nucleus)
 steroid hormone (extracellular
2 The hormone binds to a
fluid)
receptor in the nucleus or to
a receptor in the cytoplasm 3 The hormone–receptor
that carries it into the nucleus complex binds to DNA and
causes RNA polymerase to
bind to a nearby promoter
1 A steroid hormone site for a specific gene
diffuses through the
plasma membrane

DNA
plasma
hormone receptor
membrane
ribosome

RNA polymerase
5 The mRNA leaves the
nucleus, then attaches to a
ribosome and directs the 4 RNA polymerase catalyzes
synthesis of a specific protein mRNA the transcription of DNA into
product messenger RNA (mRNA)

new protein gene

nuclear
envelope
(cytoplasm) (nucleus)
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Hormones transported in the Hormones that act on neighboring cells

bloodstream and received by the target or the cell to where it is secreted without
distant cell entering the bloodstream

PARACRINE AUTOCRINE
hormones hormones
HYPOTHALAMUS controls pituitary
secretions by secreting releasing and
inhibiting hormones

PITUITARY GLANDS controls other

endocrine glands thus called “master
gland”
 hypothalamus

1 Neurosecretory cells of
1 Neurosecretory cells the hypothalamus produce
of the hypothalamus oxytocin and ADH
produce releasing and
inhibiting hormones

2 Releasing or inhibiting hormones

(green circles) are secreted into
capillaries feeding the anterior lobe
of the pituitary

2 Oxytocin and ADH

blood flow (blue triangles) are
secreted into the blood
pituitary
(anterior lobe) via capillaries in the
posterior pituitary
endocrine
cell
capillary pituitary
bed (posterior lobe)

3 Endocrine cells of the capillary

anterior pituitary secrete bed
hormones (red squares)
in response to releasing
hormones; the pituitary
hormones enter the
bloodstream
blood
flow
 Hormone
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)
Growth hormone (GH)
Lactogenic hormone (Prolactin)
Function
Triggers thyroid gland to release thyroid hormone
Triggers adrenal glands to release adrenal cortex
hormone
Female: stimulates development of ovarian follicles and
release of estrogen
Male: stimulates seminiferous tubules
Female: triggers maturation of ovarian follicles and
ovum
Male: triggers testosterone secretion
Stimulates melanocyte to produce melanin
Stimulates the growth of all organs
Breast development during pregnancy and milk
production after pregnancy
 Hormone Function

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) Stimulates retention of water by the kidneys

Stimulates uterine contractions at the end of pregnancy

Oxytocin
and release of milk in the breast ducts
 Glands/Hormone Function
HYPOTHALAMUS
Releasing hormone Stimulates pituitary secretions
Inhibiting hormone
THYROID
Thyroxine Stimulates energy metabolism of all cells
Calcitonin Inhibits breakdown of bone, decreases blood calcium
concentration
PARATHYROID
Parathyroid hormone Stimulates breakdown of bone; increases blood calcium
concentration
ADRENAL CORTEX
Mineralocorticoids (aldosterone) Regulates electrolyte and fluid homeostasis
Glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone) Stimulates gluconeogenesis
Sex hormone (androgen) Stimulates sexual drive (libido)
 Glands/Hormone Function
ADRENAL MEDULLA
Epinephrine Stress or alert hormone
Norepinephrine Relaxing hormone
PANCREAS
Glucagon Stimulates the glycogenolysis, increasing blood glucose level
Insulin Stimulates the glucose entry in the cell, decreasing blood
glucose level
OVARY
Estrogen Promotes the development of female secondary
characteristics
Progesterone Promotes condition required for pregnancy (thickening of
uterine blood wall)
TESTIS
Testosterone Promotes the development of male secondary characteristics
 Glands/Hormone Function
THYMUS
Thymosin Development and reprograming of lymphocytes
PLACENTA
Chorionic gonadotropin Promotes condition required for pregnancy

PINEAL
Melatonin Controls the body’s internal clock
HEART (Atrium)
Atrial natriuretic hormone Regulates electrolyte and fluid homeostasis
•
 reverse the direction of a change in
a physiological system (homeostasis)
•
 amplify any physiological changes
Note:
• If too much blood calcium
 brain and heart cells do not function normally; a
person becomes mentally disturbed, and the heart
may stop.
• If too less blood calcium
 nerve will become overactive, sometimes to such
degree that they bombard muscles with so many
impulses that the muscles go into spasms