ANAPHY LEC – ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
1. Anterior pituitary – adenohypophysis; gland
Both the endocrine and nervous system plays a vital role in
controlling and regulating the body’s function
Called the 2nd great controlling system (nervous 1st: cerebral
cortex)
Endocrine glands - the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal,
and pineal glands; ductless glands (don’t require a passage way
to deliver or secrete their hormones to the target tissues)
Functions of Hormones:
1. Help regulate:
a. Chemical composition and volume of internal
environment
b. Metabolism and energy balance
c. Contraction of smooth and cardiac muscle fibers
d. Glandular secretions
e. Immune activities (thymus gland)
2. Control growth and development
3. Regulate operation of reproductive systems (testes and
ovaries)
4. Help establish circadian rhythms (plays a key role in things
like when you sleep and when you wake and it is set by the
cycle of light and dark over 24 hours)
Comparison of Control by the Nervous and Endocrine
Systems
1. Mediator molecules
NS: neurotransmitter released locally in response to
nerve impulses
ES: hormones delivered to tissues through body by
blood
2. Site of mediator action
NS: close to site of release, at synapse; binds to
receptors in postsynaptic membrane
ES: far from site of release (usually); binds to receptors
on or in target cells
3. Types of target cells
NS: muscles (smooth, cardiac, and skeletal) cells,
gland cells, other neurons
ES: cells throughout body
4. Time to onset of action
NS: typically within milliseconds (thousands of a
second)
ES: seconds to hours or days
5. Duration of action
NS: generally briefer (milliseconds)
ES: generally longer (seconds to days)
Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland
Pituitary Gland – master endocrine gland; hypothesis(?);
secretes several hormones; secretes 7 hormones
- lies in the cellatursica (part of the sphenoid bone)
- pea-shaped gland that is surrounded by blood vessels
(arteries, capillaries, and veins) that transmits the hormones in
the different parts of the body; weights .5 to 1 g and measures 1-
1.5 cm or 0.5 inches and attaches on the infundibulum
Hypothalamus – the master cell of pituitary glands; major link
between the NS and ES; synthesizes at least 9 hormones
- small region below the thalamus
Hypothalamus: Releasing and Inhibiting Hormones
1. TRH – thyrotropin releasing hormone; releases TSH
2. CRH – corticotropin releasing hormone; releases ACTH
3. GnRH – gonadotropin releasing hormone; releases FSH
& LH
4. GHRH – growth hormone releasing hormone; maturation
and growth of the body and development
5. GHIH – growth hormone inhibiting hormone
6. PRH – prolactin releasing hormone
7. PIH – prolactin inhibiting hormone
Structure of the Pituitary Gland
undergrowth
- true endocrine tissue; secretes classic hormones
2. Posterior pituitary – neurohypophysis; nerve
undergrowth
- neural tissue, secretes neurohormones
Hormones of the Anterior Pituitary
- 5 hormone-synthesizing-secreting Cells
1. Somatotrophs – growth hormone; somatotropin
2. Lactotrophs – prolactin
3. Thyrotrophs – thyroid stimulating hormone; controls and
secretes and other activities of the thyroid glands
4.Gonadotrophs – follicle stimulating hormone and
luteinizing hormone; stimulates the secretion of estrogen,
progesterone, the maturation of oocytes in the ovaries,
sperm production, and secretion of testosterone in the
testes
5. Corticotrophs – Adrenocorticotrophic hormone;
stimulates adrenal cortex to secrete glucocorticoid (cortisol)
Pituitary Dwarfism – the hyposecretion of growth hormone
during childhood; the early form of epiphyseal plate
Pituitary Gigantism – the hypersecretion of growth hormone
during childhood resulting from abnormal length of the bones in
the body
Posterior Pituitary Gland – hormones made in the
hypothalamus and released and stored in the posterior pituitary
1. Oxytocin – secretion is stimulated by uterine stretching
and by suckling of nipple during nursing; stimulates milk
ejection
- stimulates the contraction of the smooth muscles in the
uterus and the mammary gland to eject milk
2. ADH/AVP – Arginine Vasopressin (vasoconstrictor of
the blood)
- stimulates reabsorption of water in the collecting duct;
increases blood pressure (constriction of blood vessels)
- conserves body water by decreasing the urine volume;
decrease water loss through perspiration
Summary of Pituitary Gland Hormones and their Actions
1. Anterior Pituitary Hormones
a.hGH – human growth hormone; stimulates liver, muscle,
cartilage, bone, and other tissues to synthesize and secrete
insulin-like growth factors (IGFs); IGFs promote growth of
body cells, protein synthesis, tissue repair, breakdown of
triglycerides, and elevation of blood glucose level;
concentration of blood
b. TSH – thyroid-stimulating hormone; stimulates synthesis
and secretion of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland
c. FSH – follicle-stimulating hormone; in females, initiates
development of oocytes (immature egg cells) and induces
secretion of estrogens by the ovaries; in males, stimulates
testes to produce sperm
d. LH – luteinizing hormone; in females, stimulates
secretion of estrogens and progesterone, ovulation, and
formation of corpus luteum; in males, stimulates testes to
produce testosterone
e. PRL – prolactin; in females, stimulates milk production by
the mammary glands
f. ACTH – adrenocorticotropic hormone; also known as
corticotropin; stimulates secretion of glucocorticoids (mainly
cortisol) by the adrenal cortex (part of kidney)
g. MSH – melanocyte-stimulating hormone; exact role in
humans is unknown but may influence brain activity; when
present in excess, can cause darkening of the skin
2. Posterior Pituitary Hormones
a. Oxytocin – stimulates contraction of smooth muscle cells
of uterus during childbirth; stimulates milk ejection from
 mammary glands - sperm in males and oocytes in females
b. ADH – antidiuretic hormone; known as vasopressin; 1. Ovaries – paired oval bodies located in the pelvic cavity
conserves body water by decreasing urine output; and produce estrogens, progesterone and inhibin
decreases water loss through sweating; raises blood - regulate the menstrual cycle, maintain pregnancy, and
pressure by constricting (narrowing) arterioles prepare the mammary glands for lactation
Thyroid Gland – butterfly-shaped and is located just below the Relaxin – increase the flexibility of the pubic synthesis
larynx (voice box) during pregnancy
- it is composed of right and left lobes, one on either side of the Inhibin – inhibit the secretion of FSH from the anterior
trachea connected by isthmus which secrete the thyroid pituitary gland
hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) – follicular Corpus luteum – secretes progesterone and estrogen
cells, and parafollicular cells, which secrete calcitonin 3 types of Estrogen:
1. Thyroid hormone – regulate oxygen use and metabolic 1. Estradiol – the most common type in women of
rate, cellular metabolism, and growth and development childbearing age
- also use glucose and fatty acid 2. Estriol – the main estrogen during pregnancy
Basal metabolic rate – the oxygen consumption under the 3. Estrone – the only estrogen your body makes after
standard or basal condition (when you’re awake or at rest or at menopause (when menstrual periods stop)
fasting); stimulating the oxygen to produce ATP 2. Testes – oval glands that lie inside the scrotum and
2. Calcitonin (CT) – can lower the blood level of calcium; produce testosterone and inhibin
its secretion is controlled by the level of calcium in the blood Testosterone – regulates production of sperm
- inhibits the action of osteoclasts (breakdown of bone) - stimulates the development and maintenance of
Goiter – the enlargement of the thyroid masculine characteristics such as beard growth and
Hypothyroidism – lower level of thyroid hormone in the blood deepening of the voice (male secondary sex
resulting the enlargement of the thyroid characteristics)
Hyperthyroidism – higher level of thyroid hormone in the blood Pineal Gland - a small endocrine gland attached to the roof of
Parathyroid Glands – embedded on the posterior surfaces of the third ventricle of the brain at the midline
the thyroid - one hormone secreted by the pineal gland is melatonin, which
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) – produced by chief cells contributes to setting the body’s biological clock controlled by
- regulates the homeostasis of calcium, magnesium, and the hypothalamus (suprachaismatic nucleus)
phosphate by increasing blood calcium and magnesium - more melatonin is released in darkness and during sleep
levels and decreasing blood phosphate level - less melatonin is liberated through sunlight or light
- controlled by the level of calcium in the blood Thymus Gland – located behind the sternum and between the
Pancreatic Islets lungs; functions for immunity
Pancreas - a flattened organ located in the curve of the - produce thymosin (promotes the maturation of T cells)
duodenum (part of the small intestine); it has both endocrine
and exocrine functions; 85% mass (exocrine)
- uses exocrine because it secrete a digestive enzyme,
water and bicarbonate only to assist in digestion
Pancreatic duct – a passage way between common bile
duct and pancreatic duct
- the endocrine portion consists of pancreatic islets or islets of
Langerhans, which are made up of alpha and beta cells
a. Alpha cells - secrete glucagon (increases glucose
level); constitutes 17%
b. Beta cells - secrete insulin (decreases glucose level);
constitutes 70%
c. Delta cells – secrete somatostatin (constitutes 7% of the
pancreatic islets)
Adrenal Glands – located superiorly at the kidneys
- 2 adrenal glands
a. Outer adrenal cortex:
1. Zona glomerulosa – mineralocorticoids
Aldosterone: sodium reabsorption in the kidneys
2. Zona fasciculate – glucocorticoids
Cortisol – increases glucose level; stress hormone
and important in helping the body deal with stressful
situations
3. Zona reticularis – androgens; secondary sex
characteristics of males’
b. Adrenal Medulla
Chromaffin cells – catecholamines (functions as
neurotransmitters and glucose metabolism); used in the
brain, nerve tissue, and adrenal glands
1. Epinephrine
2. Norepinephrine
- neurotransmitters; glucose metabolism
Ovaries and Testes
Gonads – the organs that produce gametes