ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

 It is consists of a number of glands located all over the body that secrete
hormones and regulate various fuctions of the body.
 It is in charge of the body processes that happen rather slowly such as
body’s metabolic rate, level of electrolytes and ions in blood
and etc.
 Modern endocrinology => originated in 20th century;
Claude Bernard – French physiologist; humans have a
constant internal environment called milieu interior =>
preserved by various systems of human physiology
including the nervous system, immune system and hormones.
 Endocrine system is consists of the following glands:
 Thyroid Gland
 Pituitary Gland and Thalamus
 Andrenal glands
 Pancreas
 Ovaries and Testes
Secretes important thyroid hormone which affect cells; maintain
proper metabolism; parathyroid gland – four yellow glands
behind thyroid; secrets parathormone which regulates the
calcium and vitamin D.

Located inside the brain

Secretes variety of hormones that affects metabolism of glucose,

electrolytes; secretes catecholamine hormones – adrenaline and
non-adrenaline.

Secretes insulin which is important for the metabolism of

glucose, fats, proteins

Ovaries – produces female sex hormone: estrogen and

progesterone
Testes – produces male sex hormone: testosterone
 How does Endocrine System work?

Endocrine glands
Hormones –
which are able to sense
chemical Effects
various processes in
messengers
the body

Insulin Normal blood

Pancreas Gluscose

Two types of Hormone

Protein Hormones Steriod Hormones

- Insulin - Luteinizing hormone
- Growth hormone - Follicle stimulating hormone
- Angiotensin - Testosteron
- Parathormon

 Hormones secreted by the glands are carried throughout the body except for
some hormones that affects only a specific part or function such as
testosterone which only affects gonads
and secondary sexual characters.
 It acts by binding to receptors => may
be located on cell membrane, inside
cytoplasm or nucleus.

 Hormones exert their effects to various mechanisms once it attach to a

receptor.
1) Ion Channel Receptors – located on cell membrane;
opens/closes ion channels in membrane.
2) Enzyme Linked Receptors – g-protein coupled receptors;
activates specific enzymes in cell.
3) Gene Coupled Receptors – activates/deactivates transcription
of a gene in nucleus (e.g steroid hormones).

Receptor
 increases transcription of genes;
responsible for increased protein
synthesis

Thyroid Gland

- located below larynx

- one of the largest endocrine gland and weighs 15-20g
- secretes two important hormones: thyroxine (T4) which is
93% of all thyroid gland secretion and triiodothyronine
(T3) which is 7%; both are protein hormones
- its hormones require 2mmg per week of iodine for
synthesis
- regulates basic cell metabolism and activity which affects the body as a
whole

Parathyroid Gland

- located adjacent to thyroid gland

- there are 4 in number; one behind each upper
and lower poles of thyroid
- regulates calcium and phosphate metabolism
- maintains constant concentration in blood
- secretes parathormone which mainly acts on
bones, kidneys, intestines

Adrenal Glands

- known as supra-renal glands since they are located adjacent/above kidneys

- made up of different sections:
a) adrenal cortex (outer side) – has 3 zones: zona glomerulosa
(outer) produces aldosterone, zona fasciculata (middle) which
synthesizes cortisol, zona reticularis (inside) produces androgen
hormones and these zones produce GFR hormone
b) adrenal medulla (central part) – considered as part of
sympathetic nervouse system; releases catecholamines,
epinephrine, norepinephrine into genral circulation; activates
when sympathetic nervous is activated; fight or flight response
Pancreas

- consists of both endocrine which secretes

insulin and glucagon and exocrine parts
which secrets digestive enzymes into
duodenum
- endocrine part contains about 1 million
islets or called as islets of langerhans which
contains alpha, beta and delta cells
(produces somatostatin)

- Insulin: wide range of effects on metabolisms of body (glucose,

carbohydratess, proteins, fats); overall effect is to decrease the concentration
of glucose in blood by stimulating the uptake of glucose into cells; anabolic
hormone – conversion of glucose into glycogen which is the storage form in
liver and prevents breakdown of fats and proteins.
- Glucagon: released when glucose is gone from the body; low concentration
of glucose in blood.
a) glycogenolysis – breakdown of glycogen to glucose in liver
b) gluconeogenesis – conversion of proteins, amino acids, fats into
glucose

Reproductive Hormones

Testes

- male gonads
- produces testosterone, inhibin, anti-mullerian,
other androgens like androstenedione and
dihydrotestosterone
  these hormones are essential formation of sperms and development
of secondary sexual characteristics

Ovaries

- female gonads
- secretes estrogen and progesterone
 estrogen – types: estradiol,
estrioles, eastriones
– causes development
of uterus, fallopian tubes,
vagina, cervix and
secondary-sexual characters
 progesterone – mainly acts on vagina, uterus, cervix and prepares
these organs for conception of zygote; affects metabolisms and
body temperature

Hypothalamus

- small almond size part of

brain located below thalamus
- produces thyrotropin
releasing hormone (TRH)
controls wide variety of body
functions to maintain proper
body’s internal environment
which includes regulation of body temperature, hunger, sleep, thirst and etc.
- links nervous system to endocrine system through pituitary gland
- able to sense various conditions in the body and responds through autonomic
nervous system
- has two neurons: supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus
 paraventicular nucleus – secretes oxytocin => peptide hormone;
mainly acts on uterus (smooth muscle contractions, essential for
childbirth) and breast (lactation)
 supraoptic nucleus – secretes vasopressin => aka anti-diuretic
hormone; peptide hormone; mainly acts on kidneys (reabsorption
 of water, decreased urine output) and blood vessels (arterior
condtriction, increased peripheral vascular resistance and blood
pressure)

Pituitary Gland

- produces thyroid stimulating

hormone (TSH)
- composed of anterior and
posterior lobe; both secretes 8
hormones together
 posterior lobe – 2 hormones; hormones secreted are rather
produced in hypothalamus
 anterior lobe – 6 hormones; secretions are directly controlled by
releasing/inhibiting hormones produced in hypothalamus
- secretions of it is directly/indirectly controlled by hypothalamus