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Chapter 10

The Endocrine System

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Introduction (cont’d.)

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 Introduction
• Endocrine glands
– Ductless
– Secrete hormones directly into bloodstream
• Second messenger system of the body
• Uses chemical messages (hormones) that
are released into the blood
GLANDS HORMONES BLOOD TARGET
ORGAN

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The Functions of Hormones

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 The Functions of Hormones

• Control cellular respiration, growth, and

reproduction
• Control body fluids and electrolyte balance
• Control secretion of other hormones
• Control behavior patterns
• Regulate reproductive cycles, growth, and
development

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 The Functions of Hormones
(cont’d.)
• Chemical control functions as negative
feedback loop
– Thermostat turns furnace on when
temperature falls below set point
• Hormones function similarly

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The Negative Feedback Loop

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The Classification of
Hormones

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 The Classification of Hormones

• Modified amino acids

– Epinephrine, oxytocin
• Proteins
– Insulin, growth hormones
• Steroid
– Cortisol, estrogen

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The Hypothalamus of the
Brain

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 The Hypothalamus of the Brain

• Controls secretions of the pituitary gland

• Nerve cells produce chemical signals
– Releasing hormones
– Releasing inhibitory hormones
– Controlled by negative feedback from
endocrine system

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The Major Endocrine Glands
and Their Hormones

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The Anterior Pituitary Gland, Its
Hormones, and Some Disorders

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 The Anterior Pituitary Gland, Its
Hormones, and Some Disorders
• Growth hormone (GH): cell metabolism
and growth
– Decreased production
• Dwarfism: childhood
– Increased production
• Gigantism: childhood
• Acromegaly: post puberty
– Controlled by two releasing hormones from
hypothalamus

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Disorders

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 The Anterior Pituitary Gland
(cont’d.)
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH):
stimulates thyroid
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH):
stimulates adrenal cortex
• Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH):
stimulates melanocytes

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 The Anterior Pituitary Gland
(cont’d.)
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
– Females
• Stimulates ovarian follicle development
– Males
• Stimulates sperm cell production

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 The Anterior Pituitary Gland
(cont’d.)
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)
– Females
• Stimulates ovulation and progesterone production
– Males
• Testosterone production
• Lactogenic hormone (prolactin): stimulates
milk production in females
– May cause decrease in male sex hormones

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The Posterior Pituitary Gland
and Its Hormones

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 The Posterior Pituitary Gland and
Its Hormones
• Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
– Increased water reabsorption in kidney
tubules
– Deficiency results in diabetes insipidus
– Regulated through osmoreceptors
• Dehydration causes water conservation

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 The Posterior Pituitary Gland and
Its Hormones (cont’d.)
• Oxytocin
– Contraction of uterine smooth muscles
– Constriction of mammary gland cells
(lactation)
– Given after childbirth to constrict blood
vessels to minimize risk of hemorrhage

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 The Thyroid Gland, Its Hormones,
and Some Disorders
• Located below larynx on either side of
trachea
• Requires iodine

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The Thyroid Gland, Its Hormones,
and Some Disorders (cont’d.)
• Hormones
– Thyroxine (T4): metabolism
– Triiodothyronine (T3): metabolism
– Calcitonin: regulation of calcium and
phosphate concentration

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 The Thyroid Gland, Its Hormones,
and Some Disorders (cont’d.)
• Hypothyroidism
– Cretinism
– Lowered metabolic rate
– Myxedema
• Hyperthyroidism
– Elevated metabolism
– Graves’ disease
• Exophthalmia

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Disorders

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Disorders

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 The Parathyroid Glands (cont’d.)

• Position of the
parathyroid glands

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 The Parathyroid Glands, Their
Hormones, and Some Disorders
• Located within the posterior thyroid gland
• Chief cells secrete parathormone (PTH)
• PTH stimulates bone cell release of
calcium and phosphate
• Hyperparathyroidism
– Breakdown of bone matrix
• Hypoparathyroidism
– Low calcium level in blood

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Disorders

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 The Adrenal Glands, Their
Hormones, and Some Disorders
• Located on top of each kidney
• Adrenal medulla: epinephrine and
norepinephrine
• Adrenal cortex: aldosterone, cortisol,
androgens

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Hormones of the Adrenal Cortex
• Mineralocorticoids (mainly aldosterone)
– Produced in outer adrenal cortex
– Regulate mineral content in blood, water, and
electrolyte balance
– Target organ is the kidney
– Production stimulated by renin and
aldosterone
– Production inhibited by atrial natriuretic
peptide

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Hormones of the Adrenal Cortex
• Glucocorticoids (including cortisone and
cortisol)
– Produced in the middle layer of the adrenal
cortex
– Promote normal cell metabolism
– Help resist long-term stressors
– Released in response to increased blood
levels of ACTH

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Hormones of the Adrenal Cortex
• Sex hormones
– Produced in the inner layer of the adrenal
cortex
– Androgens (male) and some estrogen
(female)

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Hormones of the Adrenal Cortex

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 Hormones of Adrenal Medulla

• Produces two similar hormones

(catecholamines)
– Epinephrine
– Norepinephrine
• These hormones prepare the body to deal
with short-term stress

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Roles of the Hypothalamus and Adrenal Glands in
the Stress Response

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The Adrenal Glands , Their Hormones,
and Some Disorders (cont’d.)
• Disorders
– Addison’s disease: lack of adrenal cortex
hormones
– Cushing’s syndrome: too much adrenal cortex
hormones

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Addison’s Disease

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Cushing’s Disease

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 The Pancreas, Its Hormones, and
Some Disorders
• Islets of Langerhans
• Beta cells: insulin production
• Alpha cells: glucagon production
• Blood glucose levels regulated by negative
feedback

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Pancreatic Hormones and
Blood Sugar

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 The Pancreas, Its Hormones, and
Some Disorders (cont’d.)
• Disorders
– Low blood glucose: acidosis
– High blood glucose: excess kidney
production, dehydration
– Diabetes mellitus: insufficient insulin
production

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 Gonads
• Testes: testosterone
– Development of male reproduction structures
– Development of male sex characteristics
• Ovaries: estrogen and progesterone
– Development of female reproductive organs
– Development of female sex characteristics
– Control menstrual cycle

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 Gonads
• Interstitial cells of testes are hormone-
producing
• Produce several androgens
• Testosterone is the most important
androgen
– Responsible for adult male secondary sex
characteristics
– Promotes growth and maturation of male
reproductive system
– Required for sperm cell production
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 Gonads
• Estrogens
– Stimulates the development of secondary
female characteristics
– Matures female reproductive organs
– Helps prepare the uterus to receive a fertilized
egg
– Helps maintain pregnancy
– Prepares the breasts to produce milk

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 Gonads
• Progesterone
– Acts with estrogen to bring about the
menstrual cycle
– Helps in the implantation of an embryo in the
uterus

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 The Thymus Gland and Its
Hormone
• Located behind the sternum
• Secretes thymosin
• Important for T cell production
• Thymus shrinks as we age

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The Pineal Gland and Its Hormone
• Located in the brain near the thalamus
• Melatonin
– Inhibits reproductive functions
– Regulates body rhythms
• Serotonin: neurotransmitter and
vasoconstrictor
– Stimulates smooth muscle contractions

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The Pineal Gland and Its Hormone

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 Summary
• Discussed the functions of hormones
• Classified hormones into their major
chemical categories
• Described how the hypothalamus controls
the endocrine system
• Named the major endocrine glands and
described the effects of their hormones on
the body

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