Body Systems:

Endocrine System
 Have You Ever …?
• Felt scared or stressed and your heart was pounding?
• Had butterflies in your stomach?
• Started to shiver when you were cold?
• Became sweaty when you were hot?
• Felt thirsty or hungry?
• Noticed hair growing on your body that wasn’t there before?
• Been unwell and got better?
• Felt tired when it was time to go to bed?

All these processes are controlled by your

endocrine system.
 What is the endocrine system?
The endocrine system is responsible for coordinating
and controlling processes in your body.
Unlike the nervous system, which uses the nerves to
send messages around the body,
the endocrine system uses chemical messengers
called hormones to communicate with other cells and
organs.
The hormones are produced by the endocrine glands
and are released directly into the bloodstream.
 Hormones for Control and Coordination
Hormones control and coordinate functions such as:
• Metabolism
• Energy levels
• Puberty and reproduction
• Growth and development
• Responses to injury and sickness
• Responses to stress
• Responses to environmental factors such as heat,
cold and pain
Endocrine Glands
Hypothalamus

Thyroid Gland
Pineal Gland

Thymus
Parathyroid Glands
Pituitary Gland

Adrenal Glands
Pancreas

Ovaries

Testes
Hypothalamus
 Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is a small region of the brain that
functions as the control centre for your body.
It’s main function is to keep your body in a stable state
known as homeostasis; a state of steady balance in
the body’s internal environment.
 Hypothalamus and Homeostasis
For example, your body aims to keep your internal body temperature at 37℃. This is an
infrared image of a body before and after exercise. When the hypothalamus detects
that the internal temperature is increasing, it will respond.

Infrared image called a

thermagram showing skin
temperature variations
pre-exercise (left) and
post-exercise (right).
Department of Health
and Human Performance,
Auburn University,
Alabama. Courtesy of
JohnEric Smith, Joe Molloy
and David D. Pascoe.
 Body Temperature Increases
When your hypothalamus detects that your body temperature is getting higher, for
example, while you are exercising, it will enact bodily functions to drop that
temperature back down.
Question: What does your body do when you are hot?
• Sweat. As the sweat evaporates from your skin, it cools down the surface of the skin
• Skin looks red as the blood vessels dilate
 Hypothalamus and Homeostasis
Body temperature decreases Body temperature increases

Body responds to stimulus Body responds to stimulus by:

by: • Dilating blood vessels so
• Constricting blood that heat is lost more
vessels so that heat is easily
conserved. • Sweat glands produce
• Shivering generates liquid (sweat) to cool the
heat, warming the body. body

Body Body
temperature Body temperature temperature
increases returns to normal decreases
 Other functions of the Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus has other functions:
• Releasing hormones to the pituitary gland which then controls other glands
• Maintaining daily cycles such as sleep, heart rate and breathing
• Controlling hunger and thirst
• Managing sexual behaviour
• Regulating emotions

As different parts of the body receive information from stimuli, they then send this
information to the brain. The hypothalamus is responsible for responding to these
signals.
Like the way a sensor in the fuel tank of a car alerts the driver that the tank is almost
empty, the low fuel is the stimuli, the flashing light on the dashboard is the alert signal,
and the driver is the hypothalamus.
Pituitary Gland
 Pituitary Gland
The “master gland” of the body.
Although tiny in size, the pituitary gland plays
an important role in regulating body
functions. This is because the pituitary gland
stimulates other endocrine glands to release
their own hormones.
 The Pituitary Gland in Action!
Let’s imagine a situation that your body would deem scary. It can be a real threat, like a
shadow following you or it can be a perceived threat, like giving a speech in front of
your class.
Another part of your brain (the amygdala) responds like an alarm centre in your body.
This sends an alert to your hypothalamus, and your hypothalamus sends a message to
your pituitary.
Your pituitary coordinates your adrenal glands into action!
All of a sudden… your heart is beating faster, your breathing increases, your muscles
feel energised as the blood rushes to them.
You are ready for action!
 Other functions of the Pituitary Gland
The pituitary has other functions, such as:
• Stimulating the thyroid to produce hormones that manage metabolism
• Stimulating growth in children, and maintaining healthy muscles and bones in adults
• Regulating testosterone and sperm production in the testes
• Producing oestrogen and promotes ovulation in the ovaries
• Stimulating breast milk production after giving birth
• Releasing the hormones that regulate water and salt balance in the body (these
hormones are produced by the hypothalamus)
Pineal Gland
 Pineal Gland
The pineal gland is responsible for regulating
your body’s daily (circadian) clock. This gland
secretes melatonin, a hormone that causes
you to feel tired and fall asleep.
During the day, when you are exposed to
more light, the pineal gland stops the
secretion of melatonin, leaving you feeling
more awake.
 Thyroid and
Parathyroid Glands
 Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands
The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland
that is located on the trachea, just
under the larynx (voice box).
The parathyroid glands are four small
glands located on the posterior (rear)
side of the thyroid gland.

Thyroid

Parathyroid Glands

Front View Back View

 Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is responsible for controlling the body’s metabolism. This means
converting the nutrients you eat into fuel and providing your body with the energy you
need to breathe, move, repair damaged cells and grow.

The pituitary gland and the hypothalamus are responsible for signalling the thyroid to
produce the hormones thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and calcitonin (responsible
for decreasing calcium levels).
 Hypothalamus

Pituitary Gland TRH

The hypothalamus
releases thyrotropin-
TSH releasing hormone
Once the pituitary
(TRH) to signal to the
gland receives the
pituitary gland to
signal from the
activate the thyroid.
hypothalamus, it in
turn releases the
thyroid stimulating
hormone (TSH) to Thyroid
signal the thyroid.
Thyroid Hormones:
(T3) Triiodothyronine
T3 Calcitonin (T4) Thyroxine
Calcitonin
T4
 T3 and T4 Hormones:
Together the T3 and T4 hormones are responsible for:
• Regulating the rate at which your body uses energy affecting weight loss or weight
gain
• Raising and lowering your body temperature
• Affecting your brain development
• Influencing the rate at which your food moves through your digestive system
• Controlling the speed at which your body repairs and replaces cells
 Parathyroid Glands
The parathyroid glands are responsible for controlling calcium levels in the
bloodstream.
When your calcium levels are low, the parathyroid glands release a hormone called the
parathyroid hormone that stimulates the bones to release calcium (increasing calcium
levels). Calcium plays an important role in blood clotting, helps your muscles to
contract and helps regulate nerve functions, for example, keeping a regular heartbeat.

Thyroid Gland
Rear View
Parathyroid
Glands

Parathyroid
Glands
Thymus
 Thymus
The thymus plays a major role in
protecting your body from pathogenic
threats such as viruses and bacteria.
It does this by producing a hormone
called thymosin that stimulates the
production of white blood cells
(specifically T cells).
 Thymus
Want to know an interesting fact about the thymus?
The thymus is most active during childhood. In fact, it’s
at its largest size in children.
By the time you reach puberty, all your T cells have
been produced. After puberty, the thymus starts to
slowly shrink and is replaced by fat. That means that
you still have your thymus, but the adults in your life
are losing theirs.
Pancreas
 Pancreas
The pancreas plays an important role in
digestion.
Your pancreas produces enzymes that
break down the sugars, fats and starches
in the food you eat.
As an endocrine gland, the pancreas also
produces hormones such as insulin and
glucagon. You might recognise the
hormone insulin as one that people need
to take to treat the disease diabetes.
 The body cells take up glucose
Pancreas is from the bloodstream Result: Blood
stimulated to glucose levels
release insulin into decrease to the
the bloodstream body’s set point.
Insulin stimulates the liver to
take up glucose from the
bloodstream and store this as
glycogen

Stimulus:
High Skipping a
Stimulus:
Eating a meal or
Homeostasis: strenuous
meal causes
blood sugar Blood glucose level activity
(glucose) causes blood
levels to Low sugar
rise (glucose)
levels to fall

Result: Blood Glucagon stimulates the liver Pancreas is

glucose levels to break down glycogen and stimulated to release
increase to the release glucose into the glucagon into the
body’s set point. bloodstream bloodstream
Adrenal Glands
 Adrenal Glands
The adrenal glands are small triangular shaped
structures located on top of the kidneys.
The adrenal glands produce hormones that help
regulate essential functions such as metabolism,
blood pressure and the immune response,
however, they are most commonly known for
Adrenal Gland
their role in the stress response.

Kidney
 Adrenaline
We have already looked at how the adrenal glands respond to signals from the
pituitary in times of stress.
One of the main hormones secreted by the adrenal glands is adrenaline. This is the
hormone that is responsible for our flight or fight response. It causes the heart to
race, your breath to quicken and increases blood flow to your muscles and brain. In
times of stress or danger, these responses help us to run away from or fight the
danger.
 Male Female
Endocrine Endocrine
System System
 Male and Female Differences
All endocrine organs in the body are similar in size and shape between males and
females.
The only glands that differ in the male and female endocrine systems are the glands
responsible for the development of the reproductive system. They play an important
role in puberty as well as reproduction.
These are:
• Ovaries (female)
• Testes (male)
 Male Female
Endocrine Endocrine
System System

testes ovaries
 Testes
In addition to their role in the reproductive
system, the testes are endocrine glands as
they produce the hormone testosterone.
During puberty, testosterone is responsible
for the transitions from boy to adult man.
This includes:
• The development of male sex organs
• Growth of facial and body hair
• Voice lowering
• Increase in height and muscle mass
• Growth of the ‘Adam’s apple’

Internal View of the Male

Testes
Reproductive System
 Testes
In adulthood, testosterone plays an important role in sexual function, as well as in
maintaining muscle strength and mass and promoting healthy bone density.
 Ovaries
In addition to their role in the reproductive
system, the ovaries are endocrine glands as
they produce hormones such as estrogen
and progesterone.
During puberty, estrogen is one of the
hormones responsible for the transitions
from girl to adult woman.
This includes:
Ovaries

• Changes in the shape of the body, such

as widening hips and the development Internal View of the Female

of breasts Reproductive System

• Growth of body hair

• Start of the menstrual cycle
 Ovaries
In adulthood, estrogen and progesterone
(along with some other hormones) play an
important role in sexual function, regulating
menstrual cycles including ovulation (releasing
of the ova), as well as preparing the body for
and during pregnancy.
There are many more hormones involved in
each of these processes, however, these are
the main two that you should be familiar with.
 Women and Testosterone
Want to know an interesting fact about testosterone?

Women also produce the hormone testosterone, however, this is present

in lower amounts than in males.
In females, testosterone affects sexual function, as well as maintaining
muscle strength and mass, and promoting healthy bone density.
 Your turn!
Label the Endocrine Glands
 Hypothalamus
Pineal Gland

Thyroid Gland Pituitary Gland

Parathyroid Glands
Thymus

Adrenal Glands
Pancreas

Testes
Ovaries
Assignment: Endocrine System
 Question 1: Which of the following sentences best
describes the function of the endocrine system?
a. Communicating with other organs in the body

b. Coordinating and controlling the responses in your body using neural

pathways

c. Coordinating and controlling processes in your body

d. Coordinating and controlling processes in your body using hormones to

send and receive messages
 Question 2: Which of the following endocrine glands
is nicknamed the ‘master gland’?
a. Hypothalamus

b. Pituitary

c. Adrenal

d. Ovary
 Question 3: The hormones produced by the
endocrine glands travel to other organs via…
a. The nerves

b. The bloodstream

c. The oesophagus

d. The spinal cord

 Question 4: Which of the following endocrine glands is most
commonly associated with the flight or fight response?

a. The thymus gland

b. The pineal gland

c. The parathyroid glands

d. The adrenal glands

 Question 5: Which gland is responsible for maintaining
homeostasis (state of balance within the body)?

a. Hypothalamus

b. Pituitary

c. Endocrine

d. Testes
 Question 6: If someone has been diagnosed with diabetes,
which of the following glands is not operating correctly?

a. Testes and/or ovaries

b. Pancreas

c. Thyroid

d. Adrenal glands
Question 7: Which of the following responses is NOT a response
triggered by the hypothalamus, when a person is cold.

a. Shivering

b. Skin looks blue

c. Hair stands on end (goosebumps)

d. Putting on a jumper
Question 8: Which of the following is NOT one of the hormones
produced by the sex glands (testes and ovaries)?

a. Triiodothyronine

b. Progesterone

c. Estrogen

d. Testosterone
 Question 9: Which of the following glands is responsible for
producing your T-cells and helping you fight infection?
Hint: it is the gland that is largest in children and starts to disappear after puberty.

a. Hypothalamus

b. Thymus

c. Adrenal glands

d. Pineal gland
Question 10: Which of the following pathways is most correct for
after you have eaten a meal?

a. Blood glucose levels increase → liver takes up glucose → blood glucose

levels decrease

b. Blood glucose levels decrease → liver takes up glucose → blood glucose

levels increase

c. Blood glucose levels increase → pancreas releases insulin → liver takes up

glucose → blood glucose levels decrease

d. Blood glucose levels increase → hypothalamus releases insulin → liver

takes up glucose → blood glucose levels decrease