Endocrinology

Endocrinology is a branch of physiology consists of a group of glands that produces regulatory chemicals
called hormones. The endocrine system and the nervous system work together to control and coordinate
all other systems of the body.

Function of the endocrine system:

1. Regulating nutrient metabolism and H2O and electrolyte balance, which important maintaining a
constant internal environment.
2. Inducing adaptive changes to help the body cope with stressful situations.
3. Promoting growth and development.
4. Controlling reproduction.
5. Regulating red blood cells production.
6. Along with the autonomic nervous system, controlling and integrating activities of both the circulatory
and the digestive system.

The major glands of the endocrine system are:

pituitary, thyroid, , adrenals, pineal, thymus, pancreas, (ovaries and testes)

Endocrine glands: The classic endocrine glands are ductless and secrete their chemical products
(hormones) into the circulation to produce an effect on a distant target organ.
Glands in the body are divided into two types:
1. Exocrine gland: which pass their secretion along the ducts as sweat gland and salivary gland.
2. Endocrine gland: (ductless)pass their secretion in to the blood such as thyroid gland and adrenal gland.
3. Mixed gland: gland that have both endocrine and exocrine actions such as pancreas

Target organ: The target organ contains cells that express hormone-specific receptors and that respond to
hormone binding by a demonstrable biologic response.

Hormones are chemical products released in very small amounts from highly specialized cells called glands,
travels in the blood to its target cell, where it regulates or directs a particular function.

Why are hormones necessary?

Hormones are involved in maintaining homeostasis – consistency of the internal environment that is
maintained for the benefit of the whole organism.
Types of secreted signaling hormones(Hormone Effects):
1-Endocrine – hormones secreted into the blood acting on downstream target tissues.
2-Paracrine – hormones secreted into the interstitial space acting at nearby cells.
3-Autocrine – hormones secreted into the interstitial space acting back on same cell.
4-intracrine _ hormone is synthesized and acts intracellularly in the same cell
5-Neurotransmitters and neurohormones
6-Pheromones are volatile signals between organisms

Types of Hormones
1-Catecholamines are modifications of the amino acid tyrosine.
2-Peptide hormones are polypeptide chains of various size ranging from little ones, big ones.
3-Steroid hormones are either produced by the sex organs (the sex hormones) or the adreanal cortex.
4-Prostaglandins are a diverse group of modified fatty acids that are secreted by almost all tissues.

Control of Hormone Secretion

a. Nervous (i.e. adrenal medulla )
b. Hormonal (i.e. hypothalamic releasing hormones )
c. Humeral (i.e. blood glucose level )
d. Feedback Regulation (via above three mechanisms)

Mechanisms of Action of Hormones

The first step of a hormone’s action is to bind to specific receptors at the target cell.
Some Receptors are located on the target cell membrane, other receptors are located in the cytoplasm or
the nucleus.
• Amines and peptide hormones binding to receptors in the cell surface (cell membrane receptors
• Steroid hormones being able to cross plasma membranes and bind to intracellular receptors.
• thyroid hormone, an amino acid–derived hormone - is transported into cell to bind nuclear receptor.

When the hormone combines with its receptor, this usually initiates a cascade of reactions in the cell,
Amines have the shortest half-life (2–3 minutes), polypeptides (4–40 minutes), steroids and proteins (4–
170 minutes), and thyroid hormones (0.75–6.7 days).

Feedback Control of Hormone Secretion

FACTORS WHICH MAY AFFECT THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
A. AGING-Alters hormone production and secretion.
B. ILLNESS - Affects the kidney and liver may cause chronic heart and disorders in the kidney and liver.
C. STRESS- Adrenal glands produce cortisol. If they don't, this may cause: trauma, severe illness.
D. ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR- later disrupt sex development, decrease fertility, defect
birth, reduce immune response, etc.
E. GENETICS- Any damaged chromosomes can result in diseases related to hormones.
F. CYCLES OF HORMONE RELEASE
Time affects the release of certain hormones. For example-Cortisol builds up early in the day, decreases
towards the evening, rises in sleep, and peaks in the early morning