Who’s in Control?

Page 201
 Main Idea
The endocrine system consists of glands
that produce hormones to control the
body’s normal functioning
Hormones
• Chemical messengers
• Carrying instructions to cells to
change their activities
• The effect of hormones can
last for hours, days, weeks or
even years
• Produced by the glands of the
endocrine system
Glands
• Organ whose cells secrete
materials to be brought to
the different regions of the
body
• Ducts – tubelike structures
Endocrine Glands
• “Endo” – within, “Krinein” –
separate/to secrete
• Ductless
• Secrete hormones directly int
either the bloodstream or the
fluid around the cells
• Also includes the brain,
stomach, small intestine,
kidney, liver and heart
Exocrine Glands
• “Exo” – outward
• Deliver substances through
ducts
• Ducts – transport the
chemicals to specific locations
in the body
• Sweat glands, mucus glands
and salivary glands
Processes in the body that are regulated by
hormones:
1. Regulate body processes such as growth, development,
behavior and reproduction
2. Coordinate the production, use and storage of energy
3. Maintain internal homeostasis such as nutrition, excretion,
water balance, and salt balance
4. React to stimuli from outside the body
 Important concepts to remember:
1. Some glands do not
function until the organism
reaches a certain age, so
some hormones are not
secreted until then.
 Important concepts to remember:
2. Short-term vs Long-term hormones
 Important concepts to remember:
3. The production
of each hormone
must be the correct
amount
 Important concepts to remember:
4. Hormones work
only on their target
cells or organs
 Important concepts to remember:
5. Hormones are
destroyed in the
liver after they
have performed
their function
HOW HORMONES
WORK
• After a hormone is released, it binds and acts only on a specific cell called target
cell
• Like a key that opens a lock
• A hormone must recognize a target cell through its “address” – a specific receptor
• A hormone’s shape (key) matches and binds to a particular receptor (lock) on its
target cells
• The hormone sends the message that signals the cell to change its activity
Major Endocrine
Glands in the Body
 Hypothalamus
• Help turn the endocrine glands on and
off
• Link between the nervous and
endocrine system
• Sensations you are aware of
• Controls the level of hormones and
internal temperature
• Stimulate or suppress the release of
hormones in the pituitary gland
• Location: At the base of your brain
 Pituitary Gland
• Hypophysis
• Pea-sized gland
• The hypothalamus is responsible for
triggering the production of hormones
by the pituitary gland
• Releases many hormones that control
other endocrine glands
• Anterior and Posterior Pituitary Gland
 Thyroid Gland
• Secretes three hormones
• Triiodothyromine (T3)
• Throxine (T4)
Both T3 and T4 contains iodine; regulates
metabolism
Development and maturation
• Calcitonin
• Control of calcium

• Helps in maintaining a normal heart

rate, blood pressure, muscle tone and
reproductive function
• Location: Under the larynx
 Thyroid Gland
• Excess in T3 nad T4 can lead to
hyperthyroidism
• Can make a person develop high blood
pressure, feel irritable, sweat profusely,
and lose weight
• Hypothyroidism – insufficient amount
of T3 and T4
• Weight gain, lethargy and intolerance to
cold
• Calcitonin
• Lowers the blood calcium level
• Calcium – keeps nerves and muscles
working properly
Parathyroid Gland
• Four tiny glands
• Releases the parathyroid
hormone
• Raises the blood calcium level
• Parathyroid + calcitonin
• regulates blood calcium level
• Location: embedded in the
surface of the thyroid
 Thymus Gland
• Development of the defense
system of the body
• White blood cells called T-cells
mature
• Protect body tissues by triggering
an immune response against
infectious agents
• Decreases in size as you get older
• Size of a thumb
• Location: Just behind the
breastbone
 Adrenals
• Two parts
• Outer adrenal cortex
• Secretes corticosteroids – regulate
body’s metabolism, electrolyte
balance, immune system and long-
term stress response
• Inner adrenal medulla
• Produces the adrenaline
• Coping mechanisms against short-
term physical and emotional stress
• Emergency action team
• Location: Above kidney; atop on
each of the kidneys
 Pancreas
• Produces two types of hormones
• Insulin and Glucagon
• Location: At the back of the
abdomen, behind the stomach
• Insulin – keeps the level of sugar
under control
• Help absorb sugar and use it for
energy
• Change excess sugar into glycogen
• Prevents the level of sugar in
the body from being too high
Islet of Langerhans
 Pancreas
• Produces two types of hormones
• Insulin and Glucagon
• Location: At the back of the
abdomen, behind the stomach
• Glucagon – increases the level of
sugar under control
• Speeding up the conversion of
glycogen to sugar in the liver
• Both ensure the amount of sugar
is always at the right level
The Gonads
• Gonads
• Male
• Testes
• Produce androgens
• Testosterone
• Development of
facial hair, body
mass, deep voice and
production of sperm
• Behind the penis,
inside the scrotum
The Gonads
• Gonads
• Female
• Ovaries
• Estrogen and
Progesterone
• Development of
breasts,
menstruation and
fertility
• Location: In the
pelvis
 Pineal Gland
• Location: Near the thalamus of
the brain
• Melatonin – regulates body
rhythm and sleeping pattern
• Synchronizes daily rhythm, times
body systems, adapt to seasonal
changess
• Speeding up the conversion of
glycogen to sugar in the liver
• Internal Circadian clock
SEATWORK
• Copy the table in Major Endocrine Organs and Hormones
• Tissue/Gland, Hormone Produced, Target, Major Action, LOCATION
• Page 212