ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

How does the body

control itself?
1. Nervous System
 Controls tissues via nerve impulses
transmitted via neurons
 Rapid acting, short lasting
2. Endocrine System
 Controls tissues via hormones
transmitted through the blood and
tissue fluids
 Slow acting, long lasting

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Exocrine glands
• secreteto a body surface
• may be attached to surface by
a duct
Endocrine glands
• secrete
hormones directly
to the blood or body fluid
Hormone
• chemical messenger
• acts on specific target tissue
• affects metabolism of target
cells/tissues
• endocrine vs autocrine/paracrine
Control of
Endocrine Secretion
3 types of control:
 1) neural control
direct stimulation by the ANS (ex adrenal
medula)

CNS

ANS

hormone endocrine gland

 2) endocrine control
stimulation by a tropic hormone

endocrine gland A

Hormone A

Hormone B endocrine gland B

 3) humoral control
blood level of certain ions and
nutrients are sensed directly by
endocrine tissue
internal
environmental
stimulus

hormone endocrine gland

Endocrine Glands
 pituitary gland

parathyroid thyroid gland

gland

adrenal glands
pancreas ovaries

testes