ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Secrete their product (hormones) into the

interstitial fluid surrounding the secretory
cells rather than into ducts

Hormones diffuse into capillaries

Blood carries them to target cells

TYPES OF GLANDS THAT SECRETES
HORMONE
Endocrine – Secretes hormone into the blood
streams.
Exocrine – Secretes hormone through ducts
to external places
Difference of NS to ES
Nervous System – secretes Neurotransmitter
local and specific (quick)
Endocrine System – secretes hormone into
the blood (second to days)
 of the ovaries because they do not have
TSH receptors
● Target cell has 2,000-100,000 receptors
for a particular hormone
● DOWN REGULATION – if a hormone is
present in excess, the number of target-
cell receptors may decrease; makes a
target cell less sensitive to a hormone
● UP REGULATION – when a hormone is
deficient, the number of receptors may
increase
HORMONE – Mediator molecule that is CIRCULATING HORMONES
released in one part of the body but
regulates the activity of cells in other parts of ● Pass from the secretory cells that make
the body. them into interstitial fluid and then into
FUNCTIONS the blood

1. Help regulate: LOCAL HORMONES

✔ Chemical composition and volume of ● Act locally on a neighboring cell or on the

interstitial fluid same cell that secreted them without first
entering the blood stream
✔ Metabolism and energy balance
Types of Hormones
✔ Contraction of smooth and cardiac
muscle fibers ● Endocrine – hormone release in a blood
✔ Glandular secretions stream
● Paracrines – act on neighboring cells
✔ Some immune system activities
● Autocrines – act on the same cell that
2. Control growth and development
secreted them
3. Regulate operation of reproductive system
Ex: Interleukin 2 (IL-2) activate nearby
4. Help establish circadian rhythm immune cells and stimulate same cell to
proliferate
Regulated by:
CATEGORIES OF HORMONE
1. Signals from the nervous system
2. Chemical changes in blood ● Peptides – a protein hormone, water
soluble hormone.
3. Other hormones
Ex. Vasopressin, insulin, growth hormone
HORMONE RECEPTORS
● Steroid – Lipid soluble hormone, go inside
● Hormone only affects target cells,
the cell and interact to receptor side.
influencing them by binding to specific
protein or glycoprotein receptors Ex. Aldosterone, Cortisol, Progesterone,
Testosterone
● Ex: TSH binds to receptors on cells of the
thyroid gland, but it does not bind to cells
 HYPOTHALAMUS
● Amines – Peptide hormone, amino acid
derivatives. Hypothalamus - major link between nervous
system and endocrine system; receives input
Ex. Epinephrine and Norepinephrine, T3 & T4 from limbic system, cerebral cortex,
HORMONE TRANSPORT IN THE BLOOD thalamus, RAS, sensory signals from internal
organs
● Most water-soluble hormone molecules
circulate in the watery blood plasma in a
Pituitary (master gland)- secrete 7 hormones
“free” form
● Most lipid-soluble hormone molecules are
bound to transport proteins
● Make lipid-soluble hormones temporarily
water-soluble
PITUITARY GLAND (Hypophysis)
● Retard passage of small hormone
molecules in the kidneys, slowing the rate ⮚ Pea size
of loss in urine
⮚ Called as Master Gland
● Provide a ready reserve of hormone
⮚ Take signal from hypothalamus and send
NEUROENDOCRINE REGULATION it to all other endocrine gland

● Endocrine system works with the nervous 2 PARTS OF PITUITARY GLAND

system to regulate overall body function Anterior Pituitary (Adenohypophysis)
to maintain homeostasis
● Thyroid stimulating Hormone
Ex: keeps internal body temperature at or
near 37’C even when environmental ● Leutenizing Hormone
temperatures are higher or lower; keep the
serum sodium level within normal regardless ● Follicle Stimulating Hormone
of the amount of sodium intake
● Prolactin
NEGATIVE FEEDBACK CONTROL
● Growth Hormone
● Hormone secretion is dependent on the
● Adenocorticotrophic Hormone
need of the body for the final action of
that hormone
Posterior Pituitary (Neurohypophysis)
● The hormone causes the opposite action
Does not synthesize, only store and release:
of the initial change in condition
1. Oxytocin
Ex: elevated blood glucose levels
2. ADH (vasopressin)
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
Hypothalamus SUMMARY OF PITUITARY HORMONES
Pituitary Gland
Thyroid Gland
Parathyroid Gland
Adrenal Glands
Pancreatic Islets
Pineal Gland
 ● Sleep gland

THYROID GLAND
Follicular cells stimulated by TSH to produce:
1. Thyroxine (tetraiodothyronine T4)
2. Triiodothyronine (T3)
Results in:

●
BMR- stimulate ATP production, body temperature (calorige

● Lipolysis ( cholesterol)

●
Enhance catecholamines ( HR, BP, forceful heartbeat)

Parafollicular cells/ C cells

1. Calcitonin

● calcium homeostasis

● decrease Ca level in blood by

inhibiting action of osteoclasts

PARATHYROID GLAND

● Parathormone

● Major regulator of levels of Ca2+, Mg2+,

HPO4- ions in the blood
● Increase activity of osteoclasts

●
In kidneys: Ca2+, Mg2+ loss, HPO4 loss

● Calcitriol- active form of Vit D which

increase Ca2+ and Mg2+ absorption from
GI tract into the blood
ADRENAL GLANDS

PINEAL GLAND
Melatonin – derived from serotonin, and
that more melatonin is released in darkness
and less in strong sunlight
 • Females- converted to estrogen by
other body tissues
ADRENAL MEDULLA

● A sympathetic nerve ganglion that has

secretory cells
● Stimulation of the SNS results in the
release of medullary hormones
(catecholamines)
● Play a role in physiologic stress response

ZONA GLOMERULOSA FUNCTIONS

Mineralocorticoids

● Aldosterone

• Regulate Na, K
• Adjust BP and blood volume
• Promotes H excretion in urine
ZONA FASCICULATA
Glucocorticoids – regulate metabolism and
resistance to stress

● Cortisol (hydrocortisone) 95%

● Corticosterone

● Cortisone

Effects:

● Protein breakdown

● Glucose formation

● Lipolysis

● Resistance to stress

● Anti-inflammatory

● Depression of immune response

ZONA RETICULARIS
Androgen
PANCREAS
● dehydroepiandrosterone
Secretes Insulin and glucagon for blood
sugar regulation
SUMMARY OF HORMONES
 Inspection

● Prominent forehead or jaw

● Round or puffy face

● Dull or flat expression

● Skin changes (vitiligo, bruising, petechiae,

increased pigmentation)
● Fingernail malformation (thickness,
PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
brittleness)
General Assessment
● Truncal obesity, buffalo hump
Changes in energy level – Ask about any
● Hirsutism
change in ability to perform ADLs and assess
current energy level
Palpation
● Fatigue, sleeping longer, generalized Thyroid Gland:
weakness
● Posterior approach
Heat and cold tolerance
● Place thumbs of both hands on the back
Sexual function, secondary sex
characteristics of client’s neck and fingers curved around
the front of the neck on either side of the
o Ask women changes in menstrual trachea
cycle
● Ask client to swallow and locate the
o Ask men if they experience
impotence isthmus of the thyroid as you feel it rising
o Changes in libido

Elimination – Ask for urinary frequency,

nocturia, dysuria
Sex and Reproduction – Ask for changes in
menstrual cycle, impotence, change in libido,
or fertility problems

Physical Assessment

● Change in skin texture

● Eye changes (exophthalmos)

● Changes in physical appearance

(hirsutism, moon face, buffalo hump)
● Voice quality

● Secondary sex characteristics