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The Endocrine System

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The Endocrine System

Uploaded by

shnasr
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Endocrine System

Introduction
Glands and Hormones
 A gland is an organ which produces and releases
substances (called hormones) that perform a specific
function in the body.
Hormones
 A hormone is a substance that acts on certain
target cells and tissues to produce a specific
response.

 Hormones are classified based on their structure


and mechanism of action into 2 types :

1. steroid hormones
2. nonsteroid or amino acid hormones
Steroid Hormones
 Steroid hormones are made of lipids, such as
phospholipids and cholesterol.

 They are fat soluble

 All steroid hormones work by causing the target


cells to initiate protein synthesis

 A steroid hormone passes through a cell


membrane, binds to a receptor within the cell,
and stimulates protein synthesis.
Steroid Hormones

Examples : Estrogen (Females) and Testosterone (Males)


Amino Acid Hormones (Non-Steroid)
 Made up of amino acids

 They cannot diffuse through the plasma membrane.

 Must bind to receptors found on the plasma membrane


of a target cell

 Once the hormone binds to the receptor, the receptor


activates an enzyme found on the inside of the
membrane.

 This usually initiates a biochemical pathway


Amino Acid Hormones (Non-Steroid)

 Insulin and growth hormones are two examples


Feedback Mechanisms
 Feedback mechanisms can enhance or dampen changes that occur in a
system.

 2 types :

1. Positive Feedback

 Positive feedback loops enhance or amplify changes.

 Moves a system away from its equilibrium state, makes it more unstable.

2. Negative Feedback

 Negative feedbacks tend to dampen or buffer changes;

 Hold a system to some equilibrium state making it more stable.


Negative Feedback

 Because this process can go on indefinitely, negative feedback often is


described as a loop.
Major glands of the Endocrine System
Pituitary Gland
 Located at the base of the brain

 This gland is sometimes called the “master


gland” because it regulates so many body
functions.

 Despite its small size, it is the most important


endocrine gland.

 The pituitary gland secretes hormones that


regulate many body functions.
Pituitary Gland
 It also regulates other endocrine glands, such as
the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, testes, and
ovaries.
Example : Human growth hormone (hGH)
 Regulates the body’s physical growth by
stimulating cell division in muscle and bone
tissue.
 This hormone is especially active during childhood
and adolescence
Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands
 The Thyroid gland produces 2 hormones :

1. Thyroxine

 Increases the rate of metabolism in cells

2. Calcitonin

 Lowers blood calcium levels by signaling bones


to increase calcium absorption and also signaling
the kidneys to excrete more calcium
Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands
 The thyroid and parathyroid glands have opposite effects
on blood calcium levels.

 When blood calcium levels are too low, the parathyroid


glands increase production of parathyroid hormone.

 Parathyroid hormone increases blood calcium levels by


stimulating the bones to release calcium.

 The action of this hormone also causes the kidneys to


reabsorb more calcium and the intestines to absorb more
calcium from food.
Explain how PTH and CT illustrate
negative feedback
Pancreas Gland
 The pancreas has a crucial role
in the production of enzymes
that digest carbohydrates,
proteins, and fats.

 The pancreas also secretes the


hormones insulin and glucagon,
which work together to maintain
homeostasis.
Pancreas Gland
 Insulin signals liver and muscle cells,
to accelerate the conversion of
glucose to glycogen, which is stored
in the liver.
 When blood glucose levels are low,
glucagon is released from the
pancreas. Glucagon binds to liver
cells, signaling them to convert
glycogen to glucose and release the
glucose into the blood.
Adrenal Glands
 Located just above the kidneys.

 The adrenal glands have two parts:

1. the cortex

 The cortex is the outer part of the gland.

 It produces the hormones cortisol and aldosterone.

2. the medulla.

 The medulla is the inner part of the gland.

 It produces the hormones adrenaline and


noradrenaline.
Adrenal Glands
ADRENAL CORTEX HORMONES

1. Aldosterone (Mineralcorticoid) - Primarily affects the kidneys and is


important for reabsorbing sodium.

2. Cortisol (Glucocorticoid) - Raises blood glucose levels and also reduces


inflammation

ADRENAL MEDULLA HORMONES

 Adrenaline and noradrenaline are involved in the body’s stress (or ‘fight
or flight’) response.

 They make the heart beat faster, send more blood to muscles and cause
other changes in the body that prepare it for fight or flight.
Link between the Endocrine and
Nervous System
 The hypothalamus maintains homeostasis by serving as a link

between the nervous system and the endocrine system.

 The hypothalamus produces two hormones, oxytocin and

antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

 The antidiuretic hormone (ADH) functions in homeostasis by

regulating water balance.


 ADH travels in the blood to the kidneys,
where it binds to receptors on certain kidney
cells.

 This causes the kidneys to reabsorb more


water and decrease the amount of water in
the urine, increasing the water level in the
blood.

 If there is too much water in a person’s


blood, the hypothalamus decreases the
release of ADH, and the urine tends to be
more dilute.

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