Unit-V

Anatomy and Physiology of

Endocrine System

Sir SAQIB HUSSAIN

NURSING INSTRUCTOR
GENERIC BSN YEAR I SEMESTER II
SHED INSTITUE OF NURSING & ALLIED
HEALTH SCIENCES
 OBJECTIVES

1. Define Endocrine system

2. Identify Endocrine glands and Endocrine
tissues present in the body
3. Discuss types of Hormones, target cells, target
organ
4. Briefly discuss Mechanism of Action of
Hormone (protein and steroids)
 OBJECTIVES

5. Discuss the location and structure of pituitary gland.

6. Discuss the role of hypothalamic hormones in the
regulation of pituitary gland secretions.
7. Discuss the function of the hormones secreted by
anterior and posterior pituitary gland.
8. Briefly discuss the structure, function & hormones of
the following glands
• Thyroid
• Para Thyroid
• Pineal
• Adrenal
• Pancreas
9.References
• Consists of endocrine glands that release chemical
messengers called HORMONES right into the
bloodstream
• Allow for the maintenance of the internal
environment in the body, or internal homeostasis
• Allow the regulation of growth and development of
an organism.

4
 WHAT ARE
THE
FUNCTIONS
OF THE
ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM?
• Maintenance of the internal environment in the
body (maintaining the optimum biochemical
environment).
• Integration and regulation of growth and
development.
• Control, maintenance and instigation of sexual
reproduction, including gametogenesis, coitus,
fertilization, fetal growth and development and
nourishment of the newborn.
6
OVERALL FUNCTION OF THE ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM

REGULATION OF EFFECTORS TO
MAINTAIN HOMEOSTASIS
 FUNCTIONS OF THE ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM
 Water balance
 Uterine contractions & milk release
 Growth, metabolism, & tissue maturation
 Ion regulation
 Heart rate & blood pressure regulation
 Blood glucose control
 Immune system regulation
 Reproductive functions control
• Major communication systems in the body
• Integrate stimuli and responses to changes in
external and internal environment
• Both are crucial to coordinated functions of highly
differentiated cells, tissues and organs
• Unlike the nervous system, the endocrine system is
anatomically discontinuous.
• The action of nervous system is quick while of
endocrine is slow and steady.

9
• The endocrine system broadcasts its
hormonal messages to essentially all cells
by secretion into blood and extracellular
fluid.

• Like a radio broadcast, it requires a

receiver to get the message - in the case of
endocrine messages, cells must bear a
receptor for the hormone being broadcast
in order to respond
10
11
 HORMONES
Comes from the greek word hormaein which
means “to excite”
Mediator molecules released by the glands of the
endocrine system

ENDOCRINE GLANDS
Produce hormones that
EXOCRINE GLANDS
are released into the
Secrete products into
circulatory system
ducts (sweat glands,
and travel some distance
sebaceous glands,
where they act on target
mucous & digestive
tissues to produce a
glands)
response
“ductless glands”
 WHAT ARE
THE
DIFFERENT
ENDOCRINE
GLANDS OF
THE BODY?
THE PITUITARY & HYPOTHALAMUS
 HYPOTHALAMUS
Autonomic nervous system & endocrine control
center of the brain
Inferior to the thalamus
Controls the pituitary gland in 2 ways:
Produce RELEASING HORMONES
Controls the secretion of hormones in the posterior
pituitary
 PITUITARY GLAND
Hypophysis & called “master gland”
Located in ventral surface of brain within skull
Divided into anterior (adenohypophysis) & posterior
pituitary (neurohypophysis)
Anterior pituitary: made up of epithelial cells derived
from embryonic oral cavity
Posterior pituitary: extension of the brain and made up
of nerve cells
Hormones released from anterior pituitary:
growth hormone (GH)
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH),
Luteinizing hormone (LH),
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
prolactin,
Hormones released from posterior pituitary:
antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and
oxytocin
 HORMONES OF THE PITUITARY GLAND
(ADENOHYPOPHYSIS)

THYROID-
GROWTH PROLACTIN STIMULATING
HORMONE HORMONE

(GENERAL) (THYROID GLAND)

Promotes growth by (MAMMARY Stimulated
stimulating protein GLANDS) development &
anabolism & fat Promotes milk secretion in thyroid
mobilization secretion gland
 HORMONES OF THE PITUITARY GLAND
(ADENOHYPOPHYSIS)

ADRENO- FOLLICLE-
LUTEINIZING
CORTICOTROPIC STIMULATING
HORMONE
HORMONE HORMONE

(ADRENAL (GONADS) (GONADS)

CORTEX) F: development of F: trigger ovulation
Stimulated development ovarian follicle,
M: production of
& secretion in adrenal estrogen secretion
M: dev't of testis,
testosterone
cortex
sperm production
 PINEAL GLAND
 Small gland attached to the roof of 3rd ventricle
 Secretes melatonin which contributes to the setting
the body’s biological clock (patterns of eating,
sleeping, reproduction & behavior)
HORMONE OF THE PINEAL BODY

MELATONIN

(AT LEAST THE HYPOTHALAMUS)

Inhibits secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone
thereby inhibiting reproduction
Induce sleep
 THYROID GLAND
Made up of 2 large lateral lobes & a
narrow connecting isthmus (weight: 30
grams)
Located in the neck, on the anterior &
lateral surface of trachea, just below the
larynx
Thyroid hormone: regulate metabolic
rate of all cells & cell growth & tissue
differentiation; have a “general” target
(T3 & T4); produced by follicular cells
 HORMONES OF THE THYROID GLAND

TRIIODOTHYRONINE
(T3) TETRAIODOTHYRONINE (T4) CALCITONIN
THYROXINE

(GENERAL) (BONE TISSUE)

Increase rate of Increase calcium
(GENERAL)
metabolism storage in
Increase rate of metabolism
bone
HORMONE OF THE PARATHYROID
GLAND

PARATHYROID HORMONE

(BONE TISSUE & KIDNEY)

Increase calcium removal from storage in bone
Produces active form of vitamin D in kidneys
Increase absorption of calcium by intestines
Increase blood calcium level
 ADRENAL GLANDS
 Located on top of kidneys, fitting like caps
 HORMONES OF THE ADRENAL GLANDS

ADRENAL MEDULLA ADRENAL CORTEX

EPINEPHRINE /
ALDOSTERONE CORTISOL
NOREPINEPHRINE

(KIDNEY)
(SYMPATHETIC EFFECTORS) (GENERAL)
Stimulates kidney tubules to
Enhances and prolongs the Influences metabolism of
conserve sodium, which in turn,
effects of sympathetic food molecules
triggers release of ADH & the
division of the ANS
resulting conservation of water
 PANCREAS
 Elongated gland (5-6 inches long, weight: 500 grams);
located posterior & inferior to the stomach
 Tissue composed of endocrine & exocrine tissues.
HORMONES OF THE PANCREATIC ISLETS

GLUCAGON INSULIN

(GENERAL) (GENERAL)
Promotes movement of Promotes movement of
glucose from storage and glucose out of the blood
into the blood and into the cells
 HORMONES OF THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

UTERUS &
TESTES OVARIES
OVARIES

ESTROGEN &
TESTOSTERONE PROSTAGLANDINS
PROGESTERONE

(MOST TISSUES) (MOST TISSUES) (MOST TISSUES)

Sperm cell production, Uterine and mammary Mediate inflammatory
maintain functional repro gland development & responses; increase
organs function, etc. uterine contractions
 THYMUS
 2 lobes, located in mediastinum, between sternum
and large blood vessels above the heart; site of T
cell maturation
 Secretes hormones related to immunity.
HORMONE OF THE THYMUS GLAND

THYMOSIN

(IMMUNE TISSUES)
Promotes immune system
development and function
 OTHER ORGANS THAT CONTAIN
ENDOCRINE CELLS

 GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT: gastrin, secretin,

cholecystokinin
 PLACENTA: human chorionic gonadotropin,
estrogen/progesterone, human chorionic
somatomammotropin
 KIDNEYS: erythropoietin (EPO), calcitriol
 HEART: atrial nutriuretic peptide (ANP)
 ADIPOSE TISSUE: leptin
 WHAT ARE
THE MAJOR
TYPES OF
ENDOCRINE
CONDITIONS
?
 ENDOCRINE CONDITIONS

HYPERSECRETION HYPOSECRETION

ADDISON DISEASE
ACROMEGALY
CRETINISM
ALDOSTERONISM
DIABETES INSIPIDUS
CUSHING SYNDROME
TYPE 1 DIABETES
GIGANTISM
MELLITUS
HYPERPARATHYROIDISM
OSTEOPOROSIS
GRAVES DISEASE
PITUITARY DWARFISM
 References
• 1. Guyton, A. C. (2001). Medical Physiology
(10th ed) Washington: Kirokawa.
• 2. Ross, & Wilson. (2000) Anatomy &
Physiology in Health & Illness. Edinburgh:
Churchill 8th Edition.
• 3. Tortora, G. J. (2000). Principles of Human
Anatomy and Physiology (3rd ed). New York:
Happer & Row.
THE END