4.

00 Understand the body’s hormone control

systems

Objective 4.02 Understand the structures,

functions, and disorders of the endocrine system
What is a hormone?
Structures
Structures of the Endocrine System
Hypothalamus

● Part of the brain that maintains homeostasis

● Link between the nervous system and endocrine system
● Body temp, appetite, fluid balance and BP
● Called the “Commander-In-Chief”
○ Releasing and inhibiting hormones produced by the hypothalamus regulate the
release of myst anterior pituitary hormones
Structures of the Endocrine System

Pituitary gland - “Master gland”

○ About the size of a grape located at the base of the brain
○ Attached to the hypothalamus
■ Anterior lobe
■ Posterior lobe
Structures of the Endocrine System
Pineal gland

● Helps regulate sleep

○ Circadian rhythm
● Secretes melatonin
Structures of the Endocrine System

● Thyroid gland – Butterfly shaped gland located on the anterior side of the larynx, over the
trachea
○ Largest of the endocrine glands
○ Helps regulate the body’s metabolism
● Parathyroid gland – Four glands the size of a grain of rice attached to the posterior thyroid
○ Helps regulate calcium levels in the body
Structures of the Endocrine System

● Thymus gland – Serves both endocrine

and lymphatic system, located
under the sternum; large during childhood

● Adrenal glands – There are two and each

one is located on top of a kidney, cortex
is outside and medulla is inside
Structures of the Endocrine System

● Gonads – Reproductive organs

○ Produce and store gametes (reproductive
cells)
■ Testes - male - sperm
■ Ovaries - female - eggs

● Pancreas – Both an endocrine and exocrine

gland, located behind the stomach
○ The endocrine portion is the Islets of
Langerhans

■ Produces Insulin, which promotes

utilization of glucose
Functions
Functions of the Endocrine System
● Endo - within, -Crine - secrete
● Exo - away from
● The function of the endocrine system is to secrete hormones - chemical
messengers
● Each gland of the endocrine system has a different function
Functions of the Endocrine System

● The nervous system and endocrine system work together

○ The nervous system collects information and send out orders
instantaneously
○ The endocrine system also collects information but it sends out orders
at a much slower and controlled pace
■ Orders change more subtly and are meant to help the body
maintain homeostasis
Functions of the Endocrine System

● Glands – Secrete hormones

○ Endocrine Glands – Secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream
○ Exocrine Glands – Secrete substances through ducts (sweat, saliva, tears)
● Hormones – Chemical substances secreted in our body through endocrine glands
that regulate body processes
○ Steroid vs non steroid
● Target organ/cells – the tissue or organ upon which a hormone acts
Functions of the Endocrine System
● Neurotransmitters are chemicals that act by “jumping” across the synapse of
neurons
● Hormones, on the other hand, are released into the bloodstream and travel all over
the body
● Hormones affect millions of cells simultaneously and the effect can last for minutes,
hours or days
● Many hormones are secreted constantly and some, only when needed
Functions of the Endocrine System

Hormone Control
○ Negative feedback – when hormone levels rise further release of the hormone is inhibited
○ Positive feedback - when the product of a reaction leads to an increase in a reaction

○ Hormones work by binding to receptors on target cells

○ Nervous control – the sympathetic nervous system may cause direct release of hormone from
gland
■ The adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine
Functions of the Endocrine System
Negative Feedback

● Works to bring a variable back to its original level

○ Regulation of the blood calcium level
○ The parathyroid glands secrete parathyroid hormone, which regulates the blood calcium
amount
■ If calcium decreases, the parathyroid glands sense the decrease and secrete more
parathyroid hormone.
● The parathyroid hormone stimulates calcium release from the bones and
increases the calcium uptake into the bloodstream from the collecting tubules in
the kidneys.
Functions of the Endocrine System
Positive Feedback

● Works by increasing a change away from normal. The trend will continue until the cycle is
broken.
○ As a baby moves towards the birth canal, pressure sensors initiate the release of oxytocin
which is used to stimulate contractions which help push the baby out
■ The contractions get harder and harder until the baby is born
● When the baby is born the contractions stop
Functions of the Endocrine System: Hormones

Anterior Pituitary Gland

Hormone Adrenocorticotropic Follicle-Stimulating Luteinizing

Hormone Hormone Hormone
ACTH FSH LH

Hormone Function ● Stimulates ● Stimulates ● Stimulates

adrenal cortex production of ovulation in
● Release triggered estrogen in ovaries and
in response to females in the initiates
stress ovaries and sperm production of
in males testosterone
Functions of the Endocrine System: Hormones

Anterior Pituitary Gland

Hormone Growth Hormone GH Prolactin Thyroid Stimulating

Hormone TSH

Hormone Function ● Responsible for ● Develops breast ● Stimulates

growth and tissue, stimulates thyroid hormones
development production of (T4 & T3)
(body weight and milk after child
skeletal growth) birth
Functions of the Endocrine System: Hormones

Posterior Pituitary Gland

Hormone Vasopressin Oxytocin

Hormone Function Converts to ● Stimulates

ADH(antidiuretic uterine
hormone), acts on contractions
kidney to concentrate ● “Love hormone”
urine and preserve
water in the body
Functions of the Endocrine System: Hormones

Pineal Gland

Hormone Melatonin

Hormone Function ● Regulates

sleep-wake cycle
Functions of the Endocrine System: Hormones

Thyroid Gland

Hormone Thyroxine Calcitonin

Hormone Function ● Controls rate of ● Prevents

metabolism hypercalcemia by
removing calcium
from blood
Functions of the Endocrine System: Hormones

Parathyroid Gland

Hormone Parathormone
(Parathyroid
hormone)

Hormone Function ● Helps control

blood calcium
levels, prevents
hypocalcemia
Functions of the Endocrine System: Hormones

Adrenal Glands (Medulla) Adrenal Glands (Cortex)

Hormone Epinephrine Norepinephrine Hormone Androgens Corticosteroids

Hormone ● Stress ● Also a Hormone ● Male sex ● Anti-infla

Function hormone stress Function hormones mmatory
● Accelerates hormone hormones
heart rate, ● Raises BP ● Released in
stimulates response to
respiration stress
● Increases
blood
sugar
Functions of the Endocrine System: Hormones

Gonads (Testes) Gonads (Ovaries)

Hormone Testosterone Hormone Estrogen Progesterone

Hormone ● Female ● Menstrual

Hormone ● Male Function reproductive cycle
Function reproductive organs,
organs ● Secondary sex
● Secondary sex characteristics
characteristics
Functions of the Endocrine System: Hormones

Pancreas

Hormone Insulin

Hormone ● Carbohydrate
Function metabolism
● Moves
glucose into
cells