Endocrine System For MLS Year 1
Endocrine System For MLS Year 1
Instructor:
[email protected]
Dr Sandie Sorelle 1
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Dr Sandie Sorelle 2
THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
• Learning objectives
• 1- Define a gland and differentiate between exocrine, endocrine and heteroendocrine glands
• 2- Define a hormone; Explain their characteristics, functions and the different types.
• 4- List different endocrine glands and know their location in the human body
• 5- List hormones secreted by each endocrine gland and explain their functions
• 6- Understand diseases related to some hormone’s deficiency and overproduction in the body.
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Introduction
• The endocrine system, along with the nervous system, functions in the regulation of body
activities.
• The nervous system acts through electrical impulses and neurotransmitters to cause
muscle contraction and glandular secretion. The effect is of short duration, measured in
seconds, and localized.
• The endocrine system acts through chemical messengers called hormones that influence
growth, development, and metabolic activities. The action of the endocrine system is
measured in minutes, hours, or weeks and is more generalized than the action of the
nervous system.
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GLAND
This is an organ that secretes particular chemical
substances for use in the body or for discharge
into the surroundings.
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Exocrine glands
Exocrine glands are glands that secrete their
products into ducts
Example:
-Sweat gland
-Salivary glands
-Mammary glands
-Stomach
-Liver
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Endocrine glands
Glands that secrete their
products (hormones) directly
into the blood rather than
through a duct.
Example:
-Pituitary gland
-Pancreas
-Thyroid gland
-Adrenal gland
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Heteroendocrine glands
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ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
It consists of glands and groups of capillaries
which facilitates diffusion of hormones to the
bloodstream
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Hormones
• Hormones are very powerful substances secreted by endocrine glands into the bloodstream that
affect the function of another cell or target cell.
• THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
The specific cells which are affected by a hormone are called target cells
Hormones influence their target cells by binding to proteins or glycoproteins in the cell membrane
called receptors
• THEIR FUNCTIONS
Regulate water and electrolyte balances (e.g. antidiurectic hormone, calcitonin, and
aldosterone).
Aid in the transport of substances across the cell membrane of target cells (e.g.
insulin and glucagon)
- Most hormones belong to this group except hormones secreted by the gonads (testis
and ovary) and the adrenal cortex.
- Only hormones secreted by the gonads and adrenal cortex belong to this group .
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Hormone Action
• 1. Most hormones adhere to the following action plan :
a) endocrine gland synthesizes the hormone
d) Hormone diffuses out of capillaries at target tissue, and causes an effect in target
cells (key/lock mechanism)
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ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Pituitary gland
Thyroid gland
Parathyroid gland
Adrenal
Pancreas
Thymus gland
Pineal gland
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PITUITARY GLAND
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PITUITARY GLAND (hypophysis)
The pituitary gland consists of:
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HORMONES OF THE PITUITARY GLAND
• Anterior lobe:
• Growth hormone (GH)
• Prolactin
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
• Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)
• Posterior lobe:
• 1. Vasopressin (ADH)
• 2. oxytocin
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ANTERIOR PITUITARY
• The anterior pituitary secretes hormones that control a wide range of bodily
activities.
• The anterior pituitary has five principle types of cells which secrete seven major
hormones. Dr Sandie Sorelle 19
ANTERIOR PITUITARY
• Growth Hormone (GH) : which stimulates general body growth and regulates certain aspects of
metabolism.
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which controls secretions and other activities of the thyroid
gland.
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), Together FSH and LH
stimulate the secretion of estrogen and progesterone and the maturation of oocytes in the ovaries
and the secretion of testosterone and sperm production in the testes.
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1) Growth hormone
• This is the most abundant hormone synthesized by the anterior pituitary.
• It stimulates growth and division of most body cells but especially those in the bones and skeletal
muscles.
• Body growth in response to the secretion of GH is evident during childhood and adolescence, and
thereafter secretion of GH maintains the mass of bones and skeletal muscles.
• It also regulates aspects of metabolism in many organs, e.g. liver, intestines and pancreas.
• Its release is stimulated by growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and suppressed by
growth hormone release inhibiting hormone (GHRIH), also known as somatostatin, both of
which are secreted by the hypothalamus.
• Secretion of GH is greater at night during sleep and is also stimulated by hypoglycaemia (low blood
sugar), exercise and anxiety. Secretion peaks in adolescence and then declines with age.
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Diseases related to GH
1. Gigantism: It is due to the overproduction of GH during adolescence (rare condition)
It is characterized by:
-Tall stature
-Bilateral gynaecomastia
-Large hands and feet
• It is characterized by:
- A short neck
• It stimulates growth and activity of the thyroid gland, which secretes the hormones
thyroxine (T4) and tri- iodothyronine (T3).
• Release is lowest in the early evening and highest during the night.
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3) Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH, corticotrophin)
• ACTH levels are highest at about 8 a.m. and fall to their lowest
about midnight.
• Hypersecretion causes Cushing’s disease, while hyposecretion is
rare
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Gonadotrophins
• Just before puberty two gonadotrophins (sex hormones) are secreted in gradually increasing amounts by the
anterior pituitary in response to luteinising hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), also known as
gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH).
• Rising levels of these hormones at puberty promotes mature functioning of the reproductive organs. In both
males and females the hormones responsible are: Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinising
hormone (LH).
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH):
- In female : It regulates the development of sex organs in female, development of immature ovarian
follicle from the ovary; it secretes oestrogen & progesterone during menstrual cycle.
- In male: initiation of spermatogenesis.
in the hypothalamus.
• Polyuria:
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Oxytocin (OT)
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THYROID GLAND
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THYROID HORMONES
• Iodine is essential for the formation of the thyroid hormones
• The thyroid gland selectively takes up iodine from the blood, a process called iodine trapping.
• The release of T3 and T4 into the blood is stimulated by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior
pituitary.
• Triiodothyronine (T3):
It affects almost every physiological process in the body i.e.
- Growth and development
- Metabolism
- Body temperature
- Heart rate
Deficiency in T3 may result in slower heart rate, weight gain, constipation
Excess T3 results in weight loss, diarrhea, faster heart rate.
• Thyroxine (T4):
It controls development and maturation
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Excess thyroxine results in rapid development Dr Sandie Sorelle
THYROID HORMONES
• Secretion of TSH is stimulated by thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) from
the hypothalamus and secretion of TRH is stimulated by exercise, stress,
malnutrition, low plasma glucose levels and sleep.
• Calcitonin:
It is a hormone secreted by the C cells of the thyroid gland
• It increases bone calcium and
• It decreases blood calcium levels
• Calcitonin effect opposes the effects of parathyroid hormone, whih act to increase
the blood calcium level.
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PARATHYROID GLAND
• In humans, there are four (04) parathyroid glands
• They are essential for life, as their removal can cause death from
asphyxia.
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Disease related to parathyroid gland…
1. RICKETS:
• It is characterized mainly by bone deformities in young children
• It starts showing signs in about 6 months of life
Its characteristics:
- Deformed bones
- Thick wrist and ankles
- Retarded growth
2. OSTEOMALACIA
• It refers to a marked softening of the bones, most often
caused by severe vitamin D deficiency (from sunlight, cow
milk) and inadequate Calcium absroption
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PANCREAS
• Regions of the pancreas that perform its endocrine functions are known as
It promotes glucose utilization by the body cells and stimulates deposition of extra glucose in the blood as
glycogen in the liver.
Its main function is to lower high blood nutrient levels; not only glucose but also amino acids and fatty acids.
Actions:
• On carbohydrate metabolism
- Insulin increases the glucose entry into most cells of the body
• On protein metabolism
- Insulin promotes amino acid uptake
Glucose is vital to body’s health because it's an important source of energy for the cells that make up
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level over a
- Frequent urination
- Increased hunger
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PANCREATIC HORMONES
2. GLUCAGON
- Promotes gluconeogenesis
ACTION
• The adrenal glands are composed of the outer adrenal cortex and the
inner adrenal medulla
• The adrenal cortex is essential to life while the adrenal medulla is not.
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HORMONES OF THE ADRENAL GLAND
1. Adrenal cortex:
• It produces
- Glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone)
- Mineralocorticoids (e.g. aldosterone)
- Sex hormones (androgens) (e.g. testosterone)
• They are collectively referred to a adrenocorticoids
2. Adrenal medulla:
• It produces:
- Epinephrine and
- Norepinephrine
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Hormones of the adrenal cortex
1. GLUCOCORTICOIDS
• Cortisol is the main glucocorticoid but small amounts of corticosterone and
cortisone are also produced.
• They are essential for life, regulating metabolism and responses to stress.
• Its secretion is stimulates by the ACTH from the anterior pituitary and by stress.
• They have anti-inflammatory actions
• They play a role in gluconeogenesis (formation of new sugar)
• They play a role in lipolysis (breakdown of triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol
for energy production)
2. MINERALOCORTICOIDS
• Aldosterone is the main mineralocorticoid. It is involved in maintaining water and
electrolyte balance. Through a negative feedback system, that stimulates the
reabsorption of sodium by renal tubules and excretion of Potassium in the urine.
compared with those secreted by the testes and ovaries in late pberty
and adulthood.
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Disorders of the adrenal cortex
• Cushing’s syndrome:
- Pathological fractures
- Suppresion of growth
- Hypertension
- Menstrual disturbance
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- Peptic ulcers
Disorders of the adrenal cortex
• Addison’s disease
- It is due to undersecretion of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids
- It could be caused by an autoimmune disease
Effects:
- Muscle weakness
- Tiredness
- Mental confusion
- Low blood volume
- Hypotension
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Hormones of the adrenal medulla
• The medulla is completely surrounded by the adrenal cortex.
• Its two hormones are secreted in response to stimulation by
sympathetic nerve, particularly during stressful situations
- Adrenaline (epinephrine, 80%)
- Noradrenaline (norepinephrine, 20%)
• They have similar effects The effects of excess adrenaline and noradrenaline
Together, progesterone and estrogens are responsible for the changes that
occur in the uterus during the female menstrual cycle.
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• Which other organs secrete hormones but are not part of the
endocrine system?
functions.
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