1

Endocrine
physiology

Dr. Ramadan
Saad

Human Physiology
 OBJECTIVES
1. Distinguish between endocrine and exocrine glands.
2. Identify and locate the primary endocrine glands and list
the major hormones produced by each gland.
3. Describe the mechanisms of steroid and non-steroid
hormone action.
4. Explain how negative and positive feedback mechanisms
regulate the secretion of endocrine hormones.
5. Summarize the actions of different endocrine hormones.
 Introduction
A. The endocrine system is
made up of the cells,
tissues, and organs that secrete
hormones into body fluids.
B. The body has two kinds of
glands,
Exocrine
(secretes products into ducts)
Endocrine
(secrete products into body fluids
to affect target cells).
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  General Characteristics of the Endocrine
System
A. The endocrine system’s function is to communicate
with cells using chemicals called hormones.
B. Endocrine glands and their hormones regulate a
number of metabolic processes within cells, and the
whole body.
C. Their actions are precise, they only affect specific
target cells.
D.Endocrine glands include the pituitary gland, thyroid
gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas,
and other hormone-secreting glands and tissues.
 Pituitary Gland
Two distinct portions
• anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis)
• posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis)
 Anterior Pituitary Hormones
Growth Hormone (GH)
• Stimulates increase in size and rate of growth of body cells
• Enhances movement of amino acids through membranes
• Promotes growth of long bones
• Secretion stimulated by growth hormone-releasing hormone
from hypothalamus.
Prolactin (PRL)
• Sustains milk production after birth
• Secretion is inhibited by prolactin release-inhibiting hormone from
hypothalamus.
• Suckling stimulates Prolactin release and promotes continued milk production.
 Anterior Pituitary Hormones
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
• Controls secretions of hormones from the thyroid gland
• Controlled by thyrotropin-releasing hormone from
hypothalamus.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
• Controls secretions of some hormones of adrenal cortex
• Controlled by corticotropin-releasing hormone from
hypothalamus.
 Anterior Pituitary Hormones
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• stimulates development of egg-containing follicles in
ovaries
• stimulates follicular cells to secrete estrogen
• stimulates production of sperm cells
• controlled by gonadotropin-releasing hormone
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
• promotes secretions of sex hormones
• stimulates release of egg from ovary (ovulation)
• stimulates corpus luteum to produce progesterone
• controlled by gonadotropin-releasing hormone
 Posterior Pituitary Hormones
The Neurons in
the hypothalamus
produce
antidiuretic
hormone and
oxytocin, which
are stored in the
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posterior pituitary
 Posterior Pituitary Hormones
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
• causes kidneys to reduce water excretion and promote water
retention.
• in high concentration, raises blood pressure
• controlled by hypothalamus in response to changes in blood
water concentration and blood volume
Oxytocin (OT)
• Stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth.
• Stimulates mammary glands to release milk (milk ejection).
• Controlled by hypothalamus in response to stretch in uterine
and vaginal walls and stimulation of breasts during suckling.
 Thyroid Gland

The follicular cells:

thyroxine (T4)
triiodothyronine (T3).

Parafollicular cells produce:

Calcitonin
 Thyroid Gland
Hormones
Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3)
• These two hormones increase the rate at which cells release
energy from carbohydrates, enhance protein synthesis, and
stimulate the breakdown and mobilization of lipids.
• increase oxygen consumption in all tissues heat production.
• accelerates growth especially nervous system.
• stimulates activity in the nervous system.
• Decrease blood cholesterol.
• controlled by TSH.
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
(Thyrotropin)
Hypothalamus
Regulation:
TRH
• Stimulated by thyrotropin-
releasing hormone (TRH)
Anterior pituitary
• Inhibited by rising blood levels
of thyroid hormones that act on
TSH
the pituitary and hypothalamus

Thyroid gland

Thyroid
hormones

Target cells
Stimulates
Inhibits
 Thyroid Gland Hormones
Calcitonin
• Lowers blood calcium concentrations by inhibiting
release of calcium from bones
• Increases rate at which calcium is deposited in
bones
• Calcitonin increases the rate at which calcium is
stored in bones and excreted in the urine.

• Calcitonin secretion is regulated by negative

feedback involving blood concentrations of
calcium.
 Parathyroid Glands

Parathyroid Hormone
1. Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
increases blood calcium ion
concentration and decreases phosphate
ion concentration.
2. PTH stimulates bone resorption by
osteoclasts, which releases calcium into
the blood.
3. PTH also influences the kidneys to
conserve calcium and causes increased
absorption of calcium in the intestines.
Calcitonin and PTH exert opposite effects in regulating calcium ion levels in the blood.
Blood Calcium
Adrenal Glands
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 Hormones of the Adrenal
Medulla
1. The adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine and
norepinephrine into the blood stream.
2. The effects of these hormones resemble
those of the sympathetic division
neurotransmitters of the same name, except that
they last up to 10 times longer when they are
secreted as hormones.
3. The are used in times of stress and for “fight or
flight.”
 Adrenal Cortex Hormones

The cells of the adrenal

cortex produce over 30
different steroids, some of
which are vital to survival,
the most important of
which are aldosterone,
cortisol, and the sex
hormones.
 Aldosterone
Aldosterone is secreted in response to decreasing blood volume and
blood pressure as a result of changes in the kidney.
 Cortisol
Cortisol, a glucocorticoid, influences the
metabolism of glucose, protein, and fat in response
to conditions that stress the body and require a
greater supply of energy in the bloodstream.
• increases fatty acid release
• stimulates glucose synthesis
• maintain normal blood pressure
• anti-inflammatory effect
• released during long term stress
 Pancreatic Hormones
Glucagon
• secreted by alpha cells of pancreatic islets
• stimulates liver to break down glycogen
• stimulates liver to convert noncarbohydrates into glucose
• released in response to low blood glucose concentrations
Insulin
• secreted by beta cells of pancreatic islets
• promotes formation of glycogen from glucose
• enhances movement of glucose into adipose and muscle cells
• decreases blood glucose concentrations
• released in response to high blood glucose concentrations
 Blood Sugar Control

Insulin and glucagon coordinate to maintain a relatively stable blood glucose

concentration.
 Summary
Endocrine gland Associated hormones Effect
Pituitary(anterior) Growth hormone (GH) Promotes growth of body tissues
Pituitary(anterior) Prolactin (PRL) Promotes milk production
Pituitary(anterior) Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) Stimulates thyroid hormone release
Pituitary(anterior) Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) Stimulates hormone release by adrenal cortex
Pituitary(anterior) Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) Stimulates gamete production
Pituitary(anterior) Luteinizing hormone (LH) Stimulates androgen production by gonads
Pituitary(posterior) Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) Stimulates water reabsorption by kidneys
Pituitary(posterior) Oxytocin Stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth
Thyroid Thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) Stimulate basal metabolic rate
Thyroid Calcitonin Reduces blood Ca2+ levels
Parathyroid Parathyroid hormone (PTH) Increases blood Ca2+ levels
Adrenal (cortex) Aldosterone Increases blood Na+ levels
Adrenal (cortex) Cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone Increase blood glucose levels
Adrenal (medulla) Epinephrine, norepinephrine Stimulate fight-or-flight response
Pancreas Insulin Reduces blood glucose levels
Pancreas Glucagon Increases blood glucose levels
Thank You