The Endocrine System

THE FUNCTION OF THE

ENCDORINE SYSTEM IS
THE PRODUCTION AND
REGULATION OF CHEMICAL
SUBSTANCES CALLED
HORMONES
WHAT ARE HORMONES
 THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Although often overshadowed by the brain and nerves, the Endocrine system is also
involved in the information business. Hormones carry essential messages that have far-
reaching effects.

They control body processes at every level, from energy uptake of a single cell to the whole
body’s rate of growth and development.

There are 50 of hormones, which are the body’s chemical messengers and
they are made by 12 different Endocrine glands.

These glands have no ducts but secrete their hormones directly into the blood,
by which means they reach every cell in the body.

Hormones affect certain target tissues or organs and regulate their activities.
The Endocrine system sends hormones through the Circulatory system to control and
coordinate body functions in much the same way as the nervous system uses tiny electrical
signals.

 The Endocrine system and the Nervous system work together to integrate in
the brain and complement each other, but they tend to work at different
speeds.

 Nerves respond within split-seconds but their action soon fades

 Some hormones have longer lasting effects and act over hours, weeks,
and years.

Hormones regulate processes such as:

 The breakdown of chemical substances in metabolism of what we eat and drink

 Fluid balance and urine production

 The body’s growth and development

THE 12 PARTS OF THE
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland are part of the diencephalon region of the brain.

The hypothalamus connects the nervous system to the endocrine system. It receives and
processes signals from other brain regions and pathways and translates them into hormones,
the chemical messengers of the endocrine system.

These hormones flow to the pituitary gland, which is connected to the hypothalamus by the
infundibulum. Some hormones are stored in the pituitary stores for later release; others
spur it to secrete its own hormones. The hormones released by the pituitary gland and the
hypothalamus control the other endocrine glands and regulate all major internal functions.
 THE PINEAL GLAND
The pineal gland is small and pine cone-
shaped, (which is how it got its name)
located at the back of the diencephalon
region in the brain.

At night, in the absence of light,

the pineal gland secretes the
hormone melatonin.

Melatonin regulates the body’s

sleep patterns in both
circadian (daily) and seasonal
patterns.

In the morning, when light hits the eye,

photo receptors in the retina send
signals to the pineal gland, which then
decreases melatonin production and we
MASTER GLAND

The pituitary is the most

influential gland in the
endocrine system.

It is actually two distinct glands in

one.

Its front, or anterior lobe

manufactures 7 major hormones
and releases them into the
bloodstream.

Behind it is the posterior (back) lobe

which receives its two main
hormones from the hypothalamus,
which lies above it and then it
releases 3 hormones, as shown.

https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/endocrin
e/hormones#anterior-pituitary
 PITUITARY
GLAND

The Hypothalamus Sends

Hormones to the Pituitary Gland to
Control the Endocrine System
THE THYROID AND PARATHYROID GLANDS INCREASE METABOLISM
AND REGULATE CALCIUM LEVELS
 THYROID GLAND

The thyroid gland sits in the throat region, just

below the larynx, served by large arteries with
many branches and a dense network of capillaries.

The hormones it secretes, travel in

the bloodstream throughout the body
to:

 Increase metabolism

 Regulate glucose use

 Protein synthesis

 Nervous system development.

 It also releases Calcitonin, which helps
maintain blood calcium homeostasis by
causing calcium to be removed from the https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/endocrine/glands
blood and deposited into bones when
blood (calcium) levels are too high.
 Parathyroid Glands
On the posterior (back) surface of the thyroid sit
much smaller, separate glands: the parathyroids.

Typically there are four parathyroid glands, a

superior and inferior pair on the left and
right sides of the thyroid.

They secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH),

which stimulates bones to release calcium
into the blood when blood (calcium) levels
are low.

PTH also causes the kidneys to reduce

calcium secretion into urine to further
elevate calcium levels in the blood.
Together, calcitonin and PTH act in
complementary ways to maintain blood
calcium homeostasis, which is one of the
most tightly controlled physiological Go to 50 sec https://www.youtube.com/watch?
parameters in the body. v=qjHwOnV9K8A
Iodine is an element that's required for
the thyroid gland to produce thyroid
hormones.

Since the body does not produce iodine on

its own, it needs to come from dietary
sources—and striking the right balance is key.

The Importance of Iodine

When you consume iodine, it is quickly

absorbed and entered into your bloodstream.

Your thyroid, which has tiny cells that capture

the circulating iodine, takes in and oxidizes it
so it can begin to be used to create
T3 and T4—thyroid hormones that make
their way throughout the body to regulate
metabolism and ensure healthy functioning of
the heart, brain, and other organs.
The thymus gland produces
progenitor cells, which
mature into T-cells (thymus-
derived cells). The body
uses T-cells to help destroy
infected or cancerous cells.

T-cells created by the

thymus also help other
organs in the immune
system grow properly.

These cells are so vital,

they are often donated
to those in need. The
Thymus gland is the
primary donor of cells
for the lymphatic
system, much as bone
marrow is the cell donor
for the cardiovascular https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW2Jat00lEs
THE ADRENAL GLANDS REGULATE SUBSTANCE LEVELS IN THE BLOOD AND
RELEASE “FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT” HORMONES
The adrenal glands are pyramid-shaped
organs that sit at the top of each
kidney.

Each adrenal gland consists of two structures: an

outer adrenal cortex and an inner adrenal medulla.

The adrenal cortex is a network of fine connective

tissues that makes up most of the gland. It
secretes a range of steroid hormones.

Cortisol which manages protein and

glucose levels.

Aldosterone which adjusts our levels of

water and salt.

Androgens and estrogens are secreted

by the adrenal cortex in small amounts
by both sexes.
The adrenal medulla (inside the gland)
produces epinephrine and nor-epinephrine The left kidney is located slightly
(NE). These chemicals promote “fight-or- higher than the right kidney due to the
flight,” the body’s initial response to larger size of the liver on the right side
stress. of the body
PANCREAS – A DUAL-PURPOSE GLAND
It is also a part of the digestive system.

It excretes pancreatic juice into the small intestine via

the pancreatic duct.

Scattered within the pancreas there are also

tiny cell clusters called pancreatic islets (or
islets of Langerhans) that release hormones
into the bloodstream.

These islets make up less than 2% of pancreatic tissue,

but their specialized cells regulate blood glucose levels
(or blood sugar).

When blood sugar is low, alpha cells in the islets

release glucagon. Glucagon spurs the liver to The Pancreas Regulates Blood Sugar
break down glycogen and release more glucose
into the blood. Surrounded by enzyme-producing acini
cells, the tiny pancreatic islets contain
When blood sugar is high, beta cells in the islets three types of cells: alpha, beta, and
release insulin, which increases glucose delta. The secretions of the latter help
reuptake. regulate insulin and glucagon production.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzjjW--I-2Q
SEX GLANDS AND HORMONES

The main sex glands are the ovaries in

females and testes in males.

The sex hormones they produce stimulate

the production of eggs and sperm
respectively and influence the early
development of the embryo into a boy or
girl.

After birth, the circulating levels remain low

until puberty.

Then, in males, the testes increase their

output of androgens (male sex hormones),
such as testosterone.

In females, the ovaries produce more

oestrogens and progesterone.
GLAND HORMONE FUNCTION
PINEAL MELATONIN REGULATES CYCLE OF SLEEP, REST AND ACTIVITY
PITUITARY *FOLLICLE INVOLVE IN THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND PREPARING THE UTERUS FOR
STIMULATING PREGNANCY. TRIGGERS THE GROWTH OF EGGS IN THE OVARIES AND GETS
HORMONE READY FOR OVULATION.
*GROWTH STIMULATES THE SECRETION OF OTHER GLANDS
HORMONE
PARATHYROID PARATHYROMONE INCREASE BLOOD CALCIUM LEVELS USING CALCIUM STORED FROM THE
BONES
THYROID CALCITONIN CAUSES BONE CALCIFICATION BY REDUCING BLOOD CALCIUM LEVEL.
THYROXINE STIMULATES CELL METABOLISM, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
ADRENAL ADRENALIN MAKES HEART BEAT FASTER AND LUNGS BREATHE EFFICIENTLY.
SYMPATHETIC NEUROTRANSMITTERS
CORTISOL REGULATE PART OF THE METABOLISM AND HAVE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
EFFECT
PANCREAS GLUCAGON INCREASES BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS BY REMOVING IT FROM THE BODY
STORAGE, SUCH S LIVER AND MUSCLES
INSULIN REDUCES BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS USING CALCIUM STORED FROM THE
BONES
GLAND HORMONE FUNCTION
TESTES TESTOSTERONE RESPONSIBLE FOR MALE CHARACTERISTICS.
ANDROGEN CONTROL MATURATION AND REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION
OVARIES ESTROGEN RESPONSIBLE FOR FEMALE SEX CHARACTERISTICS AND
REGULATE MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND EGG DEVELOPMENT.
PROGESTERONE SUPPORT REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION.
 A SUMMARY ABOUT THE
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCwRX7seya0
4.5 minutes