Endocrine system

The endocrine system is a series of glands that produce and secrete hormones that the  body uses
for a wide range of functions. The Endocrine system (along with the nervous system) controls
and regulates the complex activities of
the body. The Endocrine system
regulates the activities of the body by
secreting complex chemical substances
(hormones) into the blood stream.
These secretions come from a variety
of glands which control various organs
of the body. Endocrine tissues and
organs secrete hormone into body
fluids (mainly blood and lymph)
directly using diffusion.

Function

What Does the Endocrine System Do?

 Endocrine glands release hormones into the bloodstream. This lets the hormones travel to
cells in other parts of the body.
 The endocrine hormones help control mood, growth and development, the way our
organs work, metabolis, and reproduction.
 The endocrine system regulates how much of each hormone is released. This can depend
on levels of hormones already in the blood, or on levels of other substances in the blood,
like calcium. Many things affect hormone levels, such as stress, infection, and changes in
the balance of fluid and minerals in the blood.

Some other functions: 

 Respiration 
 Metabolism 
 Reproduction 
  Sensory perception 
 Movement 
 Sexual development 
 Growth

Hormones

Hormones are produced by glands and sent into

the bloodstream to the various tissues in the  body.
They send signals to those tissues to tell them what
they are supposed to do. When the  glands do not
produce the right amount of hormones, diseases
develop that can affect many  aspects of life.
Hormones are secreted from the glands of the
endocrine system, they are specific in that each
hormone causes a response in a specific target
organ or group of cells, rather than on the body as
a whole.

Types of hormones

Exocrine hormones:

Endocrine hormones are secreted via a duct into the blood and usually effect a distant organ or
tissue.

Endocrine hormones:

Endocrine hormones are secreted within the tissue (rather than via a duct) and enter the blood
stream via the capillaries.

Hormones can be grouped into three main types:

1. Amines, these are simple molecules

2. Proteins and peptides which are made from chains of amino acids

3. Steroids which are derived from cholesterol.

Glands that makes up Endocrine  system: 

While many parts of the body make hormones, the major glands that make up the endocrine
system are the:

 Hypothalamus
 Pituitary
 Thyroid
 Parathyroids
 Adrenals
 Pineal body
 The ovaries
 The testes
 The pancreas is part of the endocrine system and the digestive system. That's
because it secretes hormones into the bloodstream, and makes and secretes
enzymes into the digestive tract.

Hypothalamus Gland:

The hypothalamus is in the lower central

part of the brain. It links the endocrine
system and nervous system. Nerve cells in
the hypothalamus make chemicals that
control the release of hormones secreted
from the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus
gathers information sensed by the brain
(such as the surrounding temperature, light
exposure, and feelings) and sends it to the
pituitary. This information influences the
hormones that the pituitary makes and releases. Pituitary Gland:

The pituitary gland is at the base of the brain, and is no bigger than a pea. Despite its small size,
the pituitary is often called the "master gland." The hormones it makes control many other
endocrine glands.
Functions of pituitary gland:

The pituitary gland makes many hormones,

such as:

 Corticotrophin hormone, which

stimulates the growth of bone and
other body tissues and plays a role
in the body's handling of nutrients
and minerals
 Prolactin which activates milk
production in women who are breastfeeding
 Thyrotropin which stimulates the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormones, which
stimulates the adrenal gland to make certain hormones
 Antidiuretic hormone, which helps control body water balance through its effect on the
kidneys
 Oxytocin which triggers the contractions of the uterus that happen during labor.
 The pituitary also secretes endorphins chemicals that act on the nervous system and
reduce feelings of pain. The pituitary also secretes hormones that signal the reproductive
organs to make sex hormones. The pituitary gland also controls ovulation and the
menstrual cycle in women.

Thyroid gland:

The thyroid is in the front part of the lower neck. It's

shaped like a bow tie or butterfly. It makes the
thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine.
These hormones control the rate at which cells burn
fuels from food to make energy. The more thyroid
hormone there is in the bloodstream, the faster
chemical reactions happen in the body.

Functions of thyroid gland:

Thyroid hormones are important because they help kids' and teens' bones grow and develop, and
they also play a role in the development of the brain and nervous system.

Parathyroid Gland:

Attached to the thyroid are four tiny glands that

work together called the parathyroids.

Functions of parathyroid gland:

They release parathyroid hormone, which

controls the level of calcium in the blood with
the help of calcitonin which the thyroid makes.

Adrenal Glands:

These two triangular adrenal glands sit on top of each kidney. The adrenal glands have two parts,
each of which makes a set of hormones and has a different function.

Functions of Adrenal glands:

1. The outer part is the adrenal cortex.

It makes hormones called
corticosteroids that help control salt
and water balance in the body, the
body's response to stress, metabolism,
the immune systemand sexual
development and function.

2. The inner part is the adrenal medulla

. It makes catecholamines such as epinephrine. Also called adrenaline, epinephrine increases
blood pressure and heart rate when the body is under stress.

Pineal Gland:

The pineal body, also called the pineal gland, is in the

middle of the brain.
Functions of pineal gland:

It secretes melatonin a hormone that may help regulate when you sleep at night and when you
wake in the morning.

Reproductive Glands: The gonads are the main source of sex hormones. Most people don't
realize it, but both guys and girls have gonads. In guys the male gonads, or testes , are in the
scrotum.

Functions of male gonads:

They secrete hormones called androgens

the most important of which is
testosterone. These hormones tell a guy's
body when it's time to make the changes
associated with puberty, like penis and
height growth, deepening voice, and
growth in facial and pubic hair. Working
with hormones from the pituitary gland,
testosterone also tells a guy's body when
it's time to make sperm in the testes.

Functions of female gonads:

A girl's gonads, the ovaries are in her

pelvis. They make eggs and secrete the
female hormones estrogen and
progesterone. Estrogen is involved when
a girl starts puberty. Estrogen and
progesterone are also involved in the regulation of a girl's menstrual cycle. These hormones also
play a role in pregnancy.

Pancreas Glands:
The pancreas makes insulin and glucagon which are hormones that control the level of glucose,
or sugar, in the blood.

Functions of pancreatic Gland:

Insulin helps keep the body supplied with stores of energy. The body uses this stored energy for
exercise and activity, and it also helps organs work as they should.

Disorder associated with endocrine glands

Tumours can arise in the endocrine system, e.g. pituitary tumours, thyroid cancers and
neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas. As a consequence of the position of these tumours, they
may cause destruction of the normal gland and subsequent hormonal deficiency. Occasionally
these tumours can also lead to an overproduction or secretion of hormone e.g. some pituitary
tumours may lead to precocious puberty. The adrenal medulla is a common site for the
development of neuroblastoma . Neuroblastoma may be associated with hypertension as a result
of the oversecretion of catecholamine.

Adrenocortical Cancer:

Adrenocortical carcinoma: a rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the cortex
(outer layer) of the adrenal gland. Adrenocortical carcinoma, also known as adrenal cortical
carcinoma (ACC), is a rare and aggressive cancer that originates in the outer layer of the adrenal
gland. There are two adrenal glands. One sits on top of each kidney. The adrenal cortex makes
important hormones, including ones that keep water and salt in balance, control blood pressure,
and help the body use energy. Adrenocortical tumors usually make extra amounts of one or more
adrenal hormones, which may cause symptoms. Certain inherited disorders increase the risk of
adrenocortical cancer; these include Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome,
and Carney complex.

●Pancreatic Cancer:

● Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which the cells of the pancreas become malignant. The
pancreas has two main functions; (i) it makes juices that help digest food and (ii) produces
hormones (including insulin) that conrol how food is used and stored in the body. The vast
majority of pancreatic cancers are associated with the part of the pancreas that makes digestive
juices - these are known as "exocrine" pancreatic cancers. Only about 1/20 pancreatic cancers
start in the hormone producing part of the pancreas ; these are known as "endocrine" pancreatic
cancer or "islet cell cancer". There are several types of exocrine pancreatic cancers (based on
how the cells appear

under the microscope), most are classed as "ductal adenocarcinomas". Pancreatic cancer is rare
before the age of 40 years, incidence increases sharply with increasing age.

●Pituitary Cancer:

● pituitary gland tumor is a group of abnormal cells that grows out of control in  your pituitary
gland. Most of these tumors are not cancerous. Pituitary cancer is  very rare.  ● Still, the tumors
can cause serious problems, either because of their size (large  tumors) or because they make
extra hormones your body doesn’t need  (functioning tumors). They’re typically treated with
surgery, medicine,  or radiation.  ●   ●Thyroid Cancer:

● Cancer of the thyroid is a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the tissues
of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located at the base of the throat and produces hormones
that help the body function normally. Most patients are between 25 and 65 years old, thyroid
cancer is more common in women than in men. It is the most common malignancy of the
endocrine (hormone) system. There are four main types of thyroid cancer (depending on the type
of cell that the cancer developed in); papillary carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, medullary
carcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma. Occasionally other type of cancer (lymphoma, sarcoma and
carcinosarcoma) can be found in the thyroid gland. Some thyroid cancers are caused by exposure
to radiation and some medullary carcinomas are associated with an inherited condition (multiple
endocrine neoplasia). However, in the large majority of cases the cause is unknown.

●Parathyroid Cancer:

● The parathyroid gland is located at the base of the neck near the thyroid gland. It produces a
hormone called parathyroid hormone (PTH), which controls how the body stores and uses
calcium. Parathyroid cancer is a condition where the cells of the parathyroid gland become
malignant (cancerous). Parathyroid cancers are rare; while problems with the parathyroid gland
are common, these are not usually cancer related.

●Thymus cancer: ● Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are diseases in which malignant  (cancer)
cells form on the outside surface of the thymus.  ● Thymoma is linked with myasthenia gravis
and other autoimmune  diseases.  ● Signs and symptoms of thymoma and thymic carcinoma
include a  cough and chest pain.  ● Tests that examine the thymus are used to detect (find)
thymoma or  thymic carcinoma.  ● Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are usually diagnosed,
staged, and  treated during surgery. 

● Potential Endocrine Side Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancers Chemotherapy can
sometimes affect future fertility, and in children it can have the potential to affect growth in a
few cases. In such cases the patient may receive hormone therapy, for example testosterone to
stimulate growth for patients with hypogonadism (under developed genitals). Cranial irradiation,
particularly in the treatment of brain tumours, frequently causes endocrine abnormalities. The
pituitary is particularly sensitive and growth hormone deficiency with short stature can arise.
Both delayed and early puberty can also occur and therefore close endocrine monitoring is
required. Early intervention with hormone replacement therapy can minimise the side effects.

Radiation therapy given to children may lead to reduced growth in the bones and

muscles in the affected area, for example when the patient reaches adulthood one limb might be
slightly shorter than the

References:

1.Kidshealth.org

2.hormone.org

3.cancerindex.org

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