ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: AN OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

• Composed of glands and cells that secrete hormones • Helps coordinate functions between cells
•Critical for maintaining homeostasis

• Helps regulate o growth and development o metabolism and water balance o reproduction and stress
responses

HORMONES AND ENDOCRINE GLAND

• Hormones

o Chemical messengers o Secreted by endocrine glands or tissues

into blood o Travel everywhere blood goes o Affect only target cells, cells with receptors

o May affect very distant organs or cells

HORMONES AND ENDOCRINE GLAND

• Endocrinology

o Study of endocrine system o Diagnosis and treatment of its disorders

FUNCTIONS

1. Controls homeostasis 2. Maintains water balance 3. Controls uterine contractions 4. Controls milk
production 5. Regulates ions (calcium, sodium, potassium) 6. Regulates metabolism and growth

7. Regulates heart rate and blood pressure 8. Monitors blood glucose levels 9. Aids the immune system

10. Reproductive functions

MAJOR ORGANS

EXOCRINE

• Release secretions to tissue by

Ducts

ENDOCRINE

• Ductless, release into blood , Other organs not usually considered endocrine glands

• e.g., brain and heart, releasing important substances

COMPONENTS OF THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

ENDOCRINE GLANDS

• Secrete their product directly into blood stream

CHEMICAL SIGNAL
• Molecules that are released from one location, move to another location, and produce a response

TYPES OF CHEMICAL SIGNALS

TYPES OF CHEMICAL SIGNALS

• Intracellular

o produce in one of part a cell and move to another part of same cell

• Intercellular

o released from one cell and bind to receptors on another cell

TYPES OF INTRACELLULAR SIGNALS

Autocrine Paracrine Neurotransmitter & neuromodulators

Pheromones Hormones & neurohormones

• Released by cells and a have local effect on same cell type

• Ex. Eicosanoids

(released in response to inflammation)

• Released by cells that affect other cell types in close proximity

• Ex. Somatostatin (inhibits insulin secretion)

• Secreted by nerve cells

• Ex. Nervous system function

• Secreted into environment and modify behavior and physiology of other individual in same species

• Ex. Women and menstrual cycles • Secreted by nerve cells

• Ex. Nervous

system function

TYPES OF

CHEMICAL

SIGNALS

ENDOCRINE PHYSIOLOGY: HORMONE STRUCTURE

ENDOCRINE PHYSIOLOGY:

HORMONE STRUCTURE

STEROID

• Lipids synthesized from

cholesterol

• Share structure

• 4 organic rings with varied

side groups

• E.g., testosterone and

estradiol

MONOAMINE PEPTIDE

• Small molecules

• Synthesized from amino

acids tyrosine and

tryptophan

• E.g., thyroxine and

epinephrine

• Chains from 3 to more than

200 amino acids

• Considered proteins if > 50

amino acids

• Oxytocin, small peptide

hormone

• Insulin, a protein

CHEMICAL CLASSES OF HORMONES

HORMONE RECEPTORS AND EFFECTS

• Hormone receptor

o Given hormone: fits receptor like key

fits lock

o Insulin “key”: fits only insulin receptor

“lock”

§ Does not stimulate other receptor

types
o Cell only responds if has proper

receptors

HORMONE RECEPTORS AND EFFECTS

• Peptide hormones and most monoamines

o Hydrophilic, unable to pass into target cell

o Bind to receptor at cell surface

o Receptor associated with membrane enzyme

§ Respond by producing second messenger inside cell

§ Often cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)

HORMONE RECEPTORS AND EFFECTS

• Cyclic AMP

o Made by removing two phosphates from ATP

o Activates or reactivates cytoplasmic enzymes

o Leads to various metabolic effects

§ e.g., wake up certain genes, producing new enzymes

§ e.g., change permeability of plasma membrane

§ e.g., glucagon activating certain metabolic pathways

HORMONE RECEPTORS AND EFFECTS

• Steroid hormones

o Hydrophobic, readily pass into cell

o Bind receptor associated with DNA

o Causes gene to be transcribed

o Specific protein produced

§ alters metabolism in various ways

COMPONENTS OF HORMONES

• Receptor site: location on a cell

where hormone binds (lock)

• Target tissues: group of cells

that respond to specific

hormones

• Specificity: specific hormones

bind to specific receptor sites

COMPONENTS OF HORMONES

How does this work?

1. Hormones are secreted by endocrine glands directly into

blood stream

2. Hormones travel to all parts of body

3. Hormones (key) bind to receptor site (lock) on target tissue

4. Response occurs

COMPONENTS OF HORMONES

How do hormones cause change?

o Alter cell activity of target tissues by increasing or decreasing

cell’s normal processes

o Change permeability of cell membrane by opening or

closing ion channels

o Synthesis of proteins

WATER SOLUBLE

• Includes proteins, peptides,

amino acids

• Most common

• Ex. Growth hormone,

antidiuretic, prolactin

LIPID SOLUBLE

• Includes steroids and

eicosanoids

• Ex. LH, FSH, androgens

TYPES OF HORMONES

REGULATION OF HORMONES
• Blood levels of chemicals: Ex. Blood glucose levels (insulin)

• Other hormones: Ex. TSH signals thyroid gland to release thyroid

hormone

• Nervous system: Ex. Epinephrine and fight or flight response

• Negative Feedback: tells body when homeostasis is reached

ENDOCRINE GLANDS AND THEIR HORMONES

PITUITARY GLAND

• Small gland in brain

• Controlled by hypothalamus

• Divided into 2 regions: anterior and posterior

• Secretes at least 6 hormones

PITUITARY GLANDS, ITS HORMONES, AND

THEIR TARGET TISSUES

PITUITARY GLANDS, ITS HORMONES, AND

THEIR TARGET TISSUES

PITUITARY GLANDS, ITS HORMONES, AND

THEIR TARGET TISSUES

ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

GROWTH HORMONE:

• Target tissues: most

• Functions: stimulates growth of bones, muscles, and organs

• Abnormalities:

o Too much GH causes giantism

o Too little GH causes pituitary dwarfism

ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE (TSH):

• Target tissues: thyroid gland

• Functions: regulates thyroid gland secretions

• Abnormalities:

o Too much TSH, thyroid gland enlarges

o Too little TSH, thyroid gland shrinks

ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

GONADOTROPINS:

LH (Luteinizing)

for females

LH for males FSH (FollicleStimulating) for

females

FSH for males Prolactin

• Target tissue:

ovaries

• Function:

promotes

ovulation and

progesterone

production

• Target tissue:

testes

• Function:

sperm

production and

testosterone

• Target tissue:

follicles in

ovaries

• Function:

follicle

maturation and
estrogen

secretion

• Target tissue:

seminiferous

tubules (testes)

• Function:

sperm

production

• Target tissues:

mammary

glands and

ovaries

• Functions: milk

production

POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE (ADH):

• Target tissues: kidneys

• Functions: conserve water

CLINICAL CORRELATION

Diabetes insipidus

• Kidneys to produce large

amounts of dilute (watery)

urine

• Can lead to dehydration and

thirst

POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

OXYTOCIN:

• Target tissues: uterus

• Functions: increases uterine contractions during labor

POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

THYROID GLAND

• One of largest glands

• Requires iodine to function

THYROID HORMONES

o Target tissues: most

o Functions: regulates metabolic rates and is needed for

growth

ABNORMALITIES OF THE THYROID GLAND

Hypothyroidism Hyperthyroidism

• Decreased metabolism

• Weight gain, reduced appetite,

fatigue

• Low temp. and pulse

• Dry, cold skin

• Myxedema in adults

• Cretinism in infants

• Increased metabolism

• Weight loss, increased appetite,

nervousness

• Higher temp. and pulse

• Warm, flushed skin

• Graves’ disease (leads to goiter)

THYROID GLAND

CALCITONIN:

• Target tissues: bones

• Functions: secreted when

blood Ca2+ levels are high

REGULATION

OF THYROID

HORMONE

(T3 AND T4)

SECRETION

PARATHYROID GLAND

PARATHYROID HORMONE (PTH):

• Target tissues: bones and kidneys

• Functions: regulates blood Ca2+

levels (more than calcitonin)

PARATHYROID GLAND

• If Ca 2+ is low, then osteoclasts

break down bone matrix and less

Ca 2+ is lost in urine

• If Ca 2+ is high, then osteoclasts

don’t break down bone matrix

and more Ca 2+ is lost in urine

REGULATION OF

BLOOD CALCIUM

ION LEVELS

ADRENAL GLANDS

• On kidneys

• 2 regions medulla

and cortex

ANATOMY AND HISTOLOGY OF THE

ADRENAL GLAND

ADRENAL GLANDS

Adrenal Medulla

(inner portion):
Adrenal Cortex

(outer portion):

• Epinephrine

• Norepinephrine

• Aldosterone

• Cortisol

• Androgens

ADRENAL GLANDS

Adrenal Medulla

(inner portion):

Adrenal Cortex

(outer portion):

ADRENAL MEDULLA

EPINEPHRINE/NOREPINEPHRINE:

• Target tissues: heart, blood

vessels, liver, fat cells

• Functions: released as part of

fight or flight response

ADRENAL CORTEX

ALDOSTERONE:

• Type of mineralocorticoids

• Target tissues: kidneys

• Functions: causes Na+ and H2O to be retained

and K+ to be secreted, indirectly involved with

blood pressure and blood volume

ADRENAL CORTEX

CORTISOL:

• Type of glucocorticoids

• Target tissues: most

• Functions: increases breakdown of

fat and protein for energy uses,

reduces inflammatory and immune

responses

ADRENAL CORTEX

ANDROGENS:

• Target tissues: most

• Functions:

o Males: secondary sexual characteristics

o Females: sex drive

PANCREAS

INSULIN:

• Target tissues: liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue

• Functions:

• regulates blood glucose levels

• after a meal glucose levels are high and insulin is secreted

• extra glucose is stored in form of glycogen

PANCREAS

PANCREAS

CLINICAL CORRELATION

Diabetes mellitus

• Causes: too little insulin or faulty insulin receptors

• Symptoms: exaggerated appetite, excess urine, dehydration,

thirst, fatigue

oType I: insulin dependent (daily injections required)

oType II: insulin independent, often found in obese people,

can be treated with diet but can turn into type I

CLINICAL CORRELATION

Diabetes mellitus
PANCREAS

GLUCAGON:

• Target tissues: liver

• Functions:

o regulates blood glucose levels

o between meals glucose levels drop and glucagon is secreted

o glucagon allows glycogen to be broken down into glucose

STRUCTURE OF THE PANCREAS

REGULATION OF

BLOOD GLUCOSE

LEVELS

TESTES

TESTOSTERONE:

• Target tissues: most

• Functions: aids in sperm and

reproductive organ

development and function

OVARIES

ESTROGEN/PROGESTERONE:

• Target tissues: most

• Functions: involved in uterine

and mammary gland

development and menstrual

cycle

THYMUS

THYMOSIN:

• Target tissues: immune

system tissues

• Functions: promotes
immune system

development and function

PINEAL GLAND

MELATONIN:

• Target tissues: hypothalamus

• Functions: plays a role in onset of puberty and controls circadian

rhythms

• Light affects its function

PINEAL

GLAND

UNIT EXPECTED OUTCOME

• Describe distinctively the control of body functions by the nervous system and

endocrine system

• Differentiate appropriately endocrine from exocrine glands

• Analyze cohesively the function of hormones and their interaction with their target

cell receptors

• Describe appropriately the mechanisms of control of hormone secretion

• Classify correctly the different endocrine glands and their mechanism of action to

maintain the homeostatic balance between the body through controlled hormone

secretion

THANK YOU