Dr.

Mohammed Elhussiny Ali

MBBCh, MSc, PHD.
Assistant professor of Histology & Cell biology.
Batterjee Medical College.
Endocrine system
 CLOs

1. General structure of Endocrine glands

2. Function of cellular structures of each endocrine
glands .
 1- PITUITARY GLAND

Histologically pituitary is divided by a cleft into two parts.

1. Anterior pituitary
2. posterior pituitary

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 Anterior pituitary

Is formed of 3 parts

• Pars Pars distalis

• Pars Pars tuberalis
• Pars Pars intermedia

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 Cells of pars distalis

» A: acidophils
» B: Basophils
» C: chromophobes: considered to be either
reserve or exhausted glandular cells

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 Acidophilic cells
1-Somatotrophs(somatotropiccells):
» Function: secrete growth hormone.

2-Mammotrophs(prolactincells)= Lactotrophcells
» During pregnancy :
» •The cells hypertrophy under the stimulating effect of estrogen
» •Their granules become larger and irregular (600 nm) & they are called pregnancy cells.
» Function: secrete prolactin hormone.

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 Basophilic cells (basophils)

1-Thyrotrophs:
» Function: secrete thyrotrophic hormone (thyroid stimulating hormone) TSH.

2. Corticotrophs:
» Function: secrete synthesise a pro-hormone, by cleavage, they produce:
» •ACTH which controls the function of suprarenal cortex.
» •Melanocyte stimulating hormone & endorphin.

3-Gonadotrophsor (FSH-LH cells)

» Function: secrete follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) `& luteinizing hormone (LH).

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 2- THYROID GLAND
Structure it consists of 2 lobes connected together
by a transverse part called the isthmus
Thyroid gland is formed of
1. stroma 2. Parynchema

The gland is enclosed in a delicate C.T. Capsule

which extends into gland as delicate C.T. septa
dividing the gland into lobules.

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» It is composed of follicles which are round to oval and
variable in size.
» The follicles are lined by a single layer of cells enclosing a
cavity containing homogenous gelatinous acidophilic
substance called .
» The follicles are surrounded by fenestrated blood capillaries
» Two basic types of cells are present in the follicles of thyroid
gland: Follicular cells and parafolllicullar cells.

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L.M.:
» these constitute the main type of cells in the follicular epithelia they are
flat, cuboidal or columnar cells according to the activity of the gland.
» They have round central nuclei and basophilic cytoplasm .
» They rest on a thin basement membrane and their apex reaches the
follicular cavity.
Function of follicular cells:
They synthesize T3and T4.

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L.M.: they are present between the follicular cells and the basement membrane.
Their apical portion don’t reach the follicular lumen.
They are larger in size & lighter in staining than follicular cells.
Function: secrete thyrocalcitonin which lower blood calcium it is stimulated
by high calcium level in blood.

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 3- PARATHYROID GLAND
It has two types of cells.
1. Chief cells or principal cells:
Cells are polygonal in shape. Cytoplasm is lightly acidophilic.
Nucleolus is vesicular. Cytoplasm contains secretory granules.
2. Oxyphils or acidophils:
They are larger than chief cells and polygonal in shape.
Cytoplasm contains acidophilic granules and the nucleus is
darkly stained.
Function: secrete (Parathyroid hormone) PTH stimulates the
release of calcium in an indirect process through osteoclasts
which ultimately leads to resorption of the bones.

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 4-ADRENAL GLAND
They are two glands (right and left) capping the upper pole of the kidney.
Each gland consists of 2 parts on fresh section: A yellow peripheral layer the
cortex, and a reddish, brown central layer the medulla.

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 ADRENAL CORTEX
Based on the arrangement of its cells. The adrenal
cortex is divided into 3 zones:
1 – Zona glomerulosa : (15 %)
- It is the outermost zone

Function:

cells of zona glomenrlosa secrete

mineralocoricords, the main one is aldosterone.
Activity of these cells is regulated by renin
angiotensin system. ACTH only maintain their
viability.

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2 – Zona fasciculata : (87 %)
- It is the middle zone.
- The cells are polyhedral in shape with numerous lipid droplets the lipid dissolves
during preparation so the cells appear spongy and termed spongiocytes.
- Function: cells of the zona fasciulata secrete glucocorticoids. The most
important being hydrocortisone (cortisol).

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3 – Zona reticularis : (7 %)
L.M. it is the inner zone.
Function: cells of zona reticularis produce both glucocoroticoids (coristol) and small
amounts of weak androgens (dehydroepiandrosterone). Activities of zona fasciculate
and zona reticular is are controlled by ACTH.

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 ADRENAL MEDULLA
It is the central part of the gland.
L.M.: the cells are arranged in groups. It is composed of special endocrine cells called chromaffin cells
because they have affinity for chromium salt.

E.M. two types of chromaffin cells can be distinguished on the basis of their secretary granules:

1 – Epinephrin secreting cells:

2 – Norepinephrine – secreting cells :

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Function:
Epinephrine and norepinephrine stimulate
glycogenolysis resulting in increase blood glucose level.
Catecholamine also cause rise in blood pressure,
dilatation of coronary blood vessels, vasodilatation of
skeletal muscle vessel, vasoconstriction of skin and gut
vessels, increase in heart rate and respiration.

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 THANK YOU
For any questions feel free
to contact me
mohammed.elhussiny@bmc.edu.eg

Dr. Mohammed Elhussiny Ali

Assistant professor of Histology & Cell biology.
Batterjee Medical College.