Feedback Mechanisms and Endocrine System

by Group 5

● Nervous System - it produces electrical signals making it possible for the body to
respond rapidly.
● Endocrine System - it uses chemical signals called hormones to send messages more
slowly with far-reaching and long term effects.
● Hormones - produced by endocrine cells and transported in the blood.
- only certain target cells with receptors that are specific for the hormone
released will respond.

Hormone Action
There are two types of hormones:
➢ Water-soluble hormones - made from proteins
- cannot pass through the lipid bilayer of cell membrane
- chemical classes: Amines, Peptide, and Proteins
➢ Insoluble hormones - made from lipids
- are located in the cytoplasm of the target cell since it
can easily pass through cell membrane
- chemical class: Steroids
The three steps of Hormone action:
➢ Reception
➢ Signal Transduction
➢ Response

The Connection of Nervous and Endocrine Systems

● Hypothalamus - the master control of the endocrine system.
● Pituitary Gland - it is found under the hypothalamus and has two lobes: the posterior
and the anterior pituitary.
○ Posterior pituitary - stores and releases hormones from the hypothalamus.
- produces oxytocin and antidiuretic (ADH)
➢ Oxytocin - stimulates the uterus to contract when a baby is born, and it
also induces milk release when the baby starts suckling.
➢
○ Anterior pituitary - synthesizes its own hormones and is regulated by
hypothalamus by producing stimulating and inhibiting hormones.
➢ Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) - stimulates thyroid gland
➢ Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) - stimulates adrenal
glands
➢ Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) - induces gamete
production
➢ Luteinizing hormone (LH) - stimulates gonads
 ➢ Prolactin (PRL) - induces milk production
➢ Growth hormone (GH) - induces growth and metabolic
functions
➢ Endorphins - act as natural pain killers because they minimize
pain by binding to the pain receptors in the brain.
Hormonal Control of Homeostasis
Thyroid Hormones
● Hyperthyroidism - excessive thyroid hormones
● Hypothyroidism - too little of thyroid hormones
● Goiter - oversized of thyroid gland due to lack of thyroid hormones
● Calcitonin - lowers the blood calcium concentration
● Parathyroid hormones - increases the blood calcium concentration

● Insulin - produced by beta cells that induce the body cell to obtain more glucose that
results in the decreasing of the blood glucose level.
● Glucagon - produced by alpha cells to stimulate the liver to break down glycogen and
release more glucose that results in increasing blood glucose level.
● Diabetes mellitus - an endocrine disorder cause by insufficient insulin or unresponsive
target cells

● Adrenal glands - function as stress response

○ Adrenal medulla - produces epinephrine hormone (adrenaline) and
norepinephrine hormone (noradrenaline)
○ Adrenal cortex - synthesizes hormones if stressful situation last for a few days
- produces two groups of corticosteroids (mineralocorticoids
and glucocorticoids) which prepare and keeps the body in
times of long-term stress
Sex Hormones
Three major groups of sex hormones:
● Estrogens - more in female, are responsible for developing the secondary sex
characteristics, such as wider hips and developed breasts
● Progestins - such as progesterone, prepare the uterus in case pregnancy
occurs.
● Androgens - such as testosterone, have higher concentrations in males
- develop the secondary sex characteristics in males
- also functions in sex determination during embryonic
development
 Major Hormones in Humans
Gland Hormone Chemical Functions
Class
Hypothalamus Posterior pituitary and anterior pituitary hormones

Posterior Gland Oxytocin Peptide Uterine contraction and milk production

in mammary glands
Antidiuretic hormone Peptide Minimizes water loss
(ADH)
Anterior pituitary Growth hormone (GH) Protein Induces growth and metabolic functions
gland
Prolactin (PRL) Protein Induces milk production

Follicle-stimulating Protein Induces gamete production

hormone (FSH)
Luteinizing hormone Protein Stimulates gonads
(LH)
Thyroid-stimulating Protein Stimulates thyroid gland
hormone (TSH)
Adrenocorticotropic Peptide Stimulates adrenal glands
hormone (ACTH)
Pineal gland Melatonin Amine Functions in daily and seasonal rhythmic
actions
Thyroid gland Thyroxine (T4) and Amine Regulates metabolic processes
triiodothyronine (T3)
Calcitonin Peptide Decreases blood calcium level

Parathyroid Gland Parathyroid hormone Peptide Increases blood calcium level

Thymus Thymosin Peptide Induces development of T cell

Adrenal Gland Epinephrine and Amine Short-term stress response

norepinephrine

Adrenal medulla Glucocorticoids Steroid Long-term stress

Mineralocorticoids response
Adrenal cortex Steroid
Pancreas Insulin Protein Decreases blood glucose level

Glucagon Protein Increases blood glucose level

Ovaries Estrogens Steroid Induces growth of uterine lining;

stimulate development of female sex
characteristics
Progesterone Steroid Induces uterine lining growth

Testes Androgens Steroid Aids in sperm production; stimulates

development of male sex characteristics