Endocrine System - Part 2

Lesson Overview Glands of the Endocrine System
Lesson Overview
34.2 Glands of the
Endocrine System
THINK ABOUT IT
Endocrine glands are scattered
throughout the body, many of
them with no apparent
connection to each other.
How does the body control and

regulate so many separate
organs so that they act together
as a single system?
The Human Endocrine Glands

What are the functions of the major endocrine glands?

What are the functions of the major endocrine glands?
The pituitary gland secretes hormones that directly regulate many body
functions or control the actions of other endocrine glands.
The hypothalamus controls the secretions of the pituitary gland.
The adrenal glands release hormones that help the body prepare for—and
deal with—stress.

Insulin and glucagon, produced by the pancreas, help to keep the blood
glucose level stable.
The thyroid gland has a major role in regulating the body’s metabolism.
The gonads serve two important functions: the production of gametes and
the secretion of sex hormones.

The human endocrine system regulates a wide variety of activities.
The major glands of the endocrine system include the pituitary gland, the
hypothalamus, the adrenal glands, the pancreas, the thyroid gland, the
parathyroid glands, and the reproductive glands.
Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland is a bean-sized structure that dangles on a slender
stalk of tissue at the base of the brain.
The gland is divided into two parts: the anterior and posterior pituitary.
Some of the hormones released by the pituitary control other glands,

while others affect other types of tissues.
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus, which is attached to the posterior pituitary, is the link
between the central nervous system and the endocrine system.
The hypothalamus controls the secretions of the pituitary gland.

Hypothalamus
The activities of the hypothalamus are influenced by hormone levels and
other substances in the blood and by sensory information collected by
the central nervous system.
The hypothalamus contains the cell bodies of neurosecretory cells

whose axons extend into the posterior pituitary.
Hypothalamus
Hormones are made in the cell
bodies of the hypothalamus and
stored in the axons entering the
posterior pituitary.
When the cell bodies are

stimulated, the axons in the
posterior pituitary release the
hormones into the blood.
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus has indirect control of the anterior pituitary.
The hypothalamus produces a specific releasing hormone that

controls the secretion of each anterior pituitary hormone.
Hormones released by the anterior pituitary gland are listed in the table.
Adrenal Glands
The adrenal glands are pyramid-shaped structures that sit on top of the
kidneys.
The adrenal glands release hormones that help the body prepare for—
and deal with—stress.
Adrenal Glands
The outer portion of the adrenal gland is called the adrenal cortex and
the inner part is the adrenal medulla.
The adrenal cortex produces more than two dozen steroid hormones
called corticosteroids.
VITAL TO SURVIVAL
Adrenal Glands
The “fight or flight” response is produced when impulses from the
sympathetic nervous system stimulate the adrenal medulla to release
large amounts of epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine.
Pancreas
The pancreas has both exocrine and endocrine functions.
Exocrine gland - releases enzymes that help digest food.
Endocrine gland - releases hormones to regulate blood sugar levels.

Pancreas
The hormone-producing portion of the pancreas consists of clusters of
cells called the “islets of Langerhans”. The group of light-colored cells is
an islet.
Pancreas
Islets secrete the hormones glucagon and insulin.
Insulin and glucagon help to keep the blood glucose level stable, as
shown in the feedback loop.
Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands

The thyroid gland is located at
the base of the neck and wraps
around the upper part of the
trachea.
The thyroid gland produces the

hormone thyroxine, which
increases the metabolic rate of
cells throughout the body,
causing cells to become more
active, use more energy, and
produce more heat.

Hyperthyroidism - the thyroid produces
too much thyroxine, a condition called
Symptoms: You may feel nervous, moody,

weak, or tired.
Your hands may shake, your heart may beat
fast, or you may have problems breathing.
You may be hot and sweaty or have warm,
red, itchy skin.
You may have more bowel movements than
usual.
You may have fine, soft hair that is falling out.
You may lose weight even though you eat the
same or more than usual.

Hypothyroidism – the thyroid produces too little thyroxine.
Low body temperature, lack of energy, and weight gain are signs of this
condition.
A goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid, can be a sign of hypothyroidism.


Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases the calcium levels in the blood by
promoting the release of calcium from bone, the reabsorption of calcium in
the kidneys, and the uptake of calcium from the digestive system.
Reproductive Glands
The gonads—ovaries and testes—are the body’s reproductive glands.
The gonads serve two important functions: the production of gametes

and the secretion of sex hormones.
Control of the Endocrine System

How are endocrine glands controlled?
Control of the Endocrine System

How are endocrine glands controlled?
Like most systems of the body, the endocrine system is regulated by

feedback mechanisms that function to maintain homeostasis.
Diabetes
• Remember the hormones
insulin and glucagon?
• What do they work to
maintain?
Maintaining Water Balance

1. As you lose water, the
concentration of dissolved
materials in your blood rises.
2. The hypothalamus signals

the pituitary gland to release a
hormone—antidiuretic hormone
(ADH).

3. ADH is carried by the blood to the kidneys, where it slows the
removal of water from the blood.
4. Later, you experience a sensation of thirst.
5. When you take a drink, most of that water is quickly absorbed into the
blood.

6. When the water content of the blood rises, the pituitary releases less
ADH.
7. Less ADH causes the kidneys to remove water from the blood
8. The blood is then restored to its proper concentration.

Less water = more ADH = kidneys conserve water
More water = less ADH = kidneys remove water

Controlling Metabolism
The hypothalamus is also sensitive to temperature.
When the core body temperature begins to drop, the hypothalamus

produces extra TRH.
Controlling Metabolism
The release of TRH stimulates the release of TSH by the anterior
pituitary, which stimulates the release of additional thyroxine by the
thyroid.
Thyroxine increases oxygen consumption and cellular metabolism. The

increase in metabolic activity helps the body maintain its core
temperature.
REMEMBER: Hypothalamus releases thyroxine = warms you up!!

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Lesson Overview Glands of the Endocrine System

How does the body control and

The Human Endocrine Glands

The Human Endocrine Glands

The hypothalamus controls the secretions of the pituitary gland.

The Human Endocrine Glands

The Human Endocrine Glands

Some of the hormones released by the pituitary control other glands,

The hypothalamus controls the secretions of the pituitary gland.

The hypothalamus contains the cell bodies of neurosecretory cells

When the cell bodies are

The hypothalamus produces a specific releasing hormone that

Exocrine gland - releases enzymes that help digest food.

Endocrine gland - releases hormones to regulate blood sugar levels.

Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands

The thyroid gland produces the

Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands

Symptoms: You may feel nervous, moody,

Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands

A goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid, can be a sign of hypothyroidism.

Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands

The gonads serve two important functions: the production of gametes

Control of the Endocrine System

Control of the Endocrine System

Like most systems of the body, the endocrine system is regulated by

Maintaining Water Balance

2. The hypothalamus signals

Maintaining Water Balance

4. Later, you experience a sensation of thirst.

Maintaining Water Balance

8. The blood is then restored to its proper concentration.

Maintaining Water Balance

Less water = more ADH = kidneys conserve water

More water = less ADH = kidneys remove water

When the core body temperature begins to drop, the hypothalamus

Thyroxine increases oxygen consumption and cellular metabolism. The

REMEMBER: Hypothalamus releases thyroxine = warms you up!!

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