ENDOCRINE GLANDS

Prepared by: JMLDR

 ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
• Comprises glands & tissues; consist of cells which synthesize &
secrete their products directly into blood.

• These products are known as: Hormones

• Hormone: Greek word means – To set in motion

• Along with the ANS, the endocrine system coordinate & control the
metabolic activities & internal environment of the body.
 MAJOR ENDOCRINE GLANDS

• Hypothalamus
• Pituitary gland
• Pineal gland
• Thyroid & parathyroid
gland
• Adrenal gland
 PITUITARY GLAND

• Lies below the brain in the small cavity on the sphenoid bone –
Sella turcica
• Consists of two glands: united anatomically but with different
functions
1. Adenohypophysis (anterior)- pars distalis, pars tuberalis & pars
intermedia
2. Neurohypophysis (posterior)- pars nervosa & infundibulum
PITUITARY GLAND
PITUITARY GLAND
PITUITARY GLAND
PITUITARY GLAND
PITUITARY GLAND
 ADRENAL GLANDS

• Paired organs lying near the superior poles of the kidneys, embedded
in the pararenal adipose tissue and fascia.
• Covered by a dense connective tissue capsule.
• Consists of two concentric regions:
1. Adrenal cortex- steroid-secreting cells: acidophilic cytoplasm rich in
lipid droplets, with central nuclei.
2. Adrenal medulla- large, pale-staining polyhedral cells arranged in
cords or clumps.
ADRENAL GLAND
ADRENAL GLAND- ADRENAL CORTEX
ADRENAL GLAND- ADRENAL MEDULLA
 PANCREATIC ISLETS

• Compact spherical or ovoid masses of endocrine cells embedded within the

acinar exocrine tissue of the pancreas.
• The cells of islets are polygonal or rounded, smaller, and more lightly
stained than the surrounding acinar cells
• Consist of 3 major secretory cell types:
1. α or A cells- secrete primarily glucagon
2. β or B cells- produce insulin
3. δ or D cells- secreting somatostatin
PANCREATIC ISLETS
PANCREATIC ISLETS
 THYROID GLAND

• Located anterior and inferior to the larynx, consists of two lobes united by an
isthmus.
• Follicular cells, or thyrocytes- range in shape from squamous to low columnar &
size.
• Parafollicular or C cell- larger than follicular cells and stains less intensely.
• Synthesizes the following hormones:
1. Tri-iodothyronine (T3)
2. Thyroxine (T4)
3. Calcitonin
THYROID GLAND
THYROID GLAND
THYROID GLAND- FOLLICULAR CELLS
THYROID GLAND- PARAFOLLICULAR CELLS
 PARATHYROID GLANDS

• Located on the back of the thyroid gland, usually embedded in the larger
gland’s capsule.
• A sparse reticular stroma supports dense elongated clusters of secretory
cells.
• Consists of two types of cells:
1. Principal (chief) cells- small polygonal cells with round nuclei and
pale-staining, slightly acidophilic cytoplasm
2. Oxyphil cells- much larger than the principal cells and are
characterized by very acidophilic cytoplasm filled with abnormally
shaped mitochondria.
PARATHYROID GLAND
PARATHYROID GLAND
 PINEAL GLAND

• Develops from neuroectoderm in the posterior wall of the third ventricle and
remains attached to the brain by a short stalk.
• Covered by connective tissue of the pia mater.
• Prominent and abundant secretory cells called pinealocytes have slightly
basophilic cytoplasm and irregular euchromatic nuclei.
• Melatonin release from pinealocytes is promoted by darkness and inhibited
by daylight.
PINEAL GLAND