Endocrine System
Endocrine System
Endocrine System
Consist of glands that produce hormones to control the body’s normal functioning
Made up of a group of organs called endocrine glands
GLANDS
Organ in the body that produces and releases a chemical substance called hormones.
Endocrine Glands
Are ductless glands that secrete hormone directly into either the bloodstream or the
fluid around the cells
Endo means “within”, krinein means separate; to secrete
In addition to endocrine glands, other organs contain cells or tissues that
secrete hormones. These includes the brain, stomach small intestine, kidney,
liver and heart.
FUNCTIONS
The endocrine system is an organ system that maintain the total order pf circadian
rhythm.
Regulates the activity of the human body (all of it) it is the system of checks and balances.
It’s the temperature regulator
CIRCADIAN CLOCK & RHYTHM
24 hour internal clock that is running in the background of your brain & cycles between
sleepiness & alertness at regular intervals
Known as your sleep/wake cycle
GLANDS & HORMONES
Hypothalamus
Connected to the pituitary gland by blood vessels
It is a small gland located at the base of the brain. It regulates the body,
homeostasis & reproduction
Monitors the body temperature , blood pressure, use of water, pH & other
conditions
Signals pituitary gland if conditions need to be corrected
The link between the nervous system & the endocrine system
HORMONES
Releasing & inhibiting hormone
Target: Anterior pituitary Gland
Releases a signal hormone to the anterior pituitary gland to release or inhibit the
specific hormone
On & off
PITUITARY GLAND
A.K.A Hypophysis
It is a pea sized gland found in the center of the skull, right behind the bridge of the nose 7
below the hypothalamus
It is divided into the anterior pituitary & posterior pituitary gland, each different
hormones
Signals other glands to produce their hormones when needed
The anterior lobe of the pituitary receives signals from the hypothalamus &
responds by sending out the appropriate hormone to other endocrine glands
The posterior pituitary receives oxytocin or antidiuretic hormone (ADH) from the
hypothalamus, relays them to the body as necessary
ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
Target: Thyroid Gland
Stimulates production & secretion of thyroxin
Regulates our bodies metabolism
“Whether you like to eat or not”… blame this hormone
Prolactin
Target: Mammary Glands
Responsible for signaling the mammary glands to create breast milk
Active mostly after pregnancy
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Target: adrenal cortex
Responsible for the secretion of corticosteroids that helps in immune response &
stress response
Endorphin
Target: Brain
The body’s natural pain reliever. Too much will make you “high” like taking cocaine.
Growth hormone
Target: Somatic cells
Signals the somatic cells to go for mitotic division for a person to grow
Also for regeneration purposes
Luteinizing hormone
Target: Ovary
Stimulates ovulation in preparation for pregnancy
Production of estrogen and progesterone
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Target: ovary & testes
Stimulates growth of ovarian follicle for the egg cell to develop inside & be released
later
Stimulates sperm production
POSTERIOR PITUITARY
Oxytocin
Target: Mammary Gland, uterus
Stimulate milk secretion
Stimulates uterine contraction
Antidiuretic hormone
Target: kidneys
Increase water absorption in the nephrons
PARATHYROID GLAND
Parathyroid hormone
Target: bones, digestive tract
Stimulates calcium release in the blood
Stimulates calcium absorption
THYROID GLAND
Consist of two major types of secretory tissue which reflects its dual function
Exocrine Gland
Secretes digestive juice
Localized in the acinar cells
Acini – secretes pancreatic juice
Endocrine Gland
Releases hormones
Localized in the islet cells (islets of Langerhans)
Islets of Langerhans- secrete insulin & glucagon
GLANDS OF THE BODY
EXOCRINE: Duct present
ENDOCRINE: No duct secrete hormones directly into the blood
OVARY
Estrogen
Target: Many cells
Female development & behavior and the reason why they are so mysterious
Progesterone
Target: uterus
Stimulates growth of the uterine lining & menstrual cramp in women
TESTES
Testosterone
Target: many cells
Stimulates male development & behavior
THYMUS
Located behind the sternum & between the lungs, just behind the breastbone
Thymosin
Target: white blood cells
Stimulates differentiation in WBCs for the body’s defense system against disease-
causing organisms
PINEAL GLAND