Module 24

Endocrine System

Objectives:
After completing this topic you should be able to:

Explain the generic role of the endocrine system

Describe the relationship between the pituitary and the hypothalamus

Describe the hormonal control of blood glucose levels

Introduction:
There is a second system in the body that is responsible for relaying information and
maintaining homeostasisthe endocrine system. While the nerve impulses are essentially immediate in
their action, hormones are usually slower in their initiation of response but also exhibit their effects for a
longer period of time. Therefore we often find that the nervous system may exert short term control while
long term control is mediated by hormones.

FUNCTIONS

Coordinates, together with the nervous system, the activities of the body

Involved in the synthesis and secretion of hormones

Hormonal functions include:

control of energy production and utilization
control of the composition of extracellular water and electrolytes
maintains normal growth and development

Endocrine System Ch.24 235

ENDOCRINE GLANDS

Ductless glands that synthesize and secrete hormones.

A hormone is an organic substance needed by the body in minute quantities to elicit a

specific physiological response.

Hormones are produced by one part of the body that have an effect on specific target
cells located in different parts of the body.

Hypothalamus

A small gland about 1.0 cm in diameter located at the base of the brain

Intimately associated with the pituitary gland

Secretes releasing hormones that travel via a portal system and stimulate the
anterior pituitary

Pituitary Gland

A small gland located at the base of the brain in the depression of the skull

Connected to the brain through a short stalk called infundibulum

Divisions of the pituitary gland

Anterior lobe or adenohypophysis

Secretes 6 hormones:
FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone
LH, luteinizing hormone (in female) or ICSH, interstitial cellstimulating hormone (in male)
luteotrophic hormone or prolactin
ACTH, adrenocorticotrophic or prolactin
TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone
STH, somatotrophic hormone or GH, growth hormone

Endocrine System Ch.24 236

Posterior lobe or neurohypophysis

Secretes 3 hormones:
Vasopressin, for constriction of the vessels
ADH, antidiuretic hormone
Oxytocin, controls smooth muscles

Thyroid Gland
Composed of two lobes, on each side of the trachea connected by an isthmus
Secrete thyroxin that regulate growth and development
Enlargement of this gland results in a condition known as goiter

Parathyroid Gland
Small glandular bodies located on the dorsal surface of the thyroids
Secrete parathormones (PTH) that maintains the ration of calcium and phosphorus in the body

Thymus Gland
Located between the upper part of the sternum and the pericardium
A temporary organ which reaches greatest development at age 14 to 16
Secretes thymosin that controls metabolic rate and involved in the formation of WBC

Adrenal Cortex
Secretes cortisol and aldosterone that causes gluconeogenesis and sodium retention and
potassium excretion in the kidneys respectively

Adrenal Medulla
Two small masses located above the kidneys
Secrete epinephrine and norepinephrine
Promotes flight or fight reactions during emergency

Endocrine System Ch.24 237

Pancreas

 Both an exocrine and endocrine gland

The endocrine part consists of the islets of Langerhans that secrete the hormone insulin
Insulin lowers the blood sugar, little secretion resulted into diabetes mellitus

Gonads
The interstitial cells (Leydig cells) of the testes secrete testosterone
The follicles of the ovary secretes estrogen, the corpus luteum secretes progesterone

Table 24.1 Major endocrine glands and their hormones

Disorder
from too
much
secretion

Disorder
from too
little
secretion

Gland

Hormones

Major
Functions

Hypothalamus

Releasing
hormones

Stimulates
anterior
pituitary

Overactive
anterior
pituitary

Underactive
anterior
pituitary

Thyroidstimulating
(TSH)

Stimulates
thyroid

Overactive
thyroid

Underactive
thyroid

Adrenocorticotropic
(ACTH)

Stimulates
adrenal
cortex

Overactive
adrenal
cortex

Underactive
adrenal
cortex

Folliclestimulating
(FSH)

Regulates
egg and
sperm
production

Overactive
ovaries/testes

Underactive
ovaries/testes

Luteinizing
(LH) or
Interstitial cellstimulating
(ICSH)

Regulates
sex
hormones
production

Oversecretion of
sex hormones

Undersecretion of
sex hormones

Causes milk
production
after giving
birth

Oversecretion of
milk

Undersecretion of
milk

Promotes
growth

Gigantism

Dwarfism

Anterior
pituitary

Prolactin(PRL)

Growth(GH)

Endocrine System Ch.24 238

Table 24.1 Major endocrine glands and their hormones (cont.)

Gland

Hormones

Antidiuretic
(ADH)
Posterior
pituitary
Oxytocin

Pineal

Melatonin

Thymus

Thymosin

Thyroxin
Thyroid

Calcitonin

Parathyroid

Parathormone
(PTH)

Cortisol
Adrenal
cortex

Aldosterone

Major
Functions

Disorder
from too
much
secretion

Disorder
from too
little
secretion

Causes water
retention by
kidneys

(Diverse)

Diabetes
insipidus

Sexual
immaturity

Sexual
maturity

Overactive
immunity

Underactive
immunity

Exophthalmic
goiter

Simple
goiter,
cretinism

Tetany

Weak bones

Weak bones

Tetany

Cushings
syndrome

Addisons
syndrome

Causes
uterine
contraction
Inhibits
release of
gonadotropin
Regulates
development
and functions
of immune
system
Increases
metabolic
rate and
cellular
respiration
Decreases
plasma level
of calcium
Increases
plasma levels
of calcium
and
phosphorus
Causes
gluconeogenesis
Causes
sodium
retention and
potassium
excretion by
kidneys

Endocrine System Ch.24 239

Table 24.1 Major endocrine glands and their hormones (cont.)

Gland

Hormones

Major
functions

Adrenal
medulla

Epinephrine and
norepinephrine

Promotes
flight or fight
reactions

Insulin

Lower blood
sugar

Glucagon

Raises blood
sugar

Pancreas

Testes

Ovaries

Androgen
(Testosterone)

Promotes
secondary
male
characteristics

Estrogen and
progesterone

Promotes
secondary
female
characteristics

Disorder
from too
much
secretion

Disorder
from too
little
secretion

Shock

Diabetes
mellitus

Endocrine System Ch.24 240

Self-Test 24.0

Endocrine System
A. Match the terms to the following definitions
A. Anterior pituitary
E. Pancreas
B. Posterior pituitary
F. Adrenal
C. Thyroid
G. Testes
D. Parathyroid
H. Ovaries
____1. Maintains the supply of Ca and P in the body.
____2. Regulates smooth muscles and constricts blood vessels.
____3. Secretes growth hormone.
____4. Secretes stimulating hormones.
____5. Secretes thyroxin that regulates growth and development.
____6. Both an exocrine and endocrine gland.
____7. Promotes Flight or fight reactions during emergency.
____8. Promotes female secondary sexual characteristics.
____9. Secrete testosterone.
____10. Secretes insulin that lowers blood sugar.
B. Match the following ductless glands to the hormones they
secreted.
____11.
____12.
____13.
____14.
____15.
____16.
____17
____18.
____19.
____20.

Hypothalamus
Pituitary
Pineal
Thymus
Thyroid
Parathyroid

. Adrenal
Pancreas
Testes
Ovaries

A. Melatonin
B. FSH and LH
C. Testosterone
D. Thyroxin
E. Epinephrine
F. Estrogen

G. GnRH
H. Insulin
I. PTH
J. Thymosin

Endocrine System Ch.24 241