Endocrine System, and Reproductive System

Endocrine System
1. Define hormone.

Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers and are part of the endocrine system. Endocrine
glands make hormones, which travel through the bloodstream to tissues and organs, and control
most of our body’s major systems. The endocrine system regulates our heart rate, metabolism –
how the body gets energy from the foods we eat – appetite, mood, sexual function, reproduction,
growth and development, sleep cycles, and more.

2. Enumerate the endocrine organs.

Hypothalamus, Pituitary Gland, Pineal Gland, Thyroid Gland, Parathyroid Glands, Suprarenal Gland,
Pancreas, Gonads, Thymus

3. Discuss each endocrine organ.

3.1. Location
3.2. Size(dimension)/weight
3.3. Relations
3.4. Functions
3.4.1. Hormones secreted
3.4.2. Target organs

Pituitary Gland:
a. Location: attached to the undersurface of the hypothalamus by the infundibulum
a. Anterior lobe/adenohypophysis
i. Pars anterior/pars distalis
1. Pars tuberalis
ii. Pars intermedia
b. Posterior lobe/neurohypophysis
b. Size/weight: small, oval shaped
c. Relations:
Anterior: Sphenoid sinus
Posterior: Dorsum sellae, basilar artery and pons
Superiorly: Diaphragma sellae, which has a central aperture allowing the passage of the
infundibulum. Diaphragma sellae separates the anterior lobe from the optic chiasma
Inferiorly: body of sphenoid, with sphenoid air sinuses
Laterally: Cavernous sinus
d. Functions:
 Influences activities of other endocrine glands
Posterior Pituitary Anterior Pituitary
 Nervous tissue  Glandular tissue
 Oxytocin:  Controlled by by the releasing and
o triggers uterine contractions inhibiting hormones of the
o release of milk during hypothalamus
breastfeeding  Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
 Vasopressin (ADH): o Stimulates the thyroid gland
o enables renal fluid reabsorption  Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
at the distal collecting duct o Stimulates the adrenal cortex to
produce its hormones
segment of the nephron of the  Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
kidney o Stimulates follicle cells of the
gonads to produce gametes (ova
and sperm)
 Luteinizing hormone
o Stimulates gonads to produce
sex hormones (estrogen and
testosterone)
 Human growth hormone (HGH)
o Affects many target cells
stimulating their growth, repair
and reproduction
 Prolactin (PRL)
o Stimulates mammary glands for
milk production