The endocrine system consists of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream to regulate distant target organs and tissues. The major glands include the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pancreas and gonads. The pituitary gland is called the "master gland" as it controls other endocrine glands via trophic hormones. Disorders can result from too little or too much of certain hormones leading to issues like dwarfism, acromegaly, hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, Addison's disease, diabetes and others. Hormones work via a feedback loop between organs to maintain homeostasis.
3. The endocrine system
• Consists of endocrine glands and their secretions.
• Glands are of two types on the basis of their
secretion
1. Glands with ducts.
2. Secretion is poured through ducts
3. Secretions are mainly enzymes
1. Glands without ducts.
2. Secretions are given directly into bloodstream.
3. Secretions are hormones
5. Hormones: characteristics
1. Secreted
directly into
the blood
stream
3. Secreted
in small
amounts
5. Acts on
target cells at
a distance
from the
place of
secretion
2. Secreted
only when
necessary
4. Chemical
messengers that
regulate the activity of
target tissue
8. Pituitary or hypophysis (master gland)
• Location- at the base of the brain attached to
hypothalamus
• Divided into two parts- Adenohypophysis and
Neurohypophysis.
• There are three lobes
• Anterior lobe or anterior pituitary and Intermediate lobe
- Adenohypophysis
• Posterior lobe or posterior pituitary- Neurohypophysis
• Connected to the hypothalamus by a stalk called
INFUNDIBULUM.
• It is connected by the hypothalamo-hypophysial
tracts
12. Lobes of pituitary
1.Release hormones produced by
neurosecretory cells of hypothalamus.
2.Releases two hormones.
1.Secrete and release tropic
hormones.
2.Releases six hormones
23. Somatotropic hormone or Somatotropin or growth hormone
Hyposecretion of STH (hGH)
• Decrease in secretion during childhood –
Dwarfism.
Hypersecretion of STH
• During childhood- Gigantism produces
giant size persons called pituitary giants.
• In adults- Acromegaly - disproportionate
giants
24. Hormone Symptoms Treatment
Deficient
LH/FSH Decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, Men: Testosterone -
irregular or absent menses, Given once daily as an
injection under the skin
decreased body hair,
decreased muscle strength, Women: Estrogen &
In women Progesterone
hot flashes, mood changes Given as either topical
patch or pills
25. • ACTH deficiency:
• this is also called central adrenal insufficiency as the adrenal glands do not make enough
of the stress hormone cortisol.
• This condition can be life-threatening if not recognized and treated properly. Cortisol is
critical on a daily basis but especially when we are sick and stressed.
• ACTH deficiency can result in low blood pressure, weakness, dehydration, abdominal
pain, weight loss, and difficulty in recovering from illnesses or surgeries.
26. • TSH deficiency: hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels) results when
there is not enough TSH made to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce
thyroid hormone.
• Hypothyroidism can result in fatigue, constipation, dry skin, brittle hair, poor
growth, feeling cold all the time, and disruptions to normal periods in girls.
29. Hormones of posterior pituitary
Functions –
ADH/vasopressin
1.Acts on collecting ducts of nephron of the kidney.
2.Stimulates water reabsorption from the kidney
3.Increases arterial pressure
4.Causes narrowing of arterioles
Oxytocin
1.Contraction of uterine muscles
2.Milk ejection from mammary glands (milk letdown
hormone)
31. Vasopressin or ADH
Hyposecretion of ADH-
Causes Diabetes insipidus
Large amounts of urine is excreted,
causing dehydration and thirst.
Hypersecretion of ADH-
Causes edema
Swelling due to water retention.
35. Hormones of thyroid gland
Thyroid hormones-
1.Thyroxine (T4/tetra iodothyronine)
Thyroid has numerous follicles that
synthesise the hormones.
Functions-
1.Controls BMR (Basal metabolic rate)
2.Controls normal skeletal growth and
tissue metabolism.
3.Helps in normal brain development
and bone health
37. Hypothyroidism
1. Cretinism in children
• Retarded mental & physical growth
• Immature sexuality &retarded sexual characters
2. Myxoedema or Gull’s disease in adults
• Low BMR, body temperature & BP
• Mental, physical dullness & loss of memory
• Degenerated sex organs
3. Simple Goitre
• Enlargement of thyroid due to deficiency of iodine in
food.People living in hilly regions suffer more from goitre
due to lack of iodine in their diet.
38. Hypersecretion of thyroid
• Exopthalmic Goitre or Graves disease
• Swelling of neck, with bulging eyes.
• Increased BMR, rapid respiration, palpitation and increased
heart rate.
40. Adrenal gland (Supra-renal)
Location: present just above the
kidneys
Shape: Triangular or pyramidal
in shape.
(They are present above the
kidney hence called as supra-
renal gland.)
Cortex:
1. Glucocorticoids
2. Mineralocorticoids
3. Sex steroidsMedulla-
1. Adrenaline.
2. Nor-adrenaline
44. Hormones of Adrenal cortex
Hormones of adrenal cortex:
1. Glucocorticoids (cortisol)
• Metabolism of carbohydrates, fats &protein
• Produce anti-inflammatory reactions.
2. Mineralocorticoids(aldosterone)
• Maintain balance of Na & K & water.
• Maintain blood volume and pressure.
3. Sex steroids (Androgens and estrogens)
• Proper functioning of sex organs & development of sex
character.
45. Hormones of Adrenal Medulla
Two hormones:
1. Nor Adrenaline- (Nor Epinephrine)
• Regulates BP, transmission of nerve
impulse
2. Adrenalin (Epinephrine)
• Secreted during emergency like
emotional stress, anger, fear & grief.
Also called as the emergency or the
fight and flight hormone
• Vasoconstrictor
• Carbohydrate metabolism
47. Disorders of Adrenal hormones
CUSHING’S SYNDROME
Cause- hypersecretion of corticoids
Symptoms-
• Excessive deposition of fat on face (puffy
face/moon face)
• Abdominal obesity, thin and weak limb muscles.
ALDOSTERONISM/CONN’S
SYNDROME
Cause hypersecretion of aldosterone
• Increase blood volume & BP,
muscular weakness.
• Polyuria (excessive urination)
48. Disorders of adrenal hormones
ADDISON’S DISEASE
Cause- hyposecretion of corticoids
Symptoms:
• Bronze like pigmentation of skin
• Muscular weakness, low BP, low blood sugar.
ADRENAL VIRILISM
Cause- hypersecretion of adrenal androgens
Symptoms:
• In females- degeneration of reproductive
organs, baldness, masculinization (growth of
facial hair in females).
• In males- suppress gonadal function and cause
infertility.
50. Pancreas
Location: between the stomach and the intestines
Diffused leaf shaped gland.
Pancreas is a mixed gland as it has both endocrine and exocrine part.
51. Pancreas
• Endocrine part is called Islets of
Langerhans
Cells of endocrine pancreas:
1. Alpha cells- Glucagon
2. Beta cells- Insulin
3. Delta cells- Somatostatin/
Growth hormone inhibiting
hormone.(GHIH)
57. Feed back mechanism
• Thyrotropin or TSH stimulates thyroid to produce and release thyroxin.
• When thyroxin level in the blood increases it exerts a negative feedback on the
hypothalamus.
• Hypothalamus secretes less of the releasing hormone.
• Thus pituitary secretes less TSH.
• If thyroxin level in the blood is less than normal.
• It stimulates hypothalamus to produce more releasing hormone.
• This causes the pituitary to produce more TSH.
• In turn thyroid will now produce more thyroxin.
• This is called positive feedback mechanism.