ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM
BY: ANAM SALEEM
INTRODUCTION
• Endocrine system consists of glands widely separated
from each other with no physical connections.
• They are also referred to as ductless glands because
hormone diffuse directly into the bloodstream.
• Homeostasis of the internal environment is maintained
partly by the autonomic nervous system and partly by the
endocrine system
HORMONES
• Hormones. Hormones may be defined as chemical
substances that are secreted by endocrine cells into the
extracellular fluids and regulate the metabolic activity of
other cells in the body.
• Target cells. For a target cell to respond to the hormone,
specific protein receptors must be present on its plasma
membrane or in its interior to which that hormone can
attach; only when this binding occurs can the hormone
influence the workings of cells.
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF
HORMONES
• Secretion in small amounts at variable but predictable
rates
• Regulation by feedback system
• Binding to specific target cell receptors.
ANATOMY OF ENDOCRINE
GLAND
• Compared to other organs of the body, the organs of the endocrine
system are small and unimpressive, however, functionally the
endocrine organs are very impressive, and when their role in
maintaining body homeostasis is considered, they are true giants.
• The major endocrine organs of the body include the pituitary, thyroid,
parathyroid, adrenal, pineal and thymus glands, the pancreas, and
the gonads.
• Although the function of some hormone-producing glands is purely
endocrine, the function of others (pancreas and gonads) is mixed-
both endocrine and exocrine.
HYPOTHALAMUS
• Hypothalamus. The hypothalamus, which is part of the
nervous system, is also considered as a major endocrine
organ because it produces several hormones. It is an
important autonomic nervous system and endocrine
control center of the brain located inferior to the
thalamus.
HORMONES OF THE HYPOTHALAMUS, ANTERIOR
PITUITARY AND THEIR TARGET TISSUES
HYPOTHALAMUS ANTERIOR PITUITARY TARGET GLAND OR
TISSUES
GHRH GH MOST TISSUES, MANY
ORGANS
GHRIH GH INHIBITION THYROID GLAND
TSH INHIBITION PANCREATIC ISLETS
MOST TISSUES
TRH TSH THYROID GLAND
CRH ACTH ADRENAL CORTEX
PRH PRL BREAST
PIH PRL INHIBITION BREAST
LHRH OR GnRH FSH AND LH OVARIES AND TESTES
PITUITARY GLAND
• The pituitary gland is approximately the size of a pea. 1
cm in diameter and 0.5 g in weight.
• Location. The pituitary gland hangs by a stalk from the
inferior surface of the hypothalamus of the brain, where it
is snugly surrounded by the “Turk’s saddle” of the
sphenoid bone.
Two lobes
• Lobes. It has two functional lobes- the anterior pituitary
(glandular tissue) and the posterior pituitary (nervous
tissue).
• Anterior lobe (adenohypophysis): It is the true gland,
secrets hormones
• Posterior lobe (neurohypophysis): Connected to
hypothalamus through hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract,
store hormone secreted by hyppothalmic nuclei.
HORMONES OF ANTERIOR
PITUITARY
• Growth Hormone
• Thyroid stimulating Hormone or thyrotropin
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone
• Follicle stimulating hormone
• Leutinizing hormone
• Prolactin
HORMONES OF POSTERIOR
PITUITARY
• OXYTOCIN
• ADH
BLOOD SUPPLY OF PITUITARY
GLAND
• ARTERIES: Superior and inferior hypophyseal arteries
(branches of internal carotid arteries)
• VEINS: hypophyseal veins
THYROID GLAND
• It is the largest gland in our body. It is brownish red in color and
highly vascular.
• Location. The thyroid gland is located at the base of the throat, just
inferior to the Adam’s apple, where it is easily palpated during a
physical examination. It is opposite to C5, C6, C7 and T1 vertebrae
• Lobes. It is a fairly large gland consisting of two lobes joined by a
central mass, or isthmus.
• Composition. Internally, the thyroid gland is composed of hollow
structures called follicles, which store a sticky colloidal material.
PARATHYROID HORMONE
• The parathyroid glands are mostly tiny masses of glandular tissue.
• Location. The parathyroid glands are located on the posterior
surface of the thyroid gland.
• Parathormone. The parathyroids secrete parathyroid hormone
(PTH) or parathormone, which is the most important regulator of
calcium ion homeostasis of the blood; PTH is
a hypercalcemic hormone (that is, it acts to increase blood levels
of calcium), whereas calcitonin is a hypocalcemic hormone.; PTH
also stimulates the kidneys and intestines to absorb more calcium.
