Endocrine System Diseases

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Endocrine System Diseases

The endocrine system is composed of a network of organs and glands responsible for producing,
storing, and secreting hormones that help to maintain and control vital functions such as growth,
reproduction, and energy levels. There are several endocrine system diseases that result from
disruptions in this complex system:
• Diabetes - One of the more prevalent endocrine system diseases, diabetes is a condition
in which the pancreas does not produce enough of the hormone insulin or the body does
not effectively use the insulin it does produce. Because insulin is instrumental in helping
the body convert sugars and starches into necessary energy, there can be serious
consequences if diabetes is left undiagnosed and/or untreated.

• Growth Disorders - Given that the endocrine system regulates growth processes,
endocrine system diseases often result in growth disorders. If the body produces too
much growth hormone (GH), gigantism or acromegaly (gigantism in adults) can occur;
too little growth hormone results a condition called growth hormone deficiency, or GHD,
which can cause children to grow more slowly than normal.

• Osteoporosis - Osteoporosis, which occurs in both women and men (although the former
are four times more likely to develop the disease), is a condition in which bones become
fragile and more likely to break. This can be the result of many factors including a
decrease in the hormone estrogen occurring during menopause in women, or a decrease
in testosterone occurring in men as they age. Because osteoporosis often has no obvious
symptoms, it is often left undiagnosed until the person affected suffers a broken or
fractured bone during a minor fall.

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - Also referred to as PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome is

one of the more common endocrine system diseases, affecting between 7% to 10% of
women aged 15 to 45. PCOS is a condition associated with symptoms of infrequent or
irregular menstruation, male hormone excess symptoms like hirsutism (increased and
unwanted hair growth) and acne and difficulty to conceive. Patients with PCOS can also
have multiple egg-containing cysts on the ovaries. They are higher risk for metabolic
complications like diabetes and hypertension.

• Thyroid Disorders - Thyroid hormones, hormones produced by the thyroid gland,

influence nearly all of the body's symptoms. Thyroid problems include hyperthyroidism
(too much thyroid hormone), hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone), thyroid
nodules, thyroid cancer, and more.
This is an incomplete list; there are many more endocrine system diseases. Visit our endocrine
system diseases and conditions page to access more detailed information about these and other
disorders, their symptoms, and their treatments.
In addition to the endocrine system diseases listed above, there are a number of hormone
disorders that are far more rare. Cushing's syndrome and Addison's disease are two of these less
common diseases.
Cushing's Syndrome
Cushing's syndrome, less common than the endocrine system diseases discussed above, occurs as
the result of too much cortisol in the blood for an extended period of time. Cortisol is a hormone
that, in normal amounts, helps the body perform a number of important functions including
converting fat into energy, maintaining immune system function, and responding to stress.
The two types of Cushing's syndrome, exogenous (from an outside source) and endogenous
(from a source within the body), share a common list of symptoms but different causes.
Exogenous Cushing's syndrome occurs in patients taking cortisol-like medications, and is
temporary, ceasing when the patient has finished the course of medication. The endogenous form
of this endocrine system disease is far rarer, and results from a tumor or tumors either on the
adrenal glands or the pituitary gland.
Cushing's syndrome symptoms include the following:
• Weight gain
• Muscle loss and weakness
• Easily-bruised, fragile skin
• Reduced sex drive
• Depression/inability to think clearly
This is only a partial list of Cushing's syndrome symptoms. For a full list of symptoms click on
the Cushing's syndrome link on the rare endocrine system diseases page.
Addison's Disease
Addison's disease, also among the rare endocrine system diseases, occurs in fewer than 150
people in a million. Also referred to as primary adrenal insufficiency, Addison's disease occurs
when the adrenal glands, which are located at the top of each kidney, produce an insufficient
amount of steroid hormones despite the presence of an adequate amount of ACTH, the hormone
that triggers the adrenal glands to release steroids.
The steroid hormones produced by the adrenal glands, and deficient during Addison's disease,
hold many important functions including the regulation of blood sugar levels, helping the body
fight infection and stress, and maintaining normal sexual drive. Addison's disease symptoms
include the following:
• Fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite
• Muscle and joint pain
• Gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting, etc.)
• Darkening of the skin on the face, neck, and back of hands
• Low blood pressure
• A craving for salt
For a comprehensive description of Addison's disease, including a complete and detailed list of
symptoms, please visit our resource page for rare conditions.
Your endocrine system includes eight major glands throughout your body. These glands make
hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers. They travel through your bloodstream to tissues
or organs. Hormones work slowly and affect body processes from head to toe. These include
• Growth and development
• Metabolism - digestion, elimination, breathing, blood circulation and maintaining body
temperature
• Sexual function
• Reproduction
• Mood
If your hormone levels are too high or too low, you may have a hormone disorder. Hormone
diseases also occur if your body does not respond to hormones the way it is supposed to. Stress,
infection and changes in your blood's fluid and electrolyte balance can also influence hormone
levels.
In the United States, the most common endocrine disease is diabetes. There are many others.
They are usually treated by controlling how much hormone your body makes. Hormone
supplements can help if the problem is too little of a hormone.

Endocrine System
The nervous system sends electrical messages to control and coordinate the body. The endocrine
system has a similar job, but uses chemicals to “communicate”. These chemicals are known as
hormones. A hormone is a specific messenger molecule synthesized and secreted by a group of
specialized cells called an endocrine gland. These glands are ductless, which means that their
secretions (hormones) are released directly into the bloodstream and travel to elsewhere in the
body to target organs, upon which they act. Note that this is in contrast to our digestive glands,
which have ducts for releasing the digestive enzymes.
Pheromones are also communication chemicals, but are used to send signals to other members
of the same species. Queen bees, ants, and naked mole rats exert control of their respective
colonies via pheromones. One common use for pheromones is as attractants in mating.
Pheromones are widely studied in insects and are the basis for some kinds of Japanese beetle and
gypsy moth traps. While pheromones have not been so widely studied in humans, some
interesting studies have been done in recent years on pheromonal control of menstrual cycles in
women. It has been found that pheromones in male sweat and/or sweat from another “dominant”
female will both influence/regulate the cycles of women when smeared on their upper lip, just
below the nose. Also, there is evidence that continued reception of a given man’s pheromone(s)
by a woman in the weeks just after ovulation/fertilization can significantly increase the chances
of successful implantation of the new baby in her uterus. Pheromones are also used for things
like territorial markers (urine) and alarm signals.
Each hormone’s shape is specific and can be recognized by the corresponding target cells. The
binding sites on the target cells are called hormone receptors. Many hormones come in
antagonistic pairs that have opposite effects on the target organs. For example, insulin and
glucagon have opposite effects on the liver’s control of blood sugar level. Insulin lowers the
blood sugar level by instructing the liver to take glucose out of circulation and store it, while
glucagon instructs the liver to release some of its stored supply to raise the blood sugar level.
Much hormonal regulation depends on feedback loops to maintain balance and homeostasis.
There are three general classes (groups) of hormones. These are classified by chemical structure,
not function.
• steroid hormones
including
prostaglandins which
function especially in a
variety of female
functions (aspirin
inhibits synthesis of
prostaglandins, some of
which cause “cramps”)
and the sex hormones
all of which are lipids
made from cholesterol,
• amino acid derivatives
(like epinephrine)
which are derived from
amino acids, especially
tyrosine, and
• peptide hormones (like
insulin) which is the most numerous/diverse group of hormones.
The major human endocrine glands include:
(clipart edited from Corel Presentations 8)

1. the hypothalamus and pituitary gland

The pituitary gland is called the “master gland” but it is under the control of the
hypothalamus. Together, they control many other endocrine functions. They secrete a
number of hormones, especially several which are important to the female menstural
cycle, pregnancy, birth, and lactation (milk production). These include follicle-
stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates development and maturation of a follicle
in one of a woman’s ovaries, and leutinizing hormone (LH), which causes the bursting
of that follicle (= ovulation) and the formation of a corpus luteum from the remains of
the follicle.
There are a number of other hypothalamus and pituitary hormones which affect various
target organs.
One non-sex hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary is antidiuretic hormone or
ADH. This hormone helps prevent excess water excretion by the kidneys. Ethanol
inhibits the release of ADH and can, thus, cause excessive water loss. That’s also part of
the reason why a group of college students who go out for pizza and a pitcher of beer
 need to make frequent trips to the restrooms. Diuretics are chemicals which interfere
with the production of or action of ADH so the kidneys secrete more water. Thus
diuretics are often prescribed for people with high blood pressure, in an attempt to
decrease blood volume.
Another group of non-sex hormones that many people have heard of is the endorphins,
which belong to the category of chemicals known as opiates and serve to deaden our pain
receptors. Endorphins, which are chemically related to morphine, are produced in
response to pain. The natural response to rub an injured area, such as a pinched finger,
helps to release endorphins in that area. People who exercise a lot and push their bodies
“until it hurts” thereby stimulate the production of endorphins. It is thought that some
people who constantly over-exercise and push themselves too much may actually be
addicted to their own endorphins which that severe exercise regime releases.
2. the thyroid gland
Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism, therefore body temperature and weight. The
thyroid hormones contain iodine, which the thyroid needs in order to manufacture these
hormones. If a person lacks iodine in his/her diet, the thyroid cannot make the hormones,
causing a deficiency. In response to the body’s feedback loops calling for more thyroid
hormones, the thyroid gland then enlarges to attempt to compensate (The body’s plan
here is if it’s bigger it can make more, but that doesn’t help if there isn’t enough iodine.).
This disorder is called goiter. Dietary sources of iodine include any “ocean foods”
because ocean-dwelling organisms tend to accumulate iodine from the seawater, and
would include foods like ocean fish (tuna) and seaweeds like kelp. Because of this,
people who live near the ocean do not have as much of a problem with goiter as people
who live inland and don’t have access to these foods. To help alleviate this problem in
our country, our government began a program encouraging salt refiners to add iodine to
salt, and encouraging people to choose to consume this iodized salt.
3. the pancreas
This organ has two functions. It serves as a ducted gland, secreting digestive enzymes
into the small intestine. The pancreas also serves as a ductless gland in that the islets of
Langerhans secrete insulin and glucagon to regulate the blood sugar level. The -islet

cells secrete glucagon, which tells the liver to take carbohydrate out of storage to raise a
low blood sugar level. The -islet cells secrete insulin to tell the liver to take excess

glucose out of circulation to lower a blood sugar level that’s too high. If a person’s body
does not make enough insulin (and/or there is a reduced response of the target cells in the
liver), the blood sugar rises, perhaps out of control, and we say that the person has
diabetes mellitus.
4. the adrenal glands
These sit on top of the kidneys. They consist of two parts,
the outer cortex and the inner medulla. The medulla
secretes epinephrine (= adrenaline) and other similar
hormones in response to stressors such as fright, anger,
caffeine, or low blood sugar. The cortex secretes
corticosteroids such as cortisone. Corticosteroids are
well-known as being anti-inflammatory, thus are
prescribed for a number of conditions. However, these are
 powerful regulators that should be used with caution. Medicinal doses are typically
higher than what your body would produce naturally, thus the person’s normal feedback
loops suppress natural secretion, and it is necessary to gradually taper off the dosage to
trigger the adrenal glands to begin producing on their own again. Because the
corticosteroids suppress the immune system, their use can lead to increased susceptibility
to infections, yet physicians typically prescribe them for people whose immune systems
are hard at work trying to fight off some pathogen. For example, back when I was in grad
school, I was diagnosed with mono, and the campus doctor prescribed penicillin and
cortisone. Since mono is a virus and penicillin only is effective against some bacteria,
about all it did was kill off the friendly bacteria in my body, therefore causing me to
develop a bad case of thrush. At the same time, the cortisone was supressing my immune
system so my body could not as efficiently fight off the mono and the thrush. People with
high blood pressure should be leery of taking prescription corticosteroids: they are known
to raise blood pressure, thus can cause things like strokes. My mother-in-law had high
blood pressure and was being treated with diuretics. Her physician also had her on large
doses of cortisone for her arthritis. While he was on vacation, she started having
significant back pain and was referred to an orthopedic surgeon. This man decided the
back pain was just due to arthritis, and without carefully checking on what dosage she
was already taking, prescribed more cortisone. Simultaneously, because of difficulty
walking due to her arthritis, she decided to decrease the amount of diuretics she was
taking so she didn’t have to make as many “long” trips to the other end of the house. The
combination of lowered dose of diuretics and high dose of cortisone raised her blood
pressure to the point where a blood vessel in her brain burst, causing a stroke. When the
EMTs took her blood pressure, as I recall the systolic was way over 200 mm Hg.
5. the gonads or sex organs
In addition to producing gametes, the female ovaries and male testes (singular = testis)
also secrete hormones. Therefore, these hormones are called sex hormones. The
secretion of sex hormones by the gonads is controlled by pituitary gland hormones such
as FSH and LH. While both sexes make some of each of the hormones, typically male
testes secrete primarily androgens including testosterone. Female ovaries make
estrogen and progesterone in varying amounts depending on where in her cycle a
woman is. In a pregnant woman, the baby’s placenta also secretes hormones to maintain
the pregnancy.
6. the pineal gland
This gland is located near the center of the brain in humans, and is stimulated by nerves
from the eyes. In some other animals, the pineal gland is closer to the skin and directly
stimulated by light (some lizards even have a third eye). The pineal gland secreted
melatonin at night when it’s dark, thus secretes more in winter when the nights are
longer. Melatonin promotes sleep (makes you feel sleepy). It also affects reproductive
functions by depressing the activity of the gonads. Additionally, it affects thyroid and
adrenal cortex functions. In some animals, melatonin affects skin pigmentation. Because
melatonin production is affected by the amount of light to which a person is exposed, this
is tied to circadian rhythm (having an activity cycle of about 24 hours), annual cycles,
and biological clock functions. SAD or seasonal affective disorder (syndrome) is a
disorder in which too much melatonin is produced, especially during the long nights of
winter, causing profound depression, oversleeping, weight gain, tiredness, and sadness.
Treatment consists of exposure to bright lights for several hours each day to inhibit
 melatonin production. It has also been found that melatonin levels drop 75% suddenly
just before puberty, suggesting the involvement of melatonin in the regulation of the
onset of puberty. Studies have been done on blind girls (with a form of blindness in
which no impulses can travel down the optic nerve and reach the brain and pineal gland),
which showed that these girls tended to have higher levels of melatonin for a longer time,
resulting in a delay in the onset of puberty. While some older people, who don’t make
very much melatonin, thus don’t sleep well, might benefit from a melatonin supplement,
I’m skeptical of the recent melatonin craze in this country. When so many people
apparently are suffering from SAD, I question the wisdom of purposly ingesting more
melatonin, especially since the pineal gland is one of the least-studied, least-understood
of the endocrine glands.
Local regulators are hormones with target cells nearby or adjacent to the endocrine gland in
question. For example, neurotransmitters are secreted in the synapses of our nervous system and
their target cells are in the same synapses.
The Endocrine System: Diseases, Types of Hormones &
More
The Endocrine System: Diseases, Types of Hormones & More | The Endocrine System:
Endocrine Glands & Types of Hormones | Endo 101: Control of the Endocrine System by
Negative Feedback | The Endocrine System: Endocrine-Related Organs | Endo 101: Factors That
Affect Endocrine Function | Endo 101: Sources & Credits

The endocrine system is one of the body’s main

systems for communicating, controlling and
coordinating the body’s work. It works with the
nervous system, reproductive system, kidneys,
gut, liver, pancreas and fat to help maintain and
control the following:
• body energy levels
• reproduction
• growth and development
• internal balance of body systems, called
homeostasis
• responses to surroundings, stress and
injury
The endocrine system accomplishes these tasks
via a network of glands and organs that produce,
store, and secrete certain types of hormones.
Hormones are special chemicals that move into
body fluid after they are made by one cell or a
group of cells. Different types of hormones cause
different effects on other cells or tissues of the
body.
Endocrine glands make hormones that are used inside the body. Other glands make substances
like saliva, that reach the outside of the body. Endocrine glands and endocrine-related organs are
like factories. They produce and store hormones and release them as needed. When the body
needs these substances, the bloodstream carries the proper types of hormones to specific targets.
These targets may be organs, tissues, or cells. To function normally, the body needs glands that
work correctly, a blood supply that works well to move hormones through the body to their
target points, receptor places on the target cells for the hormones to do their work, and a system
for controlling how hormones are produced and used.

What could go wrong? Endocrine system diseases and disorders happen when one or more of the
endocrine systems in your body are not working well. Hormones may be released in amounts
that are too great or too small for the body to work normally. These irregularities are also called
a hormone imbalance. There may not be enough receptors, or binding sites, for the hormones so
that they can direct the work that needs to be done. These hormone imbalances may be the result
of a problem with the system regulating the hormones in the blood stream, or the body may have
difficulty controlling hormone levels because of problems clearing hormones from the blood. For
example, a hormone imbalance may occur if a person's liver or kidneys are not working well,
resulting in a hormone level in the bloodstream that is too high.

If you or your primary care physician suspects that you have an endocrine disorder, you may
need a specialist called an endocrinologist. An endocrinologist is a specially trained doctor who
diagnoses and treats endocrine system diseases, which are diseases that affect your glands and
hormone levels. They know how to treat conditions, which are often complex and involve many
systems and structures within your body. Your regular doctor refers you to an endocrinologist
when you have a problem with your endocrine system.