Structure

and Function
of Endocrine
System
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Identify and describe the structure and function of important
biochemical compounds, including protein and steroid
hormones (314-3)

Analyze homeostatic phenomena to identify the feedback

mechanisms involved (317-2)

•Name the parts of the endocrine system and discuss the function of each part
•Discriminate the functions of each endocrine hormone secreted by same endocrine
glands
•Analyze the action of each hormone and demonstrate its contribution in maintaining
homeostasis
•Classify hormones according to its molecular structure and actions
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 The Endocrine System

•Regulates many bodily functions

•Maintains homeostasis by regulating the production of chemicals that

affect most functions of the body

•Secretes substances that aid the nervous system

•Important regulator of growth and development

•Endocrine glands are ductless glands, unlike exocrine glands that

secrete substances into ducts.

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 Feedback
Maintaining homeostasis
hormone 1

gland lowers
body condition

high
specific body condition
low

raises gland
body condition

hormone 2
 Negative Feedback
 Response to changed body condition
◦ if body is high or low from normal level
 signal tells body to make changes that will bring body
back to normal level
◦ once body is back
to normal level, hormone 1
signal is
turned off gland lowers
body condition

high
specific body condition
 Regulation

 How we maintain homeostasis

◦ nervous system
 nerve signals control body functions
◦ endocrine system
 hormones
 chemical signals control body functions
 Hormones
 Why are hormones needed?
◦ chemical messages from one body part to cells
in other parts of body
◦ communication needed
to coordinate whole body
◦ maintaining homeostasis

growth hormones
 Endocrine System
 Endocrine system releases hormones
◦ glands which secrete (release)
chemical signals into blood
 chemicals cause changes
in other parts of body
 growth hormones
 sex hormones
 response hormones
 metabolism hormones
 and more….
 Responding to hormones
 Lock and key system
◦ hormone fits receptor on “target” cell

target
cell

secreting
cell can’t non- can’t
read
signal
target read
signal
cells
II. Endocrine System vs Neuronal System

1. Neural & Hormonal communication

a. Similarities
i. Chemicals are stored and released
ii. Release of chemicals is due to stimulation
iii. Many different hormones &
neurotransmitters
iv. Both systems react w/specific receptors
v. Second messenger involved in both
(The first messenger reacts to the
initial signal - like an ionotropic
receptor, found in CNS only)
2. Second messenger reacts to a signal
from a first messenger (like a
metabotropic receptor) and affects
intracellular functioning; it is a
complex intracellular response that
affects functioning.
b. Differences
i. In nervous system, neurons communicate with
adjacent neurons; in hormones messages are sent
long distances
ii. Neural messages induce rapid response
compared to hormones which have slower
messages
iii. Neural messages follow the all or none principle;
hormonal messages are graded in strength
iv. Neural messages can be directed as observed in
behavior; hormonal messages are primarily
involuntary (cannot be directed)
2. Three types of hormones
a. Protein hormones – effect is on
receptors within the membrane, binds to the
receptors on the outside of membrane; its
effects are the most rapid of all the hormones
i. Oxytocin – involved in development of
relationships
ii. Adrenocorticotrophin – protein hormone;
chains of amino acids
b. Amine hormones – same relatively fast
receptor response as protein hormones
i. Epinepherine
ii. Norepinepherine
iii. Thyroid hormones
iv. Melatonin
c. Steroid hormones – binds to the
intercellular receptors; slow actions
i. Gonadal hormones
1. Estrogen, progesterone, androgens
ii. Adrenal hormones
1. Glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids
 Major Glands of the Endocrine
System

 Hypothalamus
 Pituitary
 Thyroid
 Adrenal
 Gonads: Ovaries
& Testes
 The Endocrine System

Consists of:

glands secrete into

bloodstream

hormones to

target tissues

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 hypo

hyper

Homeostasis exists when there is a balance of

substances. Endocrine conditions are due to either
hypo (too little) or hyper (too much) secretions of
substances (hormones).
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 Hypothalamus

•Part of the nervous system. Also serves as an

endocrine gland because it releases hormones that
regulate pituitary hormones

•Hormones released have either a releasing or an

inhibiting factor

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 Pineal Gland

•Located superior and posterior to the pituitary

gland

•Releases melatonin, a hormone believed to

affect sleep and gonad functioning

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Pituitary
 Anterior Pituitary
- derived during embryological
development from the roof of the mouth
- connected to the hypothalamus by a
portal system (hypothalamic-pituitary
portal system)
- most of the hormones are released
from the anterior pituitary
Posterior Pituitary
- derived from nervous tissue
- two protein hormones released: oxytocin &
vasopressin
_________________________________
Two Important Points:
Hormones released from the posterior pituitary
are synthesized in the hypothalamus.

Hormones released from the anterior pituitary are

dormant unless directed to be released by the
hypothalamus via Releasing Factors.
 Pituitary & all Hormones are Under the Control
of the Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus

RF Hormone

Anterior Posterior
Pituitary Pituitary

SH Hormone

Target Target
Organs Organs

RF = Releasing Factor SH = Stimulating

Hormone
 Hypothalamic Hormones:

Corticotropin
Gondotropin RF RF (CRF) Thyrotropin Growth Hor Prolactin
RF RF RF

Pituitary Hormones:

Thyrotropin SH Growth Hormone Prolactin

Follicle SH &
Adrenocorticoptropin
Luteinizing Hor. Hormone (ACTH)

Target Gland or Structure:

Adrenal Gland Cells of body Bones,

Thyroid Gland breasts &
Ovaries & Testes (cortisol)
(thyroxine) cells of body
(androgens, estrogen)
Adrenal Gland
i. Adrenal cortex (outer) produces about 50
different chemicals including…
1. Mineralocorticoids (outer layer)
2. Glucocorticoids, cortisol (middle layer)
3. Sex hormones (inner most layer)
a. Estrogen, progesterone androgens
note: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia – too much testosterone
produced by mother. This comes from dysfunction in adrenal gland.

ii. Adrenal medulla (inner)

1. Dopamine  Norepinepherine/Epinepherine
Thyroid Gland
1. Too little thyroxin – hypothyroidism
a. Depression (clinical or subclinical),
attention & memory problems
2. Too much thyroxin – hyperthyroidism
a. Agitation, irritability, & weight loss
*Goiters – Growths on thyroid gland
Gonads & Hormones

LH &
FSH
Growth Hormone
Cells of body in response to growth hormone
i. During childhood GH is at maximum
1. Too little and we have a small person
2. Too much and we have gigantism,
often accompanied by acromegaly
(continued growth of extremities of
bones)
a. Makes hands, feet, jaw, nose, and
eye sockets (orbits) enlarged
Oxytocin
 The hormone involved in inducing labor
during childbirth
 Hormone involved in bonding
 Hormone involved in relationships
 Might be deficient in Autism
All hormones utilize feedback loops:
Autocrine response – Same as the
autoreceptors, both communicate and
terminate release

Note similarity to the CNS:

Autoreceptors – in the CNS the receptors
on presynaptic cell that are sensitive to its
own NT
Parathyroid Gland Thymus Gland
•Four oval shaped •Also part of the
glands located on the immune system
dorsal side of the •The hormones
thyroid secreted stimulate the
•Regulates calcium production of T and B
and phosphate levels cells

Adrenal Glands
•A pair of glands, each one situated on top of a
kidney
•Each gland has an outer portion (adrenal cortex)
and inner portion (adrenal medulla)
•Regulates electrolytes
•Adrenal medulla secretes catecholamines
(epinephrine and norepinephrine) in response to
stress 43
 Pancreas

•Helps maintain proper blood

glucose levels Blood sugar
•Is both an endocrine and exocrine
gland. The islets of Langerhans
serve its endocrine functions Low
•Two types of cells, alpha and
beta are produced by the islets of
Langerhans

Insulin is released Glucagon is

by the beta cells released by the
which stimulate the alpha cells which
Elevated glucose to be sent to stimulate stored
the body’s cells and glycogen to be
convert unused transformed into
Blood sugar glucose to glycogen glucose again

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Insulin and Glucagon Insulin
Rise in blood glucose
stimulates insulin secretion
Pancreas
Drop in blood glucose
stimulates glucagon
secretion
Glucagon
Promotes movement
of glucose into certain cells
Stimulates formation
of glycogen from glucose
In response to insulin, blood
glucose drops toward normal
(and inhibits insulin secretion)
Artery
In response to glucagon,
blood glucose rises
toward normal (and
inhibits insulin secretion)
Stimulates cells to break down
glycogen into glucose
Stimulates cells to convert
non-carbohydrates into glucose
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 Ultimately,what controls the
endocrine system?

Higher Brain
 Our emotions Areas
 Our perceptions
 Our cognitions
 Our experiences
Hypothalamus
 Our behavior
 Our response to
the environment
Pituitary

Endocrine
Glands
Ovaries Testes
•Located in the female •Located in the scrotum,
pelvic region one a sac outside the body
attached to the top of
each fallopian tube •Produce spermatozoa
which fertilizes the
•Produce the female female ova
hormones:
•Produce male sex
-estrogen hormones:
-progesterone
-testosterone

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Combining Form Meaning
aden(o) gland

adren(o) adrenal glands

gluc(o) glucose

glyc(o) glycogen

gonad(o) sex glands

pancreat(o) pancreas

parathyroid(o) parathyroid

thyr(o) thyroid gland

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Abbreviation Meaning
ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone

ADH antidiuretic hormone

CRH corticotropin-releasing hormone

DM diabetes mellitus

FSH follicle-stimulating hormone

GH growth hormone

GTT glucose tolerance test

HCG human chorionic gonadotropin

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Abbreviation Meaning

IDDM insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

LH luteinizing hormone

MSH melanocyte-stimulating hormone

NIDDM noninsulin dependent diabetes

mellitus

PRL prolactin

PTH parathyroid hormone, parathormone

STH somatotropin hormone

TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone

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