Lesson Plan for Anatomy and Physiology

“Endocrine System”

I. Objectives

Students will do the following:

1. Describes the structures and functions of the endocrine system

2. Summarize the four functions of hormones and how they are regulated.

3. Explain the role of the endocrine system in human growth

4. Describe the role of the endocrine system in dealing with stress and nutrient absorption.

II. Subject Matter

A. Topic: Endocrine System

B. Reference: Livescience.com

C. Materials: PowerPoint Presentation

III. Learning Task

A. EXPLORE

1. Review

Your body contains about 100 trillions of cells. The body systems that control and

monitor reactions to your internal and external environment depend on these cells operating

together. These systems keep body activity in check by processing information and by enabling

you to make adjustments to changes that take place from minute to minute in your environment.

2. Motivation

Many machines, such as automobiles and furnaces, have thermostats to regulate

temperature. When the machine becomes too hot, a signal from the thermostat activates a fan or

other cooling system. Once the temperature has returned to normal, the lowered temperature

signals the thermostat to turn off the cooling system. How does this relate to the organ system to

us humans? Do we have a system same as with the automobiles having a thermostat? If there is,

what system in our body does regulatory actions to help the body maintain homeostasis?
 B. FIRM-UP

1. Presentation of the Lesson

Endocrine System is a system of chemical control that works somewhat like a thermostat.

The word endocrine derives from the Greek words "endo," meaning within, and "crinis,"

meaning to secrete.

Structure and Function

Endocrine Gland is a gland without a duct. These glands secrete chemicals called

hormones directly into the bloodstream. The major glands of the endocrine system, each of

which produces one or more specific hormones, are the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, the

thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands, the islet cells of the pancreas, the adrenal glands, the testes

in men, and the ovaries in women. During pregnancy, the placenta also acts as an endocrine

gland in addition to its other functions. In the human body, the endocrine system, in response to

signals from the nervous system, produces chemicals that act to turn on, speed up, slow down, or

turn off the activities of various tissues and organs. This regulatory action helps the body

maintain homeostasis.

Hormones are the chemical secreted by an endocrine gland that brings about an effect in

a specific tissue or organ. Most hormones are proteins or lipids called steroids. The specific

tissue affected by a hormone is called a target tissue. The bloodstream enables all tissues of the

body to come in contact with all hormones, but only specific target tissues react to a specific

hormone. Hormones work in very small amounts. The negative-feedback system is the basis of

hormone regulation.

Not all organs that secrete hormones or hormone-like substances are considered part of

the endocrine system. For example, the kidneys produce the hormone renin to help control blood

pressure and the hormone erythropoietin to stimulate the bone marrow to produce red blood

cells. In addition, the digestive tract produces a variety of hormones that control digestion,

affect insulin secretion from the pancreas, and alter behaviors, such as those associated with

hunger. Fat (adipose) tissue also produces hormones that regulate metabolism and appetite.
Additionally, the term "gland" does not mean that the organ is part of the endocrine system. For

example, sweat glands, glands in mucus membranes, and mammary glands secrete substances

other than hormones.

Human Growth

2 endocrine glands are involved in controlling growth- the anterior pituitary gland and the

thyroid gland. The anterior pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and secretes human

growth hormone (HGH). Growth hormone activates bones and skeletal muscle cells to grow and

multiply. Growth hormone also stimulates cells to metabolize fat for energy. The growth

function of the anterior pituitary is regulated by the hypothalamus.

The thyroid gland is located in the throat just below the larynx, or voice box. Cells within

the thyroid produce hormones that regulate growth, development, and the activities of the

nervous system. These hormones work with growth hormone to accelerate body growth,

particularly of nervous tissue, during the growing years.

Sometimes the pituitary gland does not produce the right amount of growth hormone

when this happens, a midget or giant results. In midgets, too little growth hormone is produced.

Bone growth stops before normal height is reached. This condition has been treated by

administering growth hormone during the developing years causes an abnormal increase in the

length of bones and a person grows very large.

Acromegaly is giantism resulting from excessive pituitary secretion. The bones of the

face, hands and feet become enlarged.

Stress

Homeostatic mechanisms are designed to counteract the stresses of everyday life. If

stress is extreme or prolonged, normal homeostatic mechanisms may not be sufficient to

counteract it. The hypothalamus is the body’s watchdog against stress. The hypothalamus

monitors the internal body situations that change the homeostatic balance. When stress appears,

the hypothalamus stimulates the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal gland. The adrenal
gland secretes the hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine. The sympathetic nervous system

and these hormones set into motion the fight-or-flight mechanism . . .

Absorption of Nutrients

The pancreas is an organ located near the stomach. It is usually associated with digestion

since it produces digestive enzymes. The islets of Langerhans are endocrine cells within the

pancreas that produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that enables glucose to move into a cell by

making the cell membrane permeable to glucose. Glucose is primarily used in cells as the source

of ATP…

Endocrine Control

To control endocrine functions, the secretion of each hormone must be regulated within

precise limits. The body is normally able to sense whether more or less of a given hormone is

needed.

Many endocrine glands are controlled by the interplay of hormonal signals between the

hypothalamus, located in the brain, and the pituitary gland, which sits at the base of the brain.

This interplay is referred to as the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus secretes

several hormones that control the pituitary gland. The pituitary, sometimes called the master

gland, in turn controls the functions of many other endocrine glands (see ). The pituitary controls

the rate at which it secretes hormones through a feedback loop in which the blood levels of other

endocrine hormones signal the pituitary to slow down or speed up.

Many other factors can control endocrine function. For example, a baby sucking on its

mother's nipple stimulates her pituitary gland to secrete prolactin and oxytocin, hormones that

stimulate breast milk production and flow. Rising blood sugar levels stimulate the islet cells of

the pancreas to produce insulin. Part of the nervous system stimulates the adrenal gland to

produce epinephrine.

Milestone in the study of the endocrine system

200 B.C.: The Chinese begin isolating sex and pituitary hormones from human urine and using

them for medicinal purposes

1025: In medieval Persia, the writer Avicenna (980-1037) provides a detailed account on

diabetes mellitus in "The Canon of Medicine" (c. 1025), describing the abnormal appetite, the

collapse of sexual functions and the sweet taste of diabetic urine.

1835: Irish doctor Robert James Graves describes a case of goiter with bulging eyes

(exophthalmos). The thyroid condition "Graves' disease" was later named after the doctor.

1902: William Bayliss and Ernest Starling perform an experiment in which they observe that

acid instilled into the duodenum (part of the small intestine) causes the pancreas to begin

secretion, even after they had removed all nervous connections between the two organs.

1889: Joseph von Mering and Oskar Minkowski observe that surgically removing the pancreas

results in an increase of blood sugar, followed by a coma and eventual death.

1921: Otto Loewi in 1921 discovers neurohormones by incubating a frog's heart in a saline bath.

1922: Leonard Thompson, at age 14, is the first person with diabetes to receive insulin.

Drugmaker Eli Lilly soon starts mass production of insulin.

Diseases of the endocrine system

Hormone levels that are too high or too low indicate a problem with the endocrine

system. Hormone diseases also occur if your body does not respond to hormones in the

appropriate ways. Stress, infection, and changes in the blood's fluid and electrolyte balance can

also influence hormone levels.

Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not properly process glucose, a simple

sugar. This is due to the lack of insulin or, if the body is producing insulin, because the body is

not working effectively.

Hormone imbalances can have a significant impact on the reproductive system,

particularly in women.
 Another disorder, hypothyroidism, occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce

enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s needs. Loh noted that insufficient thyroid hormone

can cause many of the body's functions to slow or shut down completely. Thyroid cancer begins

in the thyroid gland and starts when the cells in the thyroid begin to change grow uncontrollably

and eventually form a tumor. Hypoglycemia, also called low blood glucose or low blood sugar,

occurs when blood glucose drops below normal levels. This typically happens as a result of

treatment for diabetes when too much insulin is taken.

Causes and treatment of endocrine diseases

Diabetes, the most common disease of the endocrine system, can be linked to obesity,

diet and family history.

Tumors — both benign and cancerous — can also disrupt the functions of the endocrine

system, Myers explained. Infections and medications such as blood thinners can also cause

adrenal deficiencies.

Diabetes is treated with pills or insulin injections. Managing other endocrine disorders

typically involves stabilizing hormone levels with medication or, if a tumor is causing an

overproduction of a hormone, by removing the tumor. Treating endocrine disorders takes a very

careful and personalized approach, Myers said, as adjusting the levels of one hormone can

impact the balance of other hormones.

What is Endocrinologists?

After completing four years of medical school, people who want to be endocrinologists

then spend three or four years in an internship and residency program. These specialty programs

cover internal medicine, pediatrics, or obstetrics and gynecology, according to the American

Board of Internal Medicine.

Endocrinologists typically specialize in one or two areas of endocrinology, such as

diabetes or infertility. These specialists treat patients with fertility issues and also assess and treat

patients with health concerns surrounding menstruation and menopause.

 C. DEEPEN

1. Activity

Group the class into five groups. Each group will have one manila paper and one set of

crayons. Make a model to show how negative-feedback control works. Duration of 10 minutes

will be allocated for the group activity. Each group will discuss their model within a minute. The

activity total duration will be 15 minutes.

D. TRANSFER

Directions: Read the questions given below. On a half sheet of paper (Crosswise), write your

answer briefly.

1. What is the relationship between a hormone and a target tissue?

2. Which glands and hormones are involved in human growth?

IV. Generalization

Endocrine system is a system of chemical control in our body that helps maintain body’s

homeostasis. It composed of ductless glands that produce hormones. Hormones bring about

effect to a specific tissue or organ. Endocrine glands of the body function on a negative-feedback

system.

V. Assignments

Directions: Answer the questions given briefly in a ½ crosswise sheet of paper.

1. What is the link between the nervous and endocrine systems?

2. Where does the negative-feedback system appear to fail in the case of giantism?

Score guide:

2 points - explanations are written but are not clear and/or incorrect

5 points – explanations are written clearly and/or correctly.