3.

3 The Role of Hormones

in Humans
 What is the human
endocrine system?
 System that control the secretion of
hormone in the body.
 Consists of
 Endocrine glands
 Hormones
Human Endocrine System
 a) Endocrine glands

■ Are ductless (no duct or tube)

glands.
■ Release hormones directly into
the interstitial fluid and
subsequently into the bloodstream
a) Endocrine glands
 b) Hormones
■ Chemical messengers produced by
endocrine glands
 Travel in the blood,
 Affect and influence only specific target
cells
 Bind to specific receptor molecules on the
surface of the plasma membrane of the
target cells
How endocrine system
work
 The Need for The
Endocrine System
 The endocrine system and the nervous
system play important roles in
maintaining homeostasis.
 A correction mechanism in the body
which reacts through hormones or
nerves to correct the values of physical
or chemical factors that are distorted
from the normal value
 The Need for The
Endocrine System
 The endocrine system usually
complements the nervous system.
 When we dehydrated, our blood osmotic
pressure increase. This stimulates
neurones in the hypothalamus which in
turn active cells in the pituitary gland to
release the antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
ADH causes the kidney to retain more
water. Thus, the osmotic pressure
decreases and returns to normal again
 The Need for The
Endocrine System
1. Involve in Physiological processes (e.g.
menstrual cycle, the development of
secondary sexual characteristics and
growth)
 The hormones released by the
endocrine system regulate a wide
range of activities (e.g. rate of
heartbeat, metabolism, sugar level and
salt concentration.
Differences between the nervous and the endocrine systems

Characteristics Nervous
Nervous System
System Endocrine System

Electrical signals Chemical signals

Types of message
(nerve impulses) (hormones)

Transport Via neurones Via the bloodstream

Speed of
Rapid Slow
transmission
Various destinations
Area of response Specific locations
(to the target cells)
Nature of the Causes changes in the
Causes muscles to contract
response metabolic activity

Duration of effect Temporary Long-lasting

•Growth, reproduction,
Body processes •Controls both voluntary and
development
involved involuntary actions
•Control involuntary action
 Test Yourself
hypothalamus
pituitary gland

thyroid gland

thymus gland

adrenal gland

pancreas

ovary testis
 Function of hormones

Reproduction Growth Homeostasis

Follicle – stimulating Growth hormone, Insulin, glucagon,

hormone, Luteinising Thyroid-stimulating antidiuretic hormone
hormone, Oestrogens, Hormone and and adrenaline
Progesterone and thyroxine
Androgens
Endocrine Gland, Function &
Hormones Secreted
Endocrine Gland, Function &
Hormones Secreted
Endocrine Gland, Function &
Hormones Secreted
 Test yourself

1. What is the human endocrine system?

2. What is hormone?
3. How many glands do a person have
and what are they?
4. Give an example of hormone release
by each gland.
 Regulation of Hormone
Secretion
1. An endocrine gland releases its hormone
when stimulated.
2. Hormone secretion is regulated to
prevent over production or under
production.
 Regulation of Hormone
Secretion
Hormone secretion is regulated by

The level of
Signals from the Other hormones specific substances
nervous system
in the body
 The regulation of hormone
secretion by signals from the
nervous system

1. Hypothalamus
• Has specialised cells called neurosecretory
cells which produce hypothalamic releasing
and inhibiting hormones
• Link the nervous and endocrine system
• Controlling the secretion of hormones from
the pituitary gland to maintain homeostasis
 The regulation of hormone
secretion by signals from the
nervous system
 The regulation of hormone
secretion by signals from the
nervous system

• The pituitary gland is the ‘master’ endocrine

gland
• Secretes several hormones that control
other endocrine glands
• Controlled by the hypothalamus
• Consists of two parts: the anterior and the
posterior pituitary
 The regulation of hormone
secretion by signals from the
nervous system
• Others endocrine glands that secretions
are regulated by nervous system are:
• The adrenal medulla – receives impulses
from the efferent nerves of the nervous
system and secretes adrenaline in
response
• The pancreas – after meal, the pancreas
receives efferent impulses from the CNS
to secrete insulin to reduce the blood
glucose level
 The regul ati on of hormone
secretion by other hormones
• The secretion of thyroxine is regulated
by the thyroid-stimulating hormone
b) The pituitary gland secretes the thyroid-
stimulating hormone (TSH) to stimulate
the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine
c) The more TSH the thyroid gland
receives, the more thyroxine it secretes
d) In turn, less TSH reduces the activity of
the thyroid gland, causing a drop in the
level of thyroxine
 The regul ati on of hormone
secretion by other hormones

 Hormones luteinising hormone (LH)

stimulates secretion of oestrogen,
progesterone and testosterone.
 Hormone adrenocorticotrophic
hormone (ACTH) stimulates adrenal
cortex to release adrenalin and
noradrenaline hormones from adrenal
gland
The regulation of hormone secretion
by the level of specific substances in
the blood
• E.g. blood glucose level increase → the
pancreas produces insulin → causes an
increase in the glucose uptake by cells →
the cells either metabolise the glucose or
convert it to glycogen
• What happen if blood glucose level
decrease?
→ Pancreas will secrete more glucagon which
converts glycogen to glucose
 Test yourself

1. What regulates the secretion of

hormone?
2. Explain in brief how each factor
regulates the secretion of hormone.
 The involvement of both the nervous
system and the endocrine system in a
'fight or flight" situation

• During a threatening situation, for example,

when a dog suddenly barks and chases you,
our heart will beats faster.
• During these moments of 'fight or flight', the
hypothalamus sends nerve impulses directly
to the adrenal medulla to secrete adrenaline
and noradrenaline.
 The involvement of both the nervous
system and the endocrine system in a
'fight or flight" situation

 The adrenal medulla, which is the innermost

region of the adrenal gland, has neurones
from the sympathetic division of the
autonomic nervous system.
 In this situation a heartbeat, breathing
rates, blood pressure, blood glucose level
and metabolic activity will increases.
 The skeletal muscles become more
energised and enable a person to fight off
an attacker or flee immediately from danger.
The Sequence of Events
Hormonal Imbalances & Related Diseases
Hormonal Imbalances & Related
Diseases
Hormonal Imbalances & Related
Diseases
 Exercise

Do Checkpoint 3.3 on page 97 in your

textbook.
Change question No. 3 to this question:
3. How do excess hormone removed from
the blood?