The Endocrine

System

Presented by,
Md Nasir Uddin Mahmood,
Product Executive,
Opsonin Pharma Limited

Endocrinology
Endo = Internal
Crinos = Secretion
Endocrinology is a branch of medical science, which deals with
the study of different endocrine glands of the body.

Endocrine System
The endocrine system includes the organ of the body that
secrete hormones directly into body fluids such as blood.
It regulates the chemical reactions in cell and controls
functions of the organs, tissues and other cells.

Classification of Hormone
a) Based on chemical nature
b) Based on the site of action

a) Chemical hormones
There are 3 general classes of hormones:
1.Proteins and polypeptides: secreted by the anterior and
posterior pituitary gland, the pancreas (insulin and glucagon), the parathyroid gland
(parathyroid hormone), and many others.
2. Steroids: secreted by the adrenal cortex (cortisol and aldosterone), the ovaries
(estrogen and progesterone), the testes (testosterone), and the placenta (estrogen and
progesterone).
3. Derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine: secreted by the thyroid (thyroxine and
triiodothyronine) and the adrenal medullae (epinephrine and norepinephrine). There
are no known polysaccharides or nucleic acid hormones.

2. Based on the site of action

1.

General hormone: e.g. Thyroid hormone, Insulin

2.

Local hormone e.g. Local hormone of G.I. tract

3.

Trophic hormone e.g. TSH,ACTH, LH

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Endocrine glands:
Ductless glands
Release hormoneDirectly into target tissue
Into bloodstream to be carried
to target tissues

Gland/Tissue

Hormones

Major Functions

Stimulates secretion of TSH

(thyroid-stimulating hormone)
& prolactin
Corticotropin-releasing
Causes release of ACTH
hormone (CRH)
(adrenocorticotropic hormone)
Growth hormonereleasing
Causes release of growth
hormone (GHRH)
hormone
Growth hormone inhibitory
Inhibits release of growth
hormone (GHIH)
hormone
(somatostatin)
Causes release of LH
Gonadotropin-releasing
(luteinizing hormone) & FSH
hormone (GnRH)
(follicle-stimulating hormone)
Dopamine or prolactinInhibits release of prolactin
inhibiting factor (PIF)
Thyrotropin-releasing
hormone (TRH)

1.
Hypothalamus

Gland/Tis
sue

Hormones

Major Functions

Stimulates protein synthesis and overall

growth of most cells and tissues
Stimulates synthesis and secretion of
Thyroid-stimulating
thyroid hormones (thyroxine and
hormone (TSH)
triiodothyronine)
Stimulates synthesis and secretion of
Adrenocorticotropic
adrenocortical hormones (cortisol,
hormone (ACTH)
androgens, and aldosterone)
2. Anterior
Promotes development of the female
Prolactin
pituitary
breasts and secretion of milk
Causes growth of follicles in the ovaries
Follicle-stimulating
and sperm maturation in Sertoli cells of
hormone (FSH)
testes
Stimulates testosterone synthesis in
Leydig cells of testes; stimulates
Luteinizing hormone
ovulation, formation of corpus luteum,
(LH)
and estrogen and progesterone synthesis
in ovaries
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Growth hormone

Gland/Tiss
ue

Hormones

Major Functions

Increases water reabsorption by the

Antidiuretic hormone
kidneys and causes
(ADH)
3. Posterior (also called vasopressin) vasoconstriction and increased blood
pressure
pituitary
Oxytocin

Stimulates milk ejection from

breasts and uterine contractions

Gland/Tiss
ue

4. Thyroid

Hormones

Major Functions

Thyroxine (T4)
&
Triiodothyronine
(T3)

Increases the rates of chemical reactions in

most cells, thus increasing body metabolic
rate

Calcitonin
Cortisol
5. Adrenal
cortex
Aldosterone

Promotes deposition of calcium in the bones

and decreases extracellular fluid calcium ion
concentration
Has multiple metabolic functions for controlling
metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and
fats; also has anti-inflammatory effects
Increases renal sodium reabsorption,
potassium secretion, and hydrogen ion
secretion

6. Adrenal
Norepinephrine,
Same effects as sympathetic stimulation
medulla
epinephrine
Insulin (beta
Promotes glucose entry in many cells, and in
cells)
this way controls carbohydrate metabolism
7. Pancreas
Glucagon
Increases synthesis and release of glucose
(alpha cells)
from the liver into the body fluids 9
8.
Parathyroid
Controls serum calcium ion concentration by

Gland/Tiss
ue

Hormones

Major Functions

Promotes development of male reproductive

9. Testes
Testosterone
system and male secondary sexual
characteristics
Promotes growth and development of female
Estrogens
reproductive system, female breasts, and
female secondary sexual characteristics
10. Ovaries
Stimulates secretion of uterine milk by the
uterine endometrial glands and promotes
Progesterone
development of secretory apparatus of
breasts
Human chorionic
Promotes growth of corpus luteum and
gonadotropin
secretion of estrogens and progesterone by
(HCG)
corpus luteum
11.
Human
Probably helps promote development of
Placenta somatomammotro some fetal tissues as well as the mothers
pin
breasts
Estrogens
See actions of estrogens from ovaries
Progesterone
See actions of progesterone from ovaries
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Gland/Tissu
e

12. Kidney

13. Heart
14. Stomach

Hormones

Catalyzes conversion of
Renin
angiotensinogen to angiotensin I
(acts as an enzyme)
1,25Increases intestinal absorption of
Dihydroxycholecalciferol calcium and bone mineralization
Erythropoietin
Increases erythrocyte production
Increases sodium excretion by
Atrial natriuretic peptide
kidneys, reduces blood pressure
(ANP)
Gastrin
Secretin

15. Small
intestine
Cholecystokinin (CCK)
16.
Adipocytes

Major Functions

Leptin

Stimulates HCl secretion by

parietal cells
Stimulates pancreatic acinar cells
to release bicarbonate and water
Stimulates gallbladder
contraction and release of
pancreatic enzymes
Inhibits appetite, stimulates
thermogenesis
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Effects of Thyroid Hormone (Thyroxine)

1. Increases the basal metabolic rate
The rate at which the body uses oxygen to transform
nutrients (carbohydrates, fats and proteins) into energy

2. Affects many target cells throughout the body;

some effects are: Protein synthesis, Bone growth, Neuronal
maturation, Cell differentiation

The Effects of Calcitonin

Secreted from thyroid parafollicular (C) cells when blood calcium levels
are high
Calcitonin lowers Ca++ by slowing the calcium-releasing activity of
osteoclasts in bone and increasing calcium secretion by the kidney
Acts mostly during childhood
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Effects of PTH
(parathyroid hormone or parathormone)
1. Increases blood Ca++ (calcium) concentration when it
gets too low.
2. Mechanism of raising blood calcium:
Step-1: Stimulates osteoclasts to release more Ca++ from bone
Step-2: Decreases secretion of Ca++ by kidney
Step-3: Activates Vitamin D, which stimulates the uptake of
Ca++ from the intestine

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Cortisol, the most important glucocorticoid

(Glucocorticoid receptors are found in the cells of most vertebrate tissues)

1. Helps the body deal with stressful situations within minutes

Physical: trauma, surgery, exercise
Psychological: anxiety, depression, crowding
Physiological: fasting, hypoglycemia, fever, infection
3. Regulates or supports a variety of important cardiovascular, metabolic,
immunologic, and homeostatic functions including water balance
4. Keeps blood glucose levels high enough to support brains activity
5. Forces other body cells to switch to fats and amino acids as energy sources
6. Catabolic: break down protein
7. Redirects circulating lymphocytes to lymphoid and peripheral tissues
where pathogens usually are
8. In large quantities, depresses immune and inflammatory response
Used therapeutically
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Mechanisms of hormone release

(a) Humoral: in response to changing levels of ions or nutrients
in the blood
(b) Neural: Stimulation by nerves
(c) Hormonal: Stimulation received from other hormones

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A. Humoral:

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B.
Neural:

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C.
Hormonal:

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Pituitary & all Hormones are Under the Control of

the Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus
RF
Anterior Pituitary
SH
Target Organs

Hormone
Posterior Pituitary
Hormone
Target Organs

RF = Releasing Factor SH = Stimulating Hormone

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Diseases of the Pituitary

TSH

MSH
hypersecretion = excess pigment

hypersecretion = hyperthyroidism
GH
hyposecretion = hypothyroisism

ACTH

hyposecretion = Addisons
disease
hypersecretion = Cushings
disease

FSH

hypersecretion
during growth = giantism
after growth = acromegaly
hyposecretion = dwarfism

PRL
hypersecretion = galactorrhea,
infertility
hyposecretion = poor milk
production

hyposecretion
M = poor sperm production
F = low estrogen, amenorrhea ADH
Hypersecretion = SIADH
hypersecretion
Syndrome of inappropriate ADH
F = menopause
secretion

LH
hyposecretion
F = no ovulation
M = low testosterone

hyposecretion = diabetes
insipidus

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Common Disease and Disorders

Disease/
Disorder

Description

Acromegaly

Too much growth hormone

produced in adults; Enlargement of
Bones and thickened skin.

Addisons
disease
Cretinism

Adrenal gland fails to produce

enough corticosteroids

Cushings
disease
Diabetes

Hypercortisolism; Over-production
of cortisol

Extreme form of hypothyroidism

present prior to or soon after birth

Kidneys fail to reabsorb water;

resulting in excessive urination;
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Common Disease and Disorders

Disease/
Disorder

Description

Diabetes
mellitus

Chronic disease characterized

by elevated blood glucose
levels

Type I

Insulin- dependent diabetes

mellitus; usually develops in
childhood

Type II

Gestational

Noninsulin- dependent
diabetes mellitus; primarily in
adults but increased incidence
In teens
Occurs during pregnancy;

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Common Disease and Disorders

Disease/
Disorder

Description

Gigantism

Too much growth hormone

produced during childhood

Goiter

Enlargement of thyroid gland,

causing swelling in neck;
deficiency of iodine in diet

Graves disease

Hyperthyroidism; antibodies attach

to thyroid gland, causing it to
produce too much thyroid hormone

Myxedema

Thyroid gland produces inadequate

amounts of thyroid hormone;
Common in females over 50
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Thank You

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