ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Dr. Mohamed Sadig Omara

Department of Anatomy

Endocrine Glands

Nervous system

+ Endocrine glands

Control other systems

in the body

WHAT ARE THE

FUNCTIONS OF
THE
ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM?

OVERALL FUNCTION OF THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

REGULATION OF EFFECTORS TO
MAINTAIN HOMEOSTASIS

FUNCTIONS OF THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Water balance
Uterine contractions & milk release
Growth, metabolism, & tissue maturation
Ion regulation
Heart rate & blood pressure regulation
Blood glucose control
Immune system regulation
Reproductive functions control

Glandular Epithelium
Is a type of epithelium which is specialized to produce
secretion.
The glands are formed of collections of epithelial cells.
There are different classifications for the glands.

 According to presence or absence of ducts, glands

are classified into:
A. Endocrine (ductless) glands:
Secrete hormones directly into circulation. E.g.
Thyroid, parathyroid &pituitary glands.
B. Exocrine glands:
Which have ducts that carry their secretions. E.g.
salivary, sweat & sebaceous glands.
C. Mixed glands:
Which possess the exocrine & endocrine
functions. E.g. pancreas, testis & ovaries.

General structure
of exocrine glands

Mixed glands

HORMONES
Is a mediator molecules released by the glands of the
endocrine system. Comes from the Greek word hormaein
hich ea s to e cite

ENDOCRINE GLANDS
Produce hormones that are
released into the circulatory
system and travel some
distance where they act on
target tissues to produce a
respo se ductless glands

EXOCRINE GLANDS
Secrete products
into ducts (sweat
glands, sebaceous
glands, mucous &
digestive glands)

CHARACTERISTICS

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Mediator molecules

Hormones delivered to tissues

throughout the body by the blood

Cells affected

Virtually all body cells

Time to onset of
action

Seconds to hours or days

Duration of action

Generally longer

WHAT ARE THE

DIFFERENT
ENDOCRINE
GLANDS OF THE
BODY?

The Endocrine Glands are

Hypothalamus
Pineal
Pituitary
Thyroid
Parathyroid
Pancreas
Suprarenal

Pituitary Gland (Hypophysis Cerebri)

It is a small, oval structure,
weighs about 0.5 gm. & is 1 cm
in diameter.
It is attached to undersurface of
brain, & connected to the
hypothalamus by infundibulum.
Its activity affects nearly every
organ either directly or indirectly,
so called master endocrine
gland, and it is essential for life.

Position:It lies in the sella

turcica

Divisions:1. Anterior
lobe
75%
(adenohypophysis):
synthesizes & release
hormones that control
other glands.
2. Posterior lobe 15%
(neurohypophysis):
it
only stores hormones
that
have
been
synthesized
in
the
hypothalamus.

Hormonal Control: Hormones released from anterior pituitary: growth

hormone (GH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), luteinizing hormone
(LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin,
melanocyte-stimulating hormone
Hormones released from posterior pituitary: antidiuretic
hormone (ADH) and oxytocin.

 Secretions from anterior pituitary are controlled by

hypothalamic-releasing hormone.
Secretions from posterior pituitary controlled by nerve
impulses that pass through infundibulum

 HORMONES:
GH promotes growth of bone, muscle & other tissues;
function as insulin antagonist vital in maintaining homeostasis
of blood glucose level
Prolactin promotes development of breast, anticipating milk
secretio duri g preg a c , sti ulates others a
ar
gland for milk
TROPIC HORMONES:
TSH - growth & development of thyroid gland; cause
thyroid gland to release hormones.
ACTH increase secretion of cortisol from adrenal cortex;
increase skin pigmentation.

 FSH stimulates development of follicles in ovaries

& sperm cells.
LH stimulates the formation & activity of corpus
luteum (secretes progesterone & estrogen) in ovary,
stimulates interstitial cells in the testes to develop &
secrete testosterone.
Oxytocin stimulates contraction of uterine muscles,
and causes milk ejection.
Antidiuretic hormone helps body conserve water,
prevents formation of large volume of urine, maintains
water balance in the body

Thalamus

Epithalamus

Diencephalon

Hypothalamus

Subthalamus

HYPOTHALAMUS

 It represents only 0.3 % of the total brain weight

It contains the integrative system that via the ANS and
the endocrine system controls:
Fluid and electrolyte balance
Food ingestion and energy balance
Reproduction
Thermoregulation
Emotional response

Site & Boundaries

Lies below the thalamus
The most ventral part of the diencephalon
Forms the inferior parts of the lateral walls of the 3rd
ventricle
Extends from the optic chiasm to the caudal part of the
mammillary bodies and from the hypothalamic sulcus
to the base of the brain beneath the third ventricle.

Formation: Its formed of:1. Optic chiasma

2. Tuber cinereum
3. Mammillary bodies

Functions of the hypothalamus

1. Autonomic control
Stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus and the
preoptic area influence parasympathetic response.
Posterior hypothalamus and lateral nuclei causes
sympathetic response.

2.Endocrine control

3. Temperature regulation:
Rostral hypothalamus heat loss center
substances or impulses from heat receptors cause vasodilation
and sweating which serve to reduce body temperature.
Caudal hypothalamus heat conservation center:
pyrogenic substances or input from cold receptors causes
shivering and vasoconstriction which serve to increase body
temperature.

4.Control of circadian rhythms

It controls many circadian rhythms including body
temp. adrenocortical activity sleeping and
wakefulness.
Lesions of the anterior hypothalamus interfere with
sleeping rhythm.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus plays an important part
in controlling biological rhythms.

5. Regulation of food and water intake

Lateral region = hunger centre
Medial region =satiety centre

6. Behavior:
Together with the limbic system, the hypothalamus
participates in behavioral circuits responsible for
controlling a i als behavior.

Thyroid Gland
1. Largest endocrine gland in adult (ductless gland).
2. Normally extends from ~ C-5 through ~ T-1
3. Highly vascular
4. Weights ~20 25 grams

5. Secrete the thyroid hormone which affects all areas

of the body except: (Thyroid itself, Adult brain,
Spleen, Testis & Ovaries).

Thyroid Gland
It is composed of:

A. Right & left Lobes.

B. Apex extends to thyroid cartilage

C. Isthmus.

Thyroid Gland
Located in the anterior region of the neck.

Anterior & lateral to larynx, trachea

Lobes connected by an isthmus
Pyramidal lobe may be present

Normally not palpable

Parathyroid glands
1. Usually four two on each side
2. Lie on the posterior surface of thyroid
3. Secrete the parathyroid hormone which affects the:
(Skeleton, Intestines & kidneys).
4. Regulate calcium & phosphate levels
5. Required for life

Blood Supply:
Highly vascular gland supplied by four large arteries:

a. R & L inferior thyroid artery

b. R & L superior thyroid artery

Th roid gla d ascular, co ti ued

Blood Supply:
Drained by R & L superior, middle and inferior thyroid
veins
a. Veins arise from plexus
b. on anterior surface of gland
c. Extend over anterior surface of trachea

Endocrine Pancreas

56

 The endocrine part islets of Langerhans

Types of cells in islets of Langerhans:
1. Type A cells (alpha) glucagon.
2. Type B cells (beta) insulin.
3. Type D cells (delta) somatostatin.
4. Type F cells pancreatic polypeptide.
They control glucose concentration in the blood.

Insulin
Secretion is stimulated by:
1. Hyperglycemia .
2. GIT hormones .
3. Parasympathetic stimulation .
4. Drugs .

Insulin
Effects :
its an anabolic hormone.
Increases the entry of the following substances
inside the cell:
Glucose .
Amino acids .
Potassium .

 Symptoms of diabetes mellitus include :

fatigability , polyuria , thirst , hunger and weight
loss .

Adrenal Glands (suprarenal)

Paired, pyramid-shaped endocrine glands, which lie on the
superior surface of each kidney.
Retroperitoneal and embedded in fat and fascia to minimize
their movement.
Divided into outer adrenal cortex and an inner central core
called the adrenal medulla.
secrete different types of hormones
Regulates salt, sugar, and sex!

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65

Pineal Gland
Pineal gland or pineal body, is a small, cone-shaped structure
attached to the posterior region of the epithalamus.
Secretes melatonin.
Helps regulate a circadian rhythm (24-hour body clock)
Also appears to affect the synthesis of the hypothalamic
regulatory hormone responsible for FSH and LH synthesis
Role in sexual maturation is not well understood.
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Thymus
A bilobed structure located within the mediastinum
superior to the heart and immediately posterior to the
sternum.
Size of the thymus varies between individuals.
it is always relatively large in infants and children
as with the pineal gland, the thymus diminishes in
size and activity with age, especially after puberty

20-67

Thymus Gland

Thymus
Functions principally in association with the lymphatic
system to regulate and maintain body immunity.
Produces complementary hormones thymopoietin and
thymosins.
hormones act by stimulating and promoting the
differentiation, growth, and maturation of a
category of lymphocytes called T-lymphocytes
(thymus-derived lymphocytes)

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Endocrine Functions of the Kidneys, Heart, GI

Tract, and Gonads
Organs of the urinary, cardiovascular, digestive, and
reproductive systems contain their own endocrine cells,
which secrete their own hormones.
Help regulate electrolyte levels in the blood
Red blood cell production, blood volume, and blood
pressure
Digestive system activities
Sexual maturation and activity
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Aging & the Endocrine System

Secretory activity of endocrine glands wanes,
especially secretion of growth hormone and sex
hormones.
Reduction in GH levels leads to loss of weight and
body mass.
Testosterone or estrogen levels decline.

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