THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

refers to the collection of glands of

an organism that secrete
hormones directly into
the circulatory system to be carried
towards distant target organs.

The Major
Endocrine
Glands in
The Body

Hypothalamus

Therefore, the hypothalamus knows about the sensation you are

aware of, like the smell of beautiful flower or the picturesque view
while controlling those thing that you are not aware of, like the levels
of hormones in your body or your internal temperature.
The Hypothalamus is found at the base of your brain.

It produces hormones that help turn on and off the other endocrine glands.
It is the link between the nervous system and the endocrine system.

Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland or hypophysis is a pea-sized gland found in the center of the skin, right behind the
bridge of the nose, below the hypothalamus of the brain.
It is an important gland in the body and it is often referred to as the 'master gland', because it controls
several of the other hormone glands

The Pituitary Gland is divided into anterior pituitary and

posterior pituitary gland
The anterior pituitary makes several important hormones - growth
hormone, puberty, thyroid stimulating, prolactin and Adrenocorticotrophic
Hormone
The posterior pituitary makes the fluid balance hormone called antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

Thyroid Gland
The Thyroid Gland is located just under
your larynx or voice box.
The Thyroid secretes 3 hormones T3
(Triiodothyronine),T4 Thyroxine) and
Calcitonin

Both T3 and T4 contain the iodine element which regulate

metabolism and play a crucial role in development and maturation.
An excess of T3 and T4 in the blood can lead to Hyperthyroidism
which can make a person develop high blood pressure. On the other
hand, insufficient amount of these hormones in the body can lead to
Hypothyroidism causing weight gain, lethargy and intolerance to cold.
Calcitonin lowers down the blood calcium level in the body.

Parathyroid Glands
Parathyroid glands are four tiny glands embedded on the surface of the thyroid.
These glands release the parathyroid hormone which together with calcitonin ,
regulate blood calcium levels in the body in an antagonistic manner since they
have opposite effects.

Calcium is a mineral the keeps

your nerves and muscles working
properly.

Thymus
The Thymus is found just behind your breastbone.
When you were still young the thymus was very large producing white blood cells that protect body
tissues, triggering an immune response against infectious agents.
But it gradually decreased in size as you were getting older because other glands in the body take over its
job.

By the time you reach adulthood, the thymus will have shrunk to
about the size of your tomb.
The Thymus is responsible for the development of the defense system
of our body against disease-causing organisms.

Adrenal
The word adrenal means, above (ad) The Kidney (renal). That is why each adrenal is located at the top of
each kidneys.
Adrenaline, the hormone it produces, is part of the bodys emergency action team.
Whenever you are in a dangerous situation, the senses send signals to the brain, alerting the body and warning you
of danger.

The brain also alerts the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline, which
sometimes gives superhuman powers.
This is evident during fire when people can lift heavy objects beyond
their means which they can no longer lift after everything returns in
normal. This happens because by then the supply of adrenaline have
faded away.

Pancreas
Although part of the digestive system, the pancreas is also a part of endocrine system.
It produces two types of hormones , insulin and glucagon.
Insulin is produced by small group of cells called Islets of lagerhans within the body. It play
important role in keeping the level of sugar(glucose) in the bloodstream under control.

Glucagon, on the other hand, does exactly the opposite of insulin. It

increases the level of sugar in the body by speeding up the conversion of
gylcogen to sugar in the liver
Both these hormones ensures that the sugar level in the blood is always
the right level. If the sugar level in the blood drops the pancreas release
more glucagon to make up for the loss. If the sugar level in the blood rises,
the pancreas releases more insulin to get rid the excess sugar.

Gonads
The human reproductive organs are collectively known as gonads.
The female reproductive organs called ovaries, while the male reproductive organs are
called testes.
Both of the testes and ovaries produce sex hormones responsible for the secondary
sexual characteristics that you experience at the start of your teen years.
The testes produce testosterone while the ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone.

The testes produce testosterone

while the ovaries produce estrogen
and progesterone.

Pineal Gland
The pineal Gland is located near the thalamus of the brain.
It produces melatonin which regulates body rhythms and sleep patterns

Diseases
Associated with
Endocrine System

Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer is a disease that
you get when abnormal cells
begin to grow in yourthyroid
gland

CAUSES:

It's not clear what causes

thyroid cancer.
Thyroid cancer occurs when
cells in your thyroid undergo
genetic changes (mutations).

Symptoms
You may get a lump or swelling in your neck. This is the
most common symptom.
You may have pain in your neck and sometimes in your
ears.
You may have trouble swallowing.
You may have trouble breathing or have constant wheezing.
Your voice may be hoarse.
You may have a frequent cough that is not related to a cold.

Preventions
Doctors aren't sure what causes most cases of thyroid cancer, so
there's no way to prevent thyroid cancer in people who have an average
risk of the disease.

Prevention for people with a high risk

Adults and children with an inherited gene mutation that increases the
risk of medullary thyroid cancer are often advised to have thyroid surgery
to prevent cancer (prophylactic thyroidectomy).

Prevention for people near nuclear power plants

Fallout from an accident at a nuclear power plant could cause thyroid
cancer in people living nearby.

Diabetes
Often referred to by doctors as diabetes mellitus, describes a group of metabolic
diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin
production is inadequate, or because the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin,
or both.
There are three types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes
The body does not produce insulin. Some people may refer to this type asinsulindependent diabetes,juvenile diabetes, orearly-onset diabetes. People usually develop
type 1 diabetes before their 40th year, often in early adulthood or teenage years.

Type 2 diabetes
The body does not produce enough insulin for proper function, or the cells in the body do not react to insulin (insulin resistance).

Gestational diabetes
This type affects females during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in their blood, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all of the
glucose into their cells, resulting in progressively rising levels of glucose .

Causes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin due to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas
Type 2 diabetesthe most common form of diabetesis caused by a combination of factors, including insulin resistance, a condition in which the bodys muscle, fat, and liver cells do
not use insulin effectively. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can no longer produce enough insulin to compensate for the impaired ability to use insulin.
Scientists believe gestational diabetes is caused by the hormonal changes and metabolic demands of pregnancy together with genetic and environmental factors.

Symptoms
The average person usually has to pee between four and seven times in 24
hours, but people with diabetes may go a lot more.
This can make you more hungry and tired than usual
Changing fluid levels in your body could make the lenses in your eyes swell
up. They change shape and lose their ability to focus.

Preventions
Get more physical activity
Get plenty of fiber
Go for whole grains
Lose extra weight
Skip fad diets and just make healthier choices

Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis means "porous bone," and it's a disorder
characterized by "holey" bones. This might be confusing
because if you viewed a healthy bone under a
microscope, it would have gaps similar to those in a
honeycomb. But an osteoporotic bone contains much
bigger spaces than healthy bones

Causes
Heredity also plays a role. If one of your parents had osteoporosis
Alcohol consumption Drinking a lot of alcohol reduces the amount of calcium available to your bones, increases parathyroid hormone, a type of hormone that additionally reduces calcium, and prevents your body from absorbing vitamin D, which is also
necessary for bone formation.
Cigarette smoking There are many ways in which smoking can increase the risk of osteoporosis, starting with the fact that nicotine is toxic to bone cells. Smoking also interferes with the bodys use of calcium and alters estrogen levels, which can increase
osteoporosis risk.
Inactivity People who are confined to bed, are unable to participate in weight-bearing exercise, or simply dont exercise regularly are at risk for bone loss and osteoporosis.
Lead exposure
Poor diet

Symptoms
Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra
Loss of height over time
A stooped posture
A bone fracture that occurs much more easily than expected

Preventions
Adequate amounts of calcium
Adequate amounts of vitamin D
Regular exercise

Goiter
is an abnormal enlargement
of your thyroid gland. Your
thyroid is a butterfly-shaped
gland located at the base of
your neck just below your
Adam's apple. Although goiters
are usually painless, a large
goiter can cause a cough and
make it difficult for you to
swallow or breathe.

Causes
Iodine deficiency
Although a lack of dietary iodine is the main cause of goiter in
many parts of the world, this is not often the case in countries where
iodine is routinely added to table salt and other foods.
Graves' disease
Goiter can sometimes occur when your thyroid gland produces
too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism). In Graves' disease,
antibodies produced by your immune system mistakenly attack your
thyroid gland, causing it to produce excess thyroxine.
Hashimoto's disease
Goiter can also result from an underactive thyroid
(hypothyroidism). Like Graves' disease, Hashimoto's disease is an
autoimmune disorder. But instead of causing your thyroid to produce
too much hormone, Hashimoto's damages your thyroid so that it
produces too little.
Pregnancy
A hormone produced during pregnancy, human chorionic
gonadotropin (HCG), may cause your thyroid gland to enlarge slightly.

Symptoms
A visible swelling at the base of your neck that may be particularly obvious when you shave or put on makeup
A tight feeling in your throat
Coughing
Hoarseness
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty breathing

Preventions
Salt can be easily iodinated. It is a good vehicle to ensure
adequate daily supply of iodine. Make sure you eat iodized salt,
especially if you are staying in areas where the soil is deficient in
iodine.
Eat Seafood containing iodine such as sea weed, shrimps, shell
fish, etc.
Fruits and vegetables also contain iodine if they are grown near
coastal area.
Prevent over exposure of radiation if you are working in radiation
department facilities or if you are on radiation treatment.
Goiter prevention is possible by avoiding certain anti-retroviral
and immune-suppressant medications.

Obesity
is a complex disorder involving an excessive amount of body
fat. Obesity isn't just a cosmetic concern. It increases your risk
of diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes
and high blood pressure.

Causes
Inactivity
If you're not very active, you don't burn as many calories.
With a sedentary lifestyle, you can easily take in more calories
every day than you use through exercise and normal daily
activities.
Unhealthy diet and eating habits
Weight gain is inevitable if you regularly eat more calories than
you burn. And most Americans' diets are too high in calories and
are full of fast food and high-calorie beverages.

Symptoms
Obesity is diagnosed when your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher.

Preventions
Follow a healthy eating plan. Make healthy food choices, keep your calorie needs
and your family's calorie needs in mind, and focus on the balance of energy IN and
energy OUT.
Be active. Make personal and family time active. Find activities that everyone will
enjoy. For example, go for a brisk walk, bike or rollerblade, or train together for a
walk or run.
Reduce screen time. Limit the use of TVs, computers, DVDs, and videogames because
they limit time for physical activity. Health experts recommend 2hours or less a day
of screen time that's not work- or homework-related.

THATS ALL
FOLKS