ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Learning Objectives
• Identify the different endocrine glands of the body
• Describe the different endocrine organs and their
cells which are involved in hormonal secretions
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
• Exocrine glands: ducted
• secretions released into ducts
• Endocrine glands: ductless
• secrete signaling molecules (Hormones) directly into the
bloodstream
• All endocrine cells are located within highly
vascularized areas
• ensure that their products enter the
bloodstream immediately
Regulations of the Endocrine System
• Negative Feedback Loop
• Major mechanism of hormone action
• Mechanism:
• A stimulus starts a process
• Process causes release of a hormone
Either the hormone or a product of its effects causes
the process to slow down or turn off
• Example: the regulation of the blood glucose
level in the body
Regulations of the Endocrine System
• Positive Feedback Loop
• Called positive because it accelerates the
original process
• can ensure that the pathway continues to run
• can speed up its activities
• Example: milk release from the mammary
glands
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Pituitary Gland (Hypophysis)
• Lies inferior to the hypothalamus
• Small, slightly oval gland housed within sella turcica
of the sphenoid bone
• Connected to the hypothalamus by a thin stalk
(Infundibulum)
• Anterior Adenohypophysis
• And Posterior Neurohypophysis
—united anatomically but with different functions
Adenohypophysis (Anterior Pituitary)
• Pars Distalis
• main components:
• cords of well-stained endocrine cells interspersed with
fenestrated capillaries
• supporting reticular connective tissue
• 2 cell groups
• Chromophils : secretory cells in which hormone is
stored in cytoplasmic granules
• basophils and acidophils
• Chromophobes : stain weakly, with few or no
secretory granules
Adenohypophysis (Anterior Pituitary)
• Pars Tuberalis
• funnel-shaped region surrounding the infundibulum
• Pars Intermedia
• contains basophils (corticotrophs), chromophobes, and
small, colloid-filled cysts (Rathke’s cysts)
Neurohypophysis (Posterior Pituitary)
• Pars nervosa
• Neurosecretory bodies or Herring bodies
• Oxytocin or ADH
• Infundibular stalk
ADRENAL GLANDS
• paired organs lying near
the superior poles of the
kidneys, embedded in
the pararenal adipose
tissue and fascia
• two regions:
• adrenal cortex
• adrenal medulla
ADRENAL GLANDS
• Adrenal Cortex
• Three concentric zones
1. Zona glomerulosa: closely packed, rounded or arched
cords of columnar or pyramidal cells with many capillaries
• Aldosterone
2. Zona fasciculata :long cords of large polyhedral
cells,one or two cells thick, separated by fenestrated
sinusoidal capillaries
• Glucocorticoids
3. Zona reticularis : smaller cells in a network of irregular
cords interspersed with wide capillaries
• cortisol weak androgens, dehydroepiandrosterone
(DHEA)
ADRENAL GLANDS
• Adrenal Medulla
• Chromaffin cells : modified sympathetic
postganglionic neurons, lacking axons and
dendrites and specialized as secretory cells
• Contain electron-dense granules : for storage
and secretion of catecholamines, either
Epinephrine or Norepinephrine
PANCREATIC ISLETS
• Compact spherical or ovoid masses of endocrine cells
embedded within the acinar exocrine tissue of the
pancreas
• cells are polygonal or rounded, smaller, and more lightly
stained than the surrounding acinar cells, arranged in
cords separated by fenestrated capillaries
• Major islet cells:
• α or A cells secrete glucagon and located peripherally
• β or B cells produce insulin are the most numerous, located
centrally
• δ or D cells, secreting somatostatin, are scattered and much less
abundant
THYROID GLAND
• highly vascular, butterfly-shaped gland surrounding the
anterior surface of the trachea just below the larynx
• consists of two lobes united by an isthmus
THYROID GLAND
• Parenchyma : composed of millions of rounded epithelial
thyroid follicles
• Central lumen: densely gelatinous acidophilic colloid
• Follicular cells (Thyrocytes): activity controlled by thyroid
-stimulating hormone (TSH)
• Parafollicular cell or C cell:
• inside the basal lamina of the follicular epithelium or as isolated
clusters between follicles
• Responsible for synthesis and secretion of Calcitonin
PARATHYROID GLANDS
• Four small ovoid
masses
• Located on the back
of the thyroid gland
PARATHYROID GLANDS
• Principal (chief) cells :
small polygonal cells with
round nuclei and pale-
staining, slightly
acidophilic cytoplasm
• PTH
• Oxyphil cells: very
acidophilic cytoplasm
filled with abnormally
shaped mitochondria
PINEAL GLAND
• also known as the epiphysis cerebri
• small, pine cone-shaped organ attached to the posterior
region of epithalamus
• Pinealocytes: slightly basophilic cytoplasm and irregular
euchromatic nuclei
• Produce melatonin
• Modified astrocytes: interstitial glial cell
• Corpora arenacea (brain sand) : concretions of calcium
and magnesium salts