Endocrine System:
Specialized secretory cell (brain, heart, small intestine, adipose tissues)
Endocrine glands: high density of blood capillaries to pick up and carry away the hormones
Very permeable
Exocrine gland Endocrine gland
Ductal gland Ductless
Enzyme, mucous secretion Hormone secretion
Release products into the ducts, lumen of an Release into blood circulation to reach target
organ or outer surface of body organ/cell
Simple Complex
Examples: Pancreas, liver, sweat glands, salivary Examples: Pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal,
glands pineal, sex organs
Nervous system Endocrine gland
Molecule Neurotransmitter released locally in response to Hormone delivered to tissues
nerve impulse throughout body by blood
Site of action Close to site of release, bind receptors in Far from site of release, bind
postsynaptic membrane receptors on/in target cell
Types of Muscles (smooth, cardiac, skeletal), glands, Cells throughout body
target cell neuron
Time to Typically, within milliseconds Seconds to hours or days
onset of
action
Duration of Generally briefer (milliseconds) Generally, longer (seconds to
action days)
Hypothalamus pituitary gland (anterior and posterior) blood circulation to target cells
Anterior pituitary
Hormones Target organs
Follicle-stimulating hormone Ovaries, testes
Luteinizing hormone Ovaries, testes
Thyroid-stimulating hormone Thyroid gland
Adrenocorticotropic hormone Adrenal cortex
Prolactin Mammary glands, testes
Growth hormone Liver, bone, cartilage, muscle, fat
Posterior pituitary
Anti-diuretic hormone Kidneys
Oxytocin Uterus, mammary glands, brain
Thyroid gland:
Immediately below the larynx
Isthmus: site where the two lobes join
Supply by superior thyroid arteries
Drain by thyroid veins internal jugular vein and brachiocephalic veins
Parathyroid gland:
Small ovoid glands in neck
Usually, 4
Adhere to posterior side of thyroid gland
Secrete parathyroid hormone to mediate blood calcium level
Adrenal gland:
Inner core: medulla (10 to 20%)
Cortex (80-90%)
Pancreas:
Alpha cell: Glucagon raise blood glucose level
Beta-cell: Insulin decrease blood glucose level; produce amylin (enhance effect of insulin)
Delta cell: Somatostatin
Gonads:
Female: estrogen, progesterone, inhibin
Male: Inhibin, testosterone
Endocrine System (Physiology):
Endocrine (act on target cell via blood circulation)
Paracrine (act on the cell next to secreting cell without entering the blood circulation)
Autocrine (act on target cell that secreted them)
Interleukin-2: paracrine and autocrine
Nitric oxide: paracrine
Hormone Classification:
Amine hormone:
Derive from amino acid
Tyrosine form thyroid hormone: T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine)
Peptide and proteins hormone:
Amino acid polymer
Small (3 to 49 amino acids)
Large (50 to 200 amino acids)
Example: anti-diuretic hormone and oxytocin
Steroid hormone (lipid-soluble):
Derive from cholesterol
Bind to carrier proteins (e.g., albumin, globulins) during the travel
Hormone effect: Highly specific, key and lock (receptor)
Water-soluble: bind the receptor on plasma membrane of target cell
Lipid-soluble: Diffuse into cell through plasma membrane and binds to the receptors inside
target cells
Hormonal interaction effect:
Redundant effects
Different hormones produce same effects
E.g., glucagon, epinephrine, cortisol increase blood glucose level
Reinforcement effects
Same hormone act on different tissues to produce different responses
Cortisol (break down protein into amino acid; break fat, stimulate glucose production, decrease
body sensitivity to insulin) increase blood glucose level
Antagonistic effects
One hormone opposes the action of another hormone
Insulin v.s glucagon
Permissive effects
Presence of one hormone at certain concentration is required to allow a second hormone to
fully affect the target cell
Estrogen and progesterone during menstrual cycle
Hormonal secretion:
Rhythms of secretion: Pulsatile (e.g., insulin), diurnal (cortisol, melatonin), cyclic (LH, estrogen,
progesterone)
Hormonal activity regulation:
Availability of hormone receptors v.s. degradation of receptor
Positive feedback (e.g., oxytocin secretion during childbirth contraction of uterine muscle)
Negative feedback (glucagon and insulin)
Endocrine disorder:
Tumor, infection, deficits in endocrine feedback system
Autoimmune, genetic disorder
Cortisol Thyroid
Hypersecretion Cushing’s Syndrome Grave’s Disease
Hyposecretion Addison’s Disease Hashimoto’s Disease