ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
SONAL
FACULTY
DIVISION OF ANATOMY
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
➢ Names of endocrine glands
➢ Brief description of
✓ Pituitary gland
✓ Thyroid gland
✓ Parathyroid glands
✓ Suprarenal glands
✓ Islets of Langerhans of pancreas
Endocrine system
Made up of glands and their secretions
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
•These are the ductless glands which pour their secretions
directly into the blood stream
•Secretions – hormones
Hormones
•Chemical messengers released in small amounts from glands,
and is transported in the bloodstream to target organs or cells
Principal endocrine glands include:
Pituitary gland (Hypophysis cerebri)
Thyroid gland
Parathyroid glands
Suprarenal glands
Islets of Langerhans of pancreas
Pituitary Gland:
❖ Also called as
HYPOPHYSIS CEREBRI
❖Master Endocrine Gland
❖However, it is under the
control of Hypothalamus.
Situation
• Hypophyseal fossa -sphenoid
bone
• It is connected to the
hypothalamus by a stalk ;
infundibulum/ pituitary stalk
Parts:
3 distinct parts
➢Anterior pituitary
➢Posterior pituitary
➢Intermediate lobe
❖ Differ entirely in
their structure &
function
Anterior pituitary
5 different types of glandular cells
Capillary plexus
Growth hormone F
E Luteinizing hormone
(GH) M (LH)
A
L Follicle stimulating
Thyroid stimulating E
hormone (FSH)
Hormones S
hormone (TSH)
secreted Gonadotrophins
Adrenocorticotropic Follicle stimulating M
hormone (ACTH) hormone (FSH) A
L
Prolactin Interstitial cell stimulating E
hormone (ICSH) S
for the growth and development of bones,
Growth hormone (GH)
muscles, and other organs
Thyroid stimulating hormone Stimulates & regulates the activity of
(TSH) thyroid gland
Adrenocorticotropic hormone Stimulates & regulates the secretion of
(ACTH) steroids from adrenal cortex
Prolactin Stimulates milk production
Stimulates production Follicle stimulating Stimulates F
M of spermatpzoa hormone (FSH) production of ova E
A M
L Interstitial cell stimulating Luteinizing hormone A
E hormone (ICSH) (LH) L
S Stimulates interstitial E
Stimulates secretion of
cells estrogen & progesterone S
Posterior pituitary
Consists of nervous tissue & blood vessels
No glandular cells
No synthesis of hormone
Neural hypothalomohypophyseal tract
Vasopressin or Anti Oxytocin
diuretic hormone (ADH)
▪ Stimulates the uterine
Reduces urine muscles to contract during
output parturition
▪ Facilitates milk ejection
Intermediate lobe
Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)
Stimulates melanocytes to synthesise
melanin
Thyroid gland
➢Situated in the front and sides of the
trachea-neck
➢Regulates basal metabolic rate (BMR)
➢Role in calcium metabolism
➢Coverings : Inner TRUE and outer
FALSE capsule.
➢Parts : 2 lateral lobes
➢Isthmus connects the 2 lobes
Hormones secreted:
Triiodothyronine(T3)
Maintains BMR
Thyroxine(T4)
Lowers the blood
Calcitonin(Thyrocalcitonin)
calcium level
Parathyroid gland
✓ 2 pairs-Superior parathyroids and
inferior parathyroids
✓ Small, yellow brown color bodies.
✓ Attached to the posterior aspect of the
thyroid gland within the false capsule.
Hormone secreted:
PARATHORMONE(PTH)
Increases blood
calcium level
Hyperactivity of parathyroid gland
Suprarenal (Adrenal) gland
➢Pair of endocrine glands
➢Situation:-on the posterior abdominal wall
over the upper pole of the kidneys
➢Shape:- right suprarenal gland – triangular
left suprarenal gland - semilunar
Covered by connective tissue capsule
Cut section of the gland shows
Two parts
Outer part- Inner part-
cortex medulla
• Zona glomerulosa Mineralocorticoids
Aldosterone
• Zona fasciculata Glucocorticoids
Cortisol
• Zona reticularis Sex hormones
estrogen/ androgens
Adrenal medulla
Hormones produced
Epinephrine Norepinephrine
(Adrenaline) (noradrenaline)
FRIGHT FLIGHT
FIGHT
Islets of Langerhans
❖ Small clusters of endocrine cells located in the pancreas
4 types of cells:
✓ Alpha cells-secrete glucagon ( increses the blood
glucose level)
✓ Beta cells-secrete insulin (decreases the blood
glucose level)-inadequate amount leads to diabetes
mellitus
✓ Delta cells-somatostatin-inhibits the secretion of
Glucagon and Insulin
✓ F cells-pancreatic polypeptide