In the human body, the endocrine system consists of a network of glands and secretes hormones to regulate the functions of the body including growth and metabolism. When glands produce an incorrect amount of hormones, it results in endocrine diseases. Therefore, the endocrine system help the body to function properly by coordinating a range of bodily functions.
Hormones
These hormones help in coordinating the activities of living organisms and their growth. Following are the characteristics of hormones:
Hormones are secreted by endocrine glands in small amounts.
Hormones are secreted directly into blood and travel throughout the body through the blood circulatory system.
Hormones have their effect on the sites different from where they are made.
Hormones act on specific tissues or organs.
Endocrine Glands
A gland secretes a specific substance in the body. There are two types of glands. They are:
i) Exocrine glands
ii) Endocrine glands
Exocrine glands are the glands that secrete their product into a duct. For example, the salivary gland secretes the saliva into the salivary duct.
Endocrine glands are the glands that secrete their product directly into the blood. There are no ducts in endocrine glands. The chemical substance secreted by endocrine glands is called hormone. These hormones travel through the blood and act on the concerned body part. Hormones are a kind of chemical messengers.
There are glands that have both exocrine and endocrine functions. Pancreas, testes, and ovaries perform both exocrine and endocrine functions. For example, the pancreas acts as an endocrine Pancreas is an endocrine gland and secretes insulin. It also acts as an exocrine gland and secretes pancreatic juice into the pancreatic duct.
Site of Secretion
The Endocrine System
The endocrine system also helps in coordinating the activities of our body. The endocrine glands present in our body are the pineal gland, hypothalamus gland, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, thymus, pancreas, adrenal gland, testes, and ovaries. The nervous system controls the working of endocrine glands. The hormones act as a messenger between the nervous system and organs of the body.
Hypothalamus and pituitary gland are main centres for the coordination of the nervous system and endocrine system. The hypothalamus helps in collecting information from the regions of the brain and from blood vessels passing through it. The information is then passed on to the pituitary gland which by its secretions regulates the activities of all other endocrine glands. In the human body, hormones help in growth, metabolic activities and reproduction.
Functions and Effects of Over Secretion or Under Secretion.
Gland
Hormone produced
Target tissues/organs
Chief function(s) of hormone effect
Hypothalamus
Hypothalamic-releasing and -inhibiting hormones
Anterior pituitary
Regulate anterior pituitary hormones
Posterior pituitary
Antidiuretic (ADH)
Oxytocin
Kidneys
Uterus, mammary glands
Stimulates water reabsorption by kidneys
Stimulates uterine muscle contraction;release of milk by mammary glands
Anterior pituitary
Thyroid-stimulating (TSH)
Adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) Gonadotropic (FSH, LH)
Prolactin (PRL)
Growth (GH)
Melanocyte-stimulating (MSH)
Thyroid
Adrenal cortex Gonads
Mammary glands
Soft tissues, bones Melanocytes in skin
Stimulates thyroid
Stimulates adrenal cortex
Egg and sperm production; sex hormone production
Milk production
Cell division, protein synthesis, and bone growth
Unknown function in humans; regulates skin color in lower vertebrates
Thyroid
Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)
Calcitonin
All tissues
Bones, kidneys intestine,
Increases metabolic rate; regulates growth and development
Lowers blood calcium level
Parathyroids
Parathyroid (PTH)
Bones, kidneys intestine,
Raises blood calcium level
Adrenal cortex
Glucocorticoids (cortisol)
Mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)
Sex hormones
All tissues
Kidneys
Gonads, skin, muscles, bones
Raises blood glucose level stimulate breakdown of protein
Reabsorb sodium and excrete potassium
Stimulate reproductive organs and bring about sex characteristics
Adrenal medulla
Epinephrine and norepinephrine
Cardiac and other muscles
Emergency situations; raise blood
glucose level
Pancreas
Insulin
Glucagon
Liver, muscles, adipose tissue
Liver, muscles, adipose tissue
Lowers blood glucose level; promotes formation of glycogen
Lowers blood glucose level
Gonads
Testes
Ovaries
Androgens (testosterone)
Estrogens and progesterone
Gonads, skin,
muscles, bones
Gonads, skin,
muscles, bones
Stimulate male secondary sex characteristics
Stimulate female sex characteristics
Thymus
Thymosins
T lymphocytes
Production and maturation of T lymphocytes
Pineal gland
Melatonin
Brain
Circadian and circannual rhythms;
possibly involved in maturation of sex organs.
Hypothalamus
This gland is present in the brain and produces releasing hormone and inhibitory hormone. Hypothalamus regulates the secretions of hormones from the pituitary gland.
Pituitary Gland
This gland is present just below the brain and secretes a number of hormones. One of the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland is growth hormone. This growth hormone controls the development of bones and muscles. A person having a deficiency of growth hormone becomes very short and the person having too much growth hormone becomes very tall.
Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is attached to the windpipe and makes a hormone called thyroxin which contains iodine. The function of this hormone is to control the rate of metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the body. The deficiency of iodine in the diet can cause a deficiency of thyroxin hormone in the body. This causes a disease called a goitre.
Parathyroid Gland
There are four parathyroid glands that are embedded in the thyroid gland. The parathyroid gland secretes a hormone called parathormone which helps to regulate calcium and phosphate levels in the blood.
Thymus Gland
This gland is present in the lower part of the neck and upper part of the chest. Thymus gland secretes thymus hormone which helps in the development of the immune system of the body.
Pancreas
This hormone is present just below the stomach and secretes a hormone called insulin. The function of insulin is to lower the blood sugar level. The deficiency of insulin hormone causes a disease called diabetes. A person having diabetes has large quantities of sugar in the blood.
Adrenal Glands
Adrenal glands are located at the top of two kidneys. These glands secrete an adrenal hormone that regulates heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and carbohydrate metabolism. This hormone is secreted in large amounts when the person is excited or frightened. This gland is also called glands of emergency.
Testes
This gland is present only in males and makes male sex hormones called testosterone. The testosterone controls the development of male sex organs and male features such as deeper voice, mustache, beard, etc.
Ovaries
This gland is present in females only and make a female sex hormone called oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen helps in controlling the development of female sex organs and female features such as feminine voice, soft skin, and mammary glands. The progesterone hormone controls the uterus changes in the menstrual cycle. It helps in the maintenance of pregnancy.
Feedback Mechanism
The excess or deficiency of hormones has a harmful effect on our bodies. So in order to control and regulate the production and release of hormones in the body, there is a feedback mechanism that is in-built in our body.
UNIT TEN
ANIMAL HORMONES
In the human body, the endocrine system consists of a network of glands and secretes hormones to regulate the functions of the body including growth and metabolism. When glands produce an incorrect amount of hormones, it results in endocrine diseases. Therefore, the endocrine system help the body to function properly by coordinating a range of bodily functions.
Hormones
These hormones help in coordinating the activities of living organisms and their growth. Following are the characteristics of hormones:
Endocrine Glands
A gland secretes a specific substance in the body. There are two types of glands. They are:
Exocrine glands are the glands that secrete their product into a duct. For example, the salivary gland secretes the saliva into the salivary duct.
Endocrine glands are the glands that secrete their product directly into the blood. There are no ducts in endocrine glands. The chemical substance secreted by endocrine glands is called hormone. These hormones travel through the blood and act on the concerned body part. Hormones are a kind of chemical messengers.
There are glands that have both exocrine and endocrine functions. Pancreas, testes, and ovaries perform both exocrine and endocrine functions. For example, the pancreas acts as an endocrine Pancreas is an endocrine gland and secretes insulin. It also acts as an exocrine gland and secretes pancreatic juice into the pancreatic duct.
Site of Secretion
The Endocrine System
The endocrine system also helps in coordinating the activities of our body. The endocrine glands present in our body are the pineal gland, hypothalamus gland, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, thymus, pancreas, adrenal gland, testes, and ovaries. The nervous system controls the working of endocrine glands. The hormones act as a messenger between the nervous system and organs of the body.
Hypothalamus and pituitary gland are main centres for the coordination of the nervous system and endocrine system. The hypothalamus helps in collecting information from the regions of the brain and from blood vessels passing through it. The information is then passed on to the pituitary gland which by its secretions regulates the activities of all other endocrine glands. In the human body, hormones help in growth, metabolic activities and reproduction.
Functions and Effects of Over Secretion or Under Secretion.
Oxytocin
Uterus, mammary glands
Stimulates uterine muscle contraction;release of milk by mammary glands
Adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) Gonadotropic (FSH, LH)
Prolactin (PRL)
Growth (GH)
Melanocyte-stimulating (MSH)
Adrenal cortex Gonads
Mammary glands
Soft tissues, bones Melanocytes in skin
Stimulates adrenal cortex
Egg and sperm production; sex hormone production
Milk production
Cell division, protein synthesis, and bone growth
Unknown function in humans; regulates skin color in lower vertebrates
Calcitonin
Bones, kidneys intestine,
Lowers blood calcium level
Mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)
Sex hormones
Kidneys
Gonads, skin, muscles, bones
Reabsorb sodium and excrete potassium
Stimulate reproductive organs and bring about sex characteristics
glucose level
Glucagon
Liver, muscles, adipose tissue
Lowers blood glucose level
Testes
Ovaries
Androgens (testosterone)
Estrogens and progesterone
Gonads, skin,
muscles, bones
Gonads, skin,
muscles, bones
Stimulate male secondary sex characteristics
Stimulate female sex characteristics
possibly involved in maturation of sex organs.
Hypothalamus
This gland is present in the brain and produces releasing hormone and inhibitory hormone. Hypothalamus regulates the secretions of hormones from the pituitary gland.
Pituitary Gland
This gland is present just below the brain and secretes a number of hormones. One of the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland is growth hormone. This growth hormone controls the development of bones and muscles. A person having a deficiency of growth hormone becomes very short and the person having too much growth hormone becomes very tall.
Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is attached to the windpipe and makes a hormone called thyroxin which contains iodine. The function of this hormone is to control the rate of metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the body. The deficiency of iodine in the diet can cause a deficiency of thyroxin hormone in the body. This causes a disease called a goitre.
Parathyroid Gland
There are four parathyroid glands that are embedded in the thyroid gland. The parathyroid gland secretes a hormone called parathormone which helps to regulate calcium and phosphate levels in the blood.
Thymus Gland
This gland is present in the lower part of the neck and upper part of the chest. Thymus gland secretes thymus hormone which helps in the development of the immune system of the body.
Pancreas
This hormone is present just below the stomach and secretes a hormone called insulin. The function of insulin is to lower the blood sugar level. The deficiency of insulin hormone causes a disease called diabetes. A person having diabetes has large quantities of sugar in the blood.
Adrenal Glands
Adrenal glands are located at the top of two kidneys. These glands secrete an adrenal hormone that regulates heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and carbohydrate metabolism. This hormone is secreted in large amounts when the person is excited or frightened. This gland is also called glands of emergency.
Testes
This gland is present only in males and makes male sex hormones called testosterone. The testosterone controls the development of male sex organs and male features such as deeper voice, mustache, beard, etc.
Ovaries
This gland is present in females only and make a female sex hormone called oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen helps in controlling the development of female sex organs and female features such as feminine voice, soft skin, and mammary glands. The progesterone hormone controls the uterus changes in the menstrual cycle. It helps in the maintenance of pregnancy.
Feedback Mechanism
The excess or deficiency of hormones has a harmful effect on our bodies. So in order to control and regulate the production and release of hormones in the body, there is a feedback mechanism that is in-built in our body.
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