Endocrine System

HUMAN ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
IMPORTANT POINTS
1) Hormone definition- Hormones are specialized chemical messengers which

are secreted by specific endocrine gland cells in response to certain stimuli
and are carried by blood to the target sites where they alter cell activity.
They are effective in low concentrations.
2) The endocrine system integrates several functions like digestion and
absorption of food, circulation of blood, organic metabolism, energy
balance, reproduction, and response to stress and so on.
3) A gland may have both exocrine and endocrine cells. Such a gland is called
Heterocrine glands or mixed gland. Eg- Pancreas.
4) The same hormone can be secreted by different glands. eg- Somatostatin is
secreted by Hypothalamus and Pancreas, Estrogen is secreted by both
ovaries and Placenta.
5) A Hormone can have more than one function, hence they are said to be
diverse in nature.
6) Hormones always act on specific cells called target cells.
7) Hormones can chemically be – a) peptides- ADH, Oxytocin, TRH, Glucagon.
b) Proteins- Insulin, growth hormone. Luteinizing hormone, follicle-
stimulating hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone are examples of
glycoprotein hormones.
c) Amino acid derivatives- Thyroxin, melatonin
d) Steroids- Progesterone, Estrogen, Testosterone.
8) Peptide and protein hormones, when given internally are given
intravenously and not orally as they will be digested and absorbed by the
alimentary tract, hence will not show any action.
9) Protein and peptide hormones have specific receptors on target cells.
10) Steroid hormones generally show their effect on the entire body
metabolism as cell membrane being lipo-protein in nature is permeable to
steroid hormones.
11) All endocrine glands have very good blood supply.
12) If all the endocrine glands are observed, the most striking feature seen is
that organs lack anatomical continuity with each other but form a system in
functional sense.
13) This is possible by the secretion of tropic hormones. Tropic hormones
are hormones secreted by certain endocrine glands which stimulate other
endocrine glands to secrete their hormones.
14) The link between the nervous system and endocrine system is the
hypothalamus which indirectly controls the entire endocrine system as it
controls the secretion of the pituitary gland.
15) The neurotransmitters released by hypothalamus do not function as
neurotransmitters but are released into the blood stream which carries
them to pituitary. Such hormones are called neurohormones.
16) All inter-relationships between the Nervous system and Endocrine
system form the area of study known as neuro-endocrinology.
17) PITUITARY GLAND- in human beings is composed of 2 lobes , the
anterior and posterior pituitary lobes. It is connected to the hypothalamus
by a stalk of nerve fibres and blood vessels.
18) HYPOTHALAMUS AND POSTERIOR PITUITARY LOBE- the posterior
pituitary lobe is actually an outgrowth of the hypothalamus. Two peptide
hormones, ADH and Oxytocin are released by hypothalamic neurons and
are stored in the posterior pituitary. They are then released from posterior
pituitary in response to an appropriate stimulus.
19) HYPOTHALAMUS AND ANTERIOR PITUITARY LOBE- there exists a
capillary-to-capillary connection i.e a portal vein connection between
anterior pituitary lobe and hypothalamus called the Hypothalamo-pituitary
portal vessel. The Hypothalamus releases specific tropic hormones called
RELEASING HORMONES that stimulate anterior pituitary lobe to secrete its
specific hormones.
20) With advancing age, the thyroid gland slows down and Basal
Metabolism lowered thus body heat production is also lowered. This is the
reason why older people feel colder than the young.
21) FEED BACK MECHANISM- it is generally observed that the product of a
series of reactions controls its own production by turning off the pathway
when its i.e. the product’s concentration reaches a certain level, thus having
a negative effect on its own synthesis. This is termed as NEGATIVE FEED
BACK MECHANISM. This is commonly seen in hormones sequences initiated
by hypothalamic releasing hormones where the final product i.e. the
hormone exerts a negative feedback on the hypothalamic- pituitary system.
22) The product may have a positive effect when there is too little of it.
Then the product stimulates its own production. This is termed positive
feedback mechanism.
23) LOCATION OF MAJOR ENDOCRINE GLANDS IN THE BODY
ENDOCRINE GLAND LOCATION
Pituitary gland Pea-sized gland lies in the pocket of
the bone just below the
hypothalamus, at the base of the
brain.
Thyroid gland Two-lobed butterfly shaped gland
situated in front, just below the
Larynx in the neck region.
Parathyroid glands* 2 small pairs of glands embedded in
the thyroid gland.
Pancreas Lies transversely across the posterior
abdominal wall just behind the
stomach.
Adrenal glands Fitted like caps on top of each
kidney.
Ovaries
Testes
 Note- Parathyroid glands secrete the hormone- Parathormone that
promotes movement of Calcium ions from the bones to blood. Its over-
secretion leads to depletion of Calcium and Phosphorus from the bones
making them soft. It’s under- secretion causes extra calcium to be
deposited in the bones, making them thick and brittle. Hypo-secretion
results in a condition called tetany, characterized by twitching and
convulsions due to contraction of groups of muscles.

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HUMAN ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

1) Hormone definition- Hormones are specialized chemical messengers which

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