The Glands of the Endocrine System 5 The Glands of the Endocrine System The endocrine system is vital in maintaining homeostasis in the human body. Each gland of the endocrine system produces and releases hormones that enter the blood stream and travels to specific target organs. It is critical for this system to function properly in order to live a full life. The endocrine systems hormones are the chemical messengers that control many systems of the body. These messengers control metabolism, growth, development, sexual function and reproduction (Boyleston, 1987). The hormones are released into the blood act in a slow and long lasting process. This enables the bodies’ chemical balance to be level over a long period of time. There are six major glands in the endocrine system. The pituitary gland is also called the master gland since its hormones influence other endocrine glands (Thibodeau, 2008). The pituitary gland is about the size of a pea that is divided into two separate glands. The adenohyepophysis gland secretes hormones that regulated the thyroid, adrenal and reproductive glands. It also secretes produces a growth hormone that influences bone and tissue growth and speeds up absorption of protein into the cells. Prolaction activates milk production in the breastfeeding women, thyrotrophic, which causes the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones and corticotrophin that causes the adrenal gland to produce its hormones(). The neurohupophysis or posterior pituitary gland releases two hormones, an antiduretic that controls water absorption and exytoxin to control contractions of the aterus and stimulate the breast to release milk (Thibedeau, 2008). The Glands of the Endocrine System 6 The hypothalamu... ... middle of paper ... ...proper response The Glands of the Endocrine System 10 from the nervous or endocrine system, or both in order to maintain homeostasis. By responding to conditions such as water, salt concentration, glucose level and temperature the hypothalamus directs the pituitary gland to release or not releasing (Boyleston, 1987). Works Cited The Glands of the Endocrine System 14 References Boylston, A., (1987), The endocrine system: miraculous messengers. New York: Torstar. Endocrine system … hormones, (2002, June), Monkeyshines on Health and Science, p20-21, 2p, Retrieved December 13, 2009, from http://www.web.ebscohost.com.kaplan.uah.edu/ehost Little, M., (1990), The endocrine system. New York: Chelsea. Thibodeau, G., Patton, K., (2008), Structure & function of the body. St. Louis; Elsevier. Young, J., (1994), Hormones molecular messengers. New York: Venture.
The location of the pituitary gland is in the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone and attaches to the hypothalamus(Marieb & Hoehn 441). The Hypothalamus is included in the function of the pituitary gland as it sends chemical stimulus to it(Marieb & Hoehn 442).Part of the pituitary is called the “ master endocrine gland” due to the fact that is produces many hormones that affect the whole body(Shannon 175).This part of the pituitary gland is called the anterior pituitary(Marieb & Hoehn 601). There are six hormones that the anterior pituitary secretes normally. These Hormones are growth hormones,thyroid stimulating hormones,adrenocorticotropic hormones,luteinizing hormones,follicle stimulating hormones and prolactin hormones( Shannon 175).The Hormone prolactin is one that in normal function stimulates the act of lactation for new mothers to feed their baby(Shannon 175).
The hypothalamus in the brain is above the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus releases corticotrophin (CHR) which is a chemical messenger. CHR stimulates the pituitary gland to release adrenal corticotrophin (ACTH). ACTH which is released into the blood then signals the adrenal gland. When the adrenal gland receives ACTH it is the chemical signal for cortisol production. In a normal system cortisol (an anti-inflammatory) production would st...
The anterior pituitary is an endocrine gland controlled by the hypothalamus in several different fashions. Releasing and release-inhibiting hormones are synthesized in the paraventricular, periventricular, and the supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. They control anterior pituitary hormone secretion. Paravocellular neurons in these nuclei send their axons into the tuberoinfundibular tract and terminate on a capillary bed of the superior hypophyseal arteries located around the base of the median eminence. A given paravocellular neuron may release one or more releasing factor into the capillaries that coalesce in six to ten small straight veins that form the hypophyseal-portal blood circulation which descends along the infundibular stalk and forms a second capillary plexus around the anterior pituitary. The releasing-hormones gain access to the five distinct types of target cells in the anterior pituitary back into the capillary bed that then drains into the systemic circulation and transports the hormones to peripheral target tissues. The target tissues are stimulated to produce final mediator-hormones that induce the physiologic...
When something changes in the inner environment it sends information to the receptor. The receptor sends information to the control center and then the control center sends instructions to the effector once the information is received from the control center it proceeds to either oppose or increase the stimulus. This process is designed to repeatedly work at restoring or maintaining homeostasis.
The physiological activity of different hormones depends on its concentration within the circulatory system. The effects of too high or too low a concentration can be damaging and this level must be controlled. The endocrine system relies on negative and positive feedback systems to regulate hormone production and secretion.
The hormones produced from the endocrine system come from a wide range of different places. Among those responsible for hormone production are the glands and a few organs as well. The glands that are involved are the pituitary, thyroid, thymus, parathyroid, and adrenal. The organs, which also play a vital part, are the pancreas, gonads, kidneys, heart, and parts of the digestive tract. All these different glands or organs work together in the production of certain hormones. Those produced in one location will almost always have an effect on many other areas of the body, not just the surrounding tissues.
To maintain homeostasis in the body, it requires all the body systems work together, while the nervous and endocrine systems play the most important role. The nervous system reacts quickly to external and internal stimuli, whereas the endocrine system is slower to act but its effe...
Endocrinology can be defined as the study of the structure and function of the endocrine system (Tortora & Grabowski 1996). The endocrine system is composed cells, known as endocrine cells, which are distributed around the body and produce the chemical messengers known as hormones. Following secretion by endocrine cells, hormones travel in the blood where they affect tissues outside of their tissue of origin - and are therefore a form of cellular communication. In multicellular organisms, such as humans, cellular communication is essential for a number of body processes and the maintenance of homeostasis (Campbell, N.A. et al. 2015). In this essay, I am going to outline some of a number of body
The hormones produced by these organs are released directly into your bloodstream. These chemical messengers travel throughout your body and help regulate the activities of other organ systems. Many hormones, such as insulin from your pancreas and thyroxine from your thyroid gland, are essential for life.” (study.com-Dec 2014)
The general function of the endocrine system is gland based to produce hormones that help with metabolism, growth, tissues, and reproduction. The structure between the nervous system and endocrine system are very similar the basics of both systems involve triggering glands throughout the body from receptors. The function on the other hand is a little different because the nervous system makes a fast response through specific glands and muscles. While the endocrine system is more widespread it also works at a slower pace.
Release of cortisol occurs as response to a set of chain reactions. Stress stimulus activates the nervous system which in turn stimulates the tropic hormone CRH in the hypothalamus. CRH stimulates the pituitary secretion of the hormone ACTH, which travels in the bloodstream to the adrenal cortex and stimulates the secretion of cortisol. When the concentration of cortisol in the blood reaches a certain level, CRH in the hypothalamus is inhibited, which in turn inhibits the secretion of ACTH in the pituitary gland, thus shutting off the secretion of cortisol.
The endocrine system interacts with the nervous system to coordinate and integrate the activity of body cells. Unlike the nervous system, which sends signals chemically and electrically, the endocrine system sends signals only via chemical stimulants called hormones. These hormones are secreted by the cells into any extracellular fluids, which then travel through the blood to regulate any metabolic activity. Hormones have a diverse and widespread affect like controlling reproduction, growth, development, maintaining nutrient balance in the blood, regulating cellular metabolism and mobilizing the body defenses (Marieb et al 2013). In dealing with growth and development, the thyroid gland is always under consideration. The thyroid gland is the largest endocrine gland in the body that produces thyroid hormones that consist of two iodine-containing hormones called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyroxine (T3) (Marieb et al 2013). Thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH) are a tropic hormone that stimulates normal development and secretory activity of the thyroid gland. Thyrotropin-releasing hormones (TRH) are hypothalmic peptides that trigger the release of TSH from thyrotropic cells to different organs to help maintain the body’s metabolic state (Marieb et al 2013). Thyroid function has been known as a major contributor to the basal metabolic rate (O’Malley et al 2000). According to Longhi and Radetti, body composition and thyroid hormones are two components that are closely related. The hormones are involved in regulation of metabolism and thermogenesis, which plays a key role in lipid and glucose metabolism along with digestion of food and fat oxidation (Longhi et al 2013).
The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system, and it is controlled by the pituitary which is known as the “master gland” of the endocrine system. The pituitary controls the thyroid by producing Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which stimulates the production of thyroid hormones. . The thyroid gland secretes two main hormones: Thyroxine (T4) and Tri-Iodothyronine (T3). These hormones increase metabolic rate, heat production, oxygen consumption, appetite, growth hormone secretion, alertness and quicker reflexes. The thyroid gland is located in the anterior portion of the neck, beneath the Adam’s apple. It is divided in two lobes on either side of the windpipe: right lobe and left lobe. These lobes create what looks like a butterfly shape. The gland is essential to the contribution of maintaining the homeostasis of the body. It plays a role in monitoring the body’s expenditure of energy and running the body’s metabolism.
Each gland of the endocrine system is responsible for the releasing of different hormones, and those hormones trigger different activities in different places of the body. Hypothalamus, pineal body, anterior and posterior pituitary glands, adrenal gland, and thyroid gland are the main glands of the endocrine system while there are some other associated glands, as well. The endocrine system is known to be as the chemical information system. Some of the main functions of this system have to do with growth and development, metabolism, tissue function, sexual function, mood swings,
...culatory system. Pituitary gland is a growth hormone that helps in mertabolism and develops reproductive organs. The thyroid controls metabolsim on the rate that the body breaks down food. Adrenal gland secretes many hormones including adrenaline which prepares the body to react in a stressful situation. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes and insulin. Ovaries produce ova and estrogen. Testes produce sperm cells and testosterone. To stay healthy you should get a regular medical check-up, eat a well-balanced diet, sleep at least 8 hours, and decrease stress in your life. Some problems are growth disorders, diabetes, and obesity. Puberty begins at different times for girls then boys. Girls start around ages 9-13 and boys are ages 10-15.