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Information about Endocrine

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Major endocrine glands. (Male left, female on the right.) 1. Pineal gland 2. Pituitary gland 3. Thyroid gland 4. Thymus 5. Adrenal gland 6. Pancreas 7. Ovary 8. Testes


The endocrine system is an integrated system of small organs which involve the release of extracellular signaling molecules known as hormones. The endocrine system is instrumental in regulating metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, and plays a part also in mood.[1] The field of medicine that deals with disorders of endocrine glands is endocrinology, a branch of the wider field of internal medicine.

Function of the Endocrine System

The endocrine system is an information signal system much like the nervous system. However, the nervous system uses nerves to conduct information, whereas the endocrine system uses blood vessels as information channels. Glands located in many regions of the body release into the bloodstream specific chemical messengers called hormones, which regulate the many and varied functions of an organism. The typical endocrine organ is a ductless gland that secretes chemical mediators directly into local blood vessels which circulate within the body via the bloodstream. These hormones travel to distant organs to regulate the target organ's function. This is classical endocrine signalling. Other signalling can target the same cell (known as Autocrine signalling) or nearby cells (known as Paracrine signalling). Hormones are also instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, and metabolism, as well as sending messages and acting on them. A number of glands which signal each other in sequence is usually referred to as an axis, for example the Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Typical endocrine glands are the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands. Features of endocrine glands are typically their ductless nature, their vascularity and usually the presence of intracellular vacuoles or granules storing their hormones. In contrast exocrine glands such as salivary glands, sweat glands and glands within the gastrointestinal tract tend to be much less vascular and have ducts or a hollow lumen.

Role in disease

Main article: Endocrine diseases
Diseases of the endocrine system are common,[2] including diseases such as diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease and obesity. Endocrine disease is characterised by dysregulated hormone release (a productive Pituitary adenoma), inappropriate response to signalling (Hypothyroidism), lack or destruction of a gland (Diabetes mellitus type 1, diminished erythropoiesis in Chronic renal failure) or structural enlargement in a critical site such as the neck (Toxic multinodular goitre). Hypofunction of endocrine glands can occur as result of loss of reserve, hyposecretion, agenesis, atrophy or active destruction. Hyperfunction can occur as result of hypersecretion, loss of suppression, hyperplastic or neoplastic change, or hyperstimulation.

Endocrinopathies are classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary. Primary endocrine , or inhibits the action of downstream glands. Tertiary endocrine disease is associated with dysfunction of the hypothalamus and its releasing hormones.

Cancer can occur in endocrine glands, such as the thyroid, and hormones have been implicated in signalling distant tissues to proliferate, for example the Estrogen receptor has been shown to be involved in certain breast cancers. Endocrine, Paracrine and autocrine signalling have all been implicated in proliferation, one of the required steps of oncogenesis.[3]

Endocrine glands and the hormones secreted

See also

Links

References

1. ^ Collier, Judith. et.al (2006). Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties 7th edn.. Oxford, 350 -351. ISBN 0-19-853085-4.Oxford&rft.pages=350%20-351&rft.isbn=0-19-853085-4"> 
2. ^ Kasper et al. (2005). Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. McGraw Hill, 2074. ISBN 0-07-139140-1. 
3. ^ Bhowmick NA, Chytil A, Neilson EG, Moses HL (2004). "TGF-beta signaling in fibroblasts modulates the oncogenic potential of adjacent epithelia.". Science Feb 6 303(5659): 848-51. 


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Human organ systems
Cardiovascular system • Digestive system • Endocrine system • Immune system • Integumentary system • Lymphatic system • Muscular system • Nervous system • Reproductive system • Respiratory system • Skeletal system • Urinary system
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Human anatomy, endocrine system: endocrine glands
Hypothalamic/pituitary axesAdrenal axis (Adrenal gland) • Thyroid axis (Thyroid gland, Parathyroid gland) • Gonadal axis (Testes, Ovaries, Corpus luteum)
OtherPineal gland • Islets of pancreas
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Endocrine system: hormones/endocrine glands (Peptide hormones, Steroid hormones)
Hypothalamic-pituitary Hypothalamus: TRH, CRH , GnRH, GHRH, somatostatin, dopamine - Posterior pituitary: vasopressin, oxytocin - Anterior pituitary: α (FSH, LH, TSH), GH, prolactin, POMC (ACTH, MSH, endorphins, lipotropin)
Adrenal axis Adrenal medulla: epinephrine, norepinephrine - Adrenal cortex: aldosterone, cortisol, DHEA
Thyroid axis Thyroid: thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) - calcitonin - Parathyroid: PTH
Gonadal axisTestis: testosterone, AMH, inhibin - Ovary: estradiol, progesterone, inhibin/activin, relaxin (pregnancy)
Other end. glands Pancreas: glucagon, insulin, somatostatin - Pineal gland: melatonin
Non-end. glands Placenta: hCG, HPL, estrogen, progesterone - Kidney: renin, EPO, calcitriol, prostaglandin - Heart atrium: ANP - Stomach: gastrin, ghrelin - Duodenum: CCK, GIP, secretin, motilin, VIP - Ileum: enteroglucagon - Adipose tissue: leptin, adiponectin, resistin - Thymus: Thymosin - Thymopoietin - Liver/other: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1, IGF-2)
Target-derivedNGF, BDNF, NT-3
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Metabolic pathology (, )
Amino acidAromatic (Phenylketonuria, Alkaptonuria, Ochronosis, Tyrosinemia, Albinism, Histidinemia) - Branched chain (Maple syrup urine disease, Propionic acidemia, Methylmalonic acidemia, Isovaleric acidemia, 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency) - Transport (Cystinuria, Cystinosis, Hartnup disease, Fanconi syndrome) - Sulfur (Homocystinuria, Cystathioninuria) - Urea cycle disorder (N-Acetylglutamate synthase deficiency, Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I deficiency, Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, Citrullinemia, Argininosuccinic aciduria, Hyperammonemia) - Glutaric acidemia type 1 - Sarcosinemia
CarbohydrateLactose intolerance - Glycogen storage disease (type I, type II, type III, type IV, type V, type VI, type VII) - fructose metabolism (Fructose intolerance, Fructose bisphosphatase deficiency, Essential fructosuria) - galactose metabolism (Galactosemia, Galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase galactosemia, Galactokinase deficiency) - other intestinal carbohydrate absorption (Glucose-galactose malabsorption, Sucrose intolerance) - pyruvate metabolism and gluconeogenesis (PCD, PDHA) - Pentosuria - Renal glycosuria
Lipid storageSphingolipidoses/Gangliosidoses: GM2 gangliosidoses (Sandhoff disease, Tay-Sachs disease) - GM1 gangliosidoses - Mucolipidosis type IV - Gaucher's disease - Niemann-Pick disease - Farber disease - Fabry's disease - Metachromatic leukodystrophy - Krabbe disease
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Batten disease) - Cerebrotendineous xanthomatosis - Cholesteryl ester storage disease (Wolman disease)
Other lipidLipoprotein/lipidemias: Hyperlipidemia - Hypercholesterolemia - Familial hypercholesterolemia - Xanthoma - Combined hyperlipidemia - Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency - Tangier disease - Abetalipoproteinemia
Fatty acid: Adrenoleukodystrophy - Carnitine (Primary, I, II)
MineralCu Wilson's disease/Menkes disease - Fe Haemochromatosis - Zn Acrodermatitis enteropathica - PO43− Hypophosphatemia/Hypophosphatasia - Mg2+ Hypermagnesemia/Hypomagnesemia - Ca2+ Hypercalcaemia/Hypocalcaemia/Disorders of calcium metabolism
Fluid, electrolyte
and acid-base balance		Electrolyte disturbance - Na+ Hypernatremia/Hyponatremia - Acidosis (Metabolic, Respiratory, Lactic) - Alkalosis (Metabolic, Respiratory) - Mixed disorder of acid-base balance - H2O Dehydration/Hypervolemia - K+ Hypokalemia/Hyperkalemia - Cl− Hyperchloremia/Hypochloremia
Purine and pyrimidineHyperuricemia - Lesch-Nyhan syndrome - Xanthinuria
PorphyrinAcute intermittent, Gunther's, Cutanea tarda, Erythropoietic, Hepatoerythropoietic, Hereditary copro-, Variegate
BilirubinUnconjugated (Gilbert's syndrome, Crigler-Najjar syndrome) - Conjugated (Dubin-Johnson syndrome, Rotor syndrome)
GlycosaminoglycanMucopolysaccharidosis - 1:Hurler/Hunter - 3:Sanfilippo - 4:Morquio - 6:Maroteaux-Lamy - 7:Sly
GlycoproteinMucolipidosis - I-cell disease - Pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy - Aspartylglucosaminuria - Fucosidosis - Alpha-mannosidosis - Sialidosis
OtherAlpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency - Cystic fibrosis - Amyloidosis (Familial Mediterranean fever) - Acatalasia
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Cell physiology: cell signaling
Key conceptsLigand - Cell signaling networks - Signal transduction - Apoptosis - Second messenger system (Ca2+ signaling, Lipid signaling)
ProcessesParacrine - Autocrine - Juxtacrine - Neurotransmitters - Endocrine (Neuroendocrine)
Types of proteinsReceptor (Transmembrane, Intracellular) - Transcription factor (General, Preinitiation complex, TFIID, TFIIH) - Adaptor protein
hormone (from Greek όρμή - "to set in motion") is a chemical messenger that carries a signal from one cell (or group of cells) to another. All multicellular organisms produce hormones (including plants - see phytohormone).
..... Click the link for more information.
Metabolism is the complete set of chemical reactions that occur in living cells. These processes are the basis of life, allowing cells to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories.
..... Click the link for more information.
prepubescence) (4-10)
  • Elementary school age (also called middle childhood) (4-9)
  • Preadolescence (preteen, or late childhood.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    • Biological tissue is a collection of interconnected cells that perform a similar function within an organism.

    The study of tissue is known as histology, or, in connection with disease, histopathology.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Mood may refer to:
    • Mood (psychology)
    • Mood (borough of Birjand City)
    • Mood (hip hop crew), hip hop artists
    • Grammatical mood

    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Medicine is the science and "" of maintaining and/or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. The term is derived from the Latin ars medicina meaning the art of healing.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Endocrinology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the endocrine system and its specific secretions called hormones.

    Function of endocrine organs, hormones and receptors

    Hormones are molecules that act as signals from one type of cells to another.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Internal medicine is the branch and specialty of medicine concerning the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases in adults, especially of internal organs. Doctors of internal medicine
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Ductless glands are glands that secrete their product directly onto a surface rather than through a duct. Examples are the goblet cells in the epithelial surface of the digestive, respiratory, urinary and reproductive systems.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Blood is a specialized biological fluid consisting of red blood cells (also called RBCs or erythrocytes), white blood cells (also called leukocytes) and platelets (also called thrombocytes) suspended in a complex fluid medium known as blood plasma.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Autocrine signalling is a form of hormonal signalling in which a cell secretes a hormone, or chemical messenger (called the autocrine agent) that binds to autocrine receptors on the same cell, leading to changes in the cell.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Paracrine signaling is a form of cell signaling in which the target cell is close to ("para" = alongside of or next to, but this strict prefix definition is not meticulously followed here) the signal releasing cell.

    The signal chemical is called the paracrine agent.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Mood may refer to:
    • Mood (psychology)
    • Mood (borough of Birjand City)
    • Mood (hip hop crew), hip hop artists
    • Grammatical mood

    ..... Click the link for more information.
    prepubescence) (4-10)
  • Elementary school age (also called middle childhood) (4-9)
  • Preadolescence (preteen, or late childhood.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    • Biological tissue is a collection of interconnected cells that perform a similar function within an organism.

    The study of tissue is known as histology, or, in connection with disease, histopathology.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Metabolism is the complete set of chemical reactions that occur in living cells. These processes are the basis of life, allowing cells to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) is a complex set of direct influences and feedback interactions between: the hypothalamus, a hollow, funnel-shaped part of the brain; the pituitary gland, a pea-shaped structure located below the hypothalamus; and the
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    The pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea that sits in a small, bony cavity (sella turcica) covered by a dural fold (sellar diaphragm) at the base of the brain.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    For other uses, see Thyroid cartilage.


    The thyroid is one of the largest endocrine glands in the body. This gland is found in the neck just below the laryngeal prominence.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    In mammals, the adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are the triangle-shaped endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys; their name indicates that position (ad-, "near" or "at" + -renes, "kidneys").
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Exocrine glands are glands that secrete their products (enzymes) into ducts (duct glands). They are the counterparts to endocrine glands, which secrete their products (hormones) directly into the bloodstream (ductless glands).
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    The salivary glands in mammals are exocrine glands that produce saliva. In other taxa such as insects, salivary glands are often used to produce biologically important proteins such as silk or glues.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    In humans, there are four kinds of sudoriferous or sweat glands which differ greatly in both the composition of the sweat and its purpose.
    • eccrine glands - sweat (normal sweat used in temperature control)
    • apocrine glands - sweat,fats,proteins (slightly more viscous sweat)

    ..... Click the link for more information.
    gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones, often into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland).
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), also called the digestive tract, or the alimentary canal, is the system of organs within multicellular animals that takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    A lumen (pl. lumina) is an inner space, lining or cavity.
    • The interior of a vessel within the body, such as the small central space in an artery or vein, or any of their relating vessels through which blood flows.

    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Among the hundreds of endocrine diseases (or endocrinological diseases) are:
    • Adrenal disorders:
    • Adrenal insufficiency
    • Addison's disease

    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Among the hundreds of endocrine diseases (or endocrinological diseases) are:
    • Adrenal disorders:
    • Adrenal insufficiency
    • Addison's disease

    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Diabetes mellitus
    Classification & external resources

    ICD-10 E 10. –E 14.
    ICD-9 250

    MedlinePlus 001214
    eMedicine med/546   emerg/134

    MeSH C18.452.394.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    For other uses, see Thyroid cartilage.


    The thyroid is one of the largest endocrine glands in the body. This gland is found in the neck just below the laryngeal prominence.
    ..... Click the link for more information.


    This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia created and edited by online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of the wikipedia encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.
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