Download The Endocrine System

The Endocrine
System
BY: PARSA KARIMI , DANNY KIM AND AARON MOREHOUSE
What Is The Endocrine System?

Made up of glands found throughout the body

Regulates the body’s activities using glandular secretion
(Substances released by glands)

Chemicals called hormones spread messages through the body to
influence moods, development, growth, and metabolism

The body processes hormones slower than to nerve impulses but the
result is more long term.
What Is It Made Up Of?

The endocrine system is made up of a series of glands that produce
hormones. These glands are:

Hypothalamus
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Pituitary gland

Thyroid

Parathyroid
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Adrenal glands
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Pineal gland
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Reproductive glands (which include the ovaries and testicals)
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Pancreas
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Thymus
Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is the gland in the body that helps regulate things
like thirst, hunger, sleep and sex drive

Although the hypothalamus gland is small in size, it s quite essential
to the endocrine system by controlling behaviors

The main function of the hypothalamus is homeostasis which is to
maintain the body’s status quo

The hypothalamus is also important in regulating electrolyte and
fluid balance, body temperature, blood pressure and body weight
Pineal Gland

The pineal gland is located in the middle of the brain.

It Produces melatonin, which helps to regulate reproductive
hormones

Although this organ is as small as a grain of rice, it is an important
part of the endocrine system since it determines the body’s
hormone levels, stress levels, and physical performance
Pituitary Gland

Considered the most important part of the system because it
produces hormones that control many other glands in the system.

The Pituitary gland is located in a hollow bony section behind the
bridge of the nose and under the base of the brain.

Produces hormones like the growth and puberty hormones

Common issues with the pituitary gland are tumors that cause the
gland to produce too many hormones or it blocks the hormones
leading to a lack of hormones.
Parathyroid Gland

The parathyroid glands are small pea-sized glands located in the
neck on the back side of the thyroid gland.

They produce a hormone called parathyroid hormone which
regulates calcium levels in the blood.

They are important in controlling calcium levels in the bloodstream.
Due to this, calcium levels are generally very stable.

Keeping the calcium level stable is important to make sure the
nervous system and the body’s muscles can work properly, and also
that bones remain strong.
Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is the biggest gland in the neck.

It is a butterfly shaped gland with a main function to produce the
thyroid hormone.

This hormone effects cellular activity in nearly all tissues of the body.

Therefore, the main function of the thyroid, is to regulate the body's
metabolism.
Thymus Gland

Thymus gland is located between you lungs. It is only active until
puberty. After puberty it slowly shrinks and becomes replaced by
fat.

Protects your body against autoimmunity, which occurs when the
immune system fights itself.

The thymus gland produces a certain type of cell that fights against
viruses and infection early in life, T- Cells

These T- Cells migrate through the body after being developed, but
can become cancerous resulting in Hodgkin disease or nonHodgkin lymphomas
Adrenal Gland

Adrenal glands are small glands located on top of each kidney

Each adrenal gland is made up of two distinct parts: the outer part
called the adrenal cortex and the inner adrenal medulla

The adrenal glands secrete different hormones which act as
‘chemical messengers’. These hormones travel in the bloodstream
and act of certain tissues

Adrenal glands produces steroid hormone that regulate metabolism
of glucose, sodium, potassium, and maintain fluid balance
Pancreas

The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen.

Its role is to change the food we eat into fuel for the body's cells.

The pancreas has two main functions. These functions are: an
exocrine function that helps with digesting food, and an endocrine
function that helps to regulate our blood sugar.
Ovaries (female)

The ovaries are small almond size glands located on either sides of
the uterus.

They produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone

Estrogen is involved in female development and growth. It is the
hormone that develops breasts, distributes fat to the legs, hips, and
breasts and develops the reproductive organs.

Progesterone and estrogen are essential in the menstruation cycle
by regulating the cycle.

Progesterone also is important in the preparation of pregnancy. It
thickens uterine lining, which disappears when a woman is not
pregnant.
Ovaries
Testicles (Male)

The testicles are two oval shaped glands, which sit behind the penis
in a pouch of skin called the scrotum
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They produce sperm and testosterone

Testosterone is necessary for proper physical development for males

In men, testosterone regulates a number of functions other than
sperm production including
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Sex drive, Bone mass, Fat distribution, and Muscle size
Common Disorders

There are several disorders that can arise within the endocrine
system. A few well known or common disorders are:
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- Acromegaly
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- Addison's Disease
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- Adrenal Cancer
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- Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
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- Cushing's Syndrome
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- De Quervain's Thyroiditis
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- Diabetes
Acromegaly
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Acromegaly occurs when the pituitary gland produces too many
growth hormones.

The effects are growth in bones, which affect the hands, feet and
face. Most patients are middle aged.

When this occurs in children who are still growing, It causes a
disorder called gigantism which is a large increase in height.

Symptoms are very subtle, such as slow enlargement in feet and
hands. Patients who have this disorder report that they find in
difficult to put on rings and their shoes.
Addison's Disease

Addison’s Disease occurs when the adrenal glands fail to produce
enough cortisol and aldosterone.
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Cortisol is a hormone responsible for balancing the stress levels and
dealing with many changes in the body.

Aldosterone is a hormone that helps to regulate the sodium and
potassium levels in the blood which helps regulate blood pressure
and the balance of electrolytes in blood.

Treatments are available in two ways: Oral corticosteroids and
corticosteroid injections which are synthetic hormones normally
produced in the adrenal glands.
Adrenal Cancer

Adrenal Cancer is a rare but aggressive disease in which malignant
cells form in the outer layer of the adrenal gland.
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Some of the symptoms include, having a lump in the abdomen,
pain in the abdomen or the back, or a feeling of fullness the
abdomen.
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It may be cured if treated at an early stage.

Imaging studies and tests such as the Magnetic Resonance
Imaging, and low or high dose dexamethasone suppression test the
blood and urine are used to find and locate the disease.
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
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This is the most violent and rare case of thyroid cancer because it
does not respond to cancer treatments.
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Only 1% of all thyroid cancers are reported to be Anaplastic.
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Most patients that are diagnosed do not live past one year of being
having it.
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Common symptoms are a large mass on the neck that grows very
quickly and is hard. This is a tumor.
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It is most common in males over the age of 65.
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It usually requires very aggressive treatment plans including surgery,
radiation, and sometimes even chemotherapy.
Cushing's Syndrome
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Cushing’s Syndrome is like the opposite of Addison’s Disease.
Instead of the body producing too little cortisol, it produces too
much.

Some effects of Cushing’s Syndrome are a fatty lump between the
shoulders, a rounded face or pink or purple stretch marks on the
skin.

Treatments for Cushing’s Syndrome will bring your cortisol levels back
to normal and noticeably improve the symptoms. The sooner
treatment is taken, the better the chances of full recovery.
De Quervain's Thyroiditis

De Quervain's thyroiditis is a painful swelling of the thyroid gland that
is thought to be caused by a viral infection, such as the flu.

It usually causes a fever, and pain in the neck, jaw or ear. Some of
the other symptoms are anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations.

It's most commonly seen in females aged 20 to 50, but can also be
seen in males as well.

Very rarely, the condition might reoccur. It can be permanent and
may require long term treatment with thyroid hormone replacement
medication
Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin or
the cells do not react well with insulin. Sometimes even both.

Insulin is hormone produced by the pancreas to help turn sugars in
food into energy. Insulin also helps keep your blood sugar regulated.

Type 1 diabetes is when the body doesn’t produce insulin. Most
patience develop this disorder before the age of 40. People who
have this will need to take insulin injections their whole lives.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough
insulin or the body’s cells do not react to insulin. It can be helped by
eating a healthy diet and losing weight, but most often it gets worse
and the patient needs to take insulin.
Interesting Facts
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Plants produce hormones without an endocrine system
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Stress makes the endocrine system work harder
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Alcohol can have very negative effects on the endocrine system

Traditional Chinese healers practiced endocrinology over 2000
years ago
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The endocrine system is sometimes at fault for osteoporosis

Not all hormones come from the endocrine system
References
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http://m.livescience.com/40386-endocrine-system-surprising-facts.html
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http://sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/alcohol/ebook/pages/endocrinesystem.htm

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/tips-for-taking-care-of-yourendocrine-system/

http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions

http://www.cushings-help.com/images/endocrine.jpg
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http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/endocrine.html
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http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-the-Hypothalamus.aspx

http://columbiasurgery.org/pancreas/pancreas-and-its-functions

http://haileyzebrasome.weebly.com/fun-facts.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVrlHH14q3o
References 2
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http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2diabetes/basics/treatment/con-20031902

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1diabetes/basics/definition/con-20019573

http://www.newhealthguide.org/images/10448534/image001.jpg
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http://www.pituitary.org.uk/information/what-is-the-pituitary-gland/

http://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-thymus

http://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-ovaries

http://images.wisegeek.com/uterus-and-ovaries.jpg

http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/your-thyroid-gland

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_endocrine_system/article_
em.htm

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/endocrine.html#
References 3
http://columbiasurgery.org/pancreas/pancreas-and-its-functions
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Illu_adrenal_gland.jpg
http://www.downsyndrometreatment.net/uploads/6/0/5/5/6055321/979790.png?18
8
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Illu_testis_1b.jpg
http://www.yourhormones.info/glands/adrenal_glands.aspx
http://www.jctonic.com/email/SOS_02_21_2004/images/h5550931[1].jpg
http://www.yourhormones.info/Glands/Parathyroid_glands.aspx
https://www.adrenalfatigue.org/cortisol-adrenal-function
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/aldosterone
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/addisons-disease/diagnosistreatment/treatment/txc-20156064
References 4
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http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cushingsyndrome/basics/definition/con-20032115
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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/
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http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/type-1-diabetes/what-insulin
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http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid-cancer/thyroid-canceranaplastic-cancer

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/acromegaly/basics/symptoms/con-20019216

http://www.yourhormones.info/glands/testes.aspx

http://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-testes

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/acromegaly/basics/definition/con-20019216

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/276013.php

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/thyroiditis/Pages/Introduction.aspx#deQuervain
References 5

http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/thyroiditis#De_Quer
vain_s_Thyroiditis_
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http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/adrenal-cancer/diseasesadrenal-cortex-adrenal-cancer

http://www.cancer.gov/types/adrenocortical/patient/adrenocorticaltreatment-pdq

http://theheartysoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/02.jpg
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http://www.daviddarling.info/images/hypothalamus.gif
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http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/hypothalamus

http://www.yourhormones.info/Glands/Pineal_gland.aspx

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/everything-youwanted-to-know-about-the-pineal-gland/