Endocrine

System

By:

Sheravia Bryant

Victoria Brown

PURPOSE

• Produces and releases different types of hormones to maintain

and control a number of functions throughout the body such as:

• Growth and development

• Metabolism

• tissue function

• The main purpose is extracellular communication

HORMONES

• Vasopressin – helps to maintain blood pressure and monitor

electrolyte balance

• Growth Hormone (GH) – stimulates growth during childhood and

also cell reproduction which helps adults maintain muscle and

bone mass

• Calcitonin – aides in bone construction

• Insulin – regulates glucose by bringing blood into cells

• Adrenaline – Also called the “Fight or flight instinct”;

• Noradrenaline – works with Adrenaline to help the endocrine

system produce the fight or flight response

HORMONES CONT.

• Androgen – stimulates or controls the development and

maintenance of male characteristics in vertebrates; main male

sex hormone

• Estrogen – crucial for woman’s health; main female sex

hormone

Fact:

Everybody, male and female, have both androgens and estrogen,

only the amount varies by sex.

CUSHING’S SYNDROME

• A condition when the pituitary gland releases too much

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

• Usually caused by a tumor, excess growth (hyperplasia) of the

pituitary gland or ACTH hormone medications

• Tumors are usually located at the base of the brain

CUSHING’S SYNDROME

• Signs –

• Seizures

• Anxiety

• Short term memory loss

• High Cortisol levels

• Symptoms –

• Upper body obesity

• Purple marks (1/2 inch or more wide), called strae, on the skin of the abdomen, thighs, and chest

• Thin skin with easy bruising

• Severe fatigue

CUSHING’S SYNDROME

• Prognosis –

• It greatly depends on the cause of the disease

• Most cases can be cured

• Who’s at risk?

• Affects women five times more frequently than men and most commonly occurs between 25-40 years of age

• Facts –

• It is relatively rare, affecting only about 2 people per million per year

CUSHING’S SYNDROME

• Diagnosis –

• based on a review of the patient's medical history, physical

examination and laboratory tests

• X-rays of adrenal or pituitary gland to look for tumors

• 24 hour Urinary Free Cortisol Level (in adults levels higher

than 50-100 micrograms suggest Cushing’s)

CUSHING’S SYNDROME

• Treatment –

• depends on the specific reason for Cortisol excess

• May include radiation, chemotherapy, the use of Cortisol-

inhibiting drugs, or the most common, surgical removal of

any tumor(s)

ORGANS

• Testis – male gonads; the organ that produces sperm, the male

reproductive cell, and androgens, the male hormones;

• Ovaries – gonad and endocrine gland found in women; ovum

producing reproductive organs

• Liver – vital organ; detoxification, protein synthesis, and

production of biochemicals needed for digestion

• Pancreas – located deep in the abdomen; produces important

hormones such as insulin and secretes pancreatic juice that

help in the break down of carbohydrates, protein, and fat

GLANDS

• Pituitary Gland – “master gland” under the control of the

hypothalamus; secrete hormones important to female functions

• Hypothalamus Gland – in control of pituitary gland and together

they manage other endocrine functions

• Pineal Gland – stimulated by nerves from the eyes; directly

stimulated by light; affects thyroid and adrenal cortex functions

GLANDS

• Thyroid Gland – regulate metabolism (body temperature and

weight); contain iodine which is needed to manufacture

hormones

• Parathyroid Gland – produce parathyroid hormone control

amount of calcium in the blood and within bones

• Adrenal Gland – two parts, outer cortex secretes cortisone (anti-

inflammatory) and inner medulla responds to stressors (fight,

anger, caffeine, low blood sugar)

• Thymus Gland – produces and helps adapt T cells which are

critical of the adaptive immune system

WORKING WITH OTHER SYSTEMS

• Works with and helps control:

• Nervous system

• Reproductive system

• Consequently, because it produces hormones, it has an effect

on all of the body systems

EFFECTS OF AGING

• As you age hormone levels and target organs are altered in the

endocrine system

• Hormones usually increase or decrease depending on the

person, this can lead to a number of different problems

LEARNED MEDICAL WORDS

• Acromegaly – abnormal enlargement of the extremeties that is

caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone after puberty

• Adrenalitis – inflammation of the adrenal glands

• Aldosteronism – abnormality of elelctrolyte balance caused by

the excessive secretion of aldosterone

REFFERENCES

• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cushings-syndrome/DS00470\

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001388/

• http://www.medicinenet.com/cushings_syndrome/article.htm

• http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cushings/cushings.htm

• ww.nadf.us/diseases/cushings.htmw