Anatomy and Physiology Notes: Endocrine System

This is an outlined lecture note on the Anatomy and Physiology of the Endocrine System. Some information are so compressed that some concepts are not explained in detail. If it is your first time to meet such information please refer to your textbook for further explanation of the concept. This review material requires a student to have a prior knowledge and good foundation of the subject matter for this only emphasizes important/ key information deemed important in understanding advanced concept in Pathophysiology and Medical Surgical Nursing.


Functions of Endocrine Glands
- Maintenance and regulation of vital functions
- Response to stress and injury
- Growth and development
- Energy metabolism
- Reproduction
- Fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance

Hypothalamus 
- Portion of the diencephalon of the brain, forming the floor and part of the lateral wall of the third ventricle
- Activates, controls, and integrates the peripheral autonomic nervous system, endocrine processes, and many somatic functions, such as body temperature, sleep, and appetite

Pituitary gland 
- The master gland; located at the base of the brain 2. Influenced by the hypothalamus; directly affects the function of the other endocrine glands
- Promotes growth of body tissue, influences water absorption by the kidney, and controls sexual development and function

Adrenal gland
- One adrenal gland is on top of each kidney.
- Regulates sodium and electrolyte balance; affects carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism; influences the development of sexual characteristics; and sustains the fight-or-flight response
 Adrenal cortex
- The cortex is the outer shell of the adrenal gland.
-. The cortex synthesizes glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids and secretes small amounts of sex hormones
Adrenal medulla
- The medulla is the inner core of the adrenal gland.
- The medulla works as part of the sympathetic nervous system and produces epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Thyroid gland
- Located in the anterior part of the neck
- Controls the rate of body metabolism and growth and produces thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyrocalcitonin

Parathyroid glands
- Located on the thyroid gland
- Control calcium and phosphorus metabolism; produce parathyroid hormone

Pancreas
- Located posteriorly to the stomach
- Influences carbohydrate metabolism, indirectly influences fat and protein metabolism, and produces insulin and glucagon

Ovaries and testes
-The ovaries are located in the pelvic cavity and produce estrogen and progesterone.
-The testes are located in the scrotum, control the development of the secondary sex characteristics, and produce testosterone.

Negative feedback loop
-Regulates hormone secretion by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland
-Increased amounts of target gland hormones in the bloodstream decrease secretion of the same hormone and other hormones that stimulate its release.

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