Overview of Hormones and Endocrine Glands

Hormones

Chemical messengers affecting cell and organ function.

Exocrine glands

Release secretions into ducts targeting organs.

Endocrine glands

Release hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Mixed glands

Contain both endocrine and exocrine functions.

Pancreas

Secretes digestive enzymes and hormones like insulin.

Hypothalamus

Produces hormones regulating pituitary gland functions.

ADH

Anti-diuretic hormone, regulates water balance.

Oxytoncin

Hormone involved in childbirth and bonding.

Pituitary gland

Master gland controlling other endocrine glands.

Growth Hormone (GH)

Stimulates growth throughout life; deficiency causes dwarfism.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Stimulates development of ovarian follicles.

Luteinising Hormone (LH)

Triggers ovulation and testosterone production.

Prolactin

Stimulates milk production in mammary glands.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

Regulates thyroid gland activity and thyroxine secretion.

Thyroxin

Hormone regulating metabolism and growth.

Hypothyroidism

Undersecretion of thyroxin causing mental decline.

Hyperthyroidism

Oversecretion of thyroxin causing anxiety and weight loss.

Goiter

Swelling of thyroid gland due to overactivity.

Islets of Langerhans

Pancreatic cells producing insulin and glucagon.

Glucagon

Hormone increasing blood glucose levels.

Type 1 Diabetes

Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells.

Type 2 Diabetes

Ineffective insulin use due to lifestyle factors.

Adrenal glands

Produce hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

Cortisol

Hormone increasing glucose availability during stress.

Aldosterone

Regulates sodium and potassium, affecting blood pressure.

Adrenaline

Prepares body for fight-or-flight response.

Testosterone

Male hormone promoting secondary sexual characteristics.

Estrogen

Female hormone promoting breast and hip development.

Progesterone

Hormone thickening the endometrium for pregnancy.

Anabolic steroids

Synthetic hormones promoting muscle growth and recovery.

Blood doping

Increases red blood cell count for endurance.

EPO

Stimulates red blood cell production, enhancing oxygen capacity.

Hormones definition

Organic compounds that act as chemical "messengers" to impact the way our cells and organs function;

Endocrine glands definition

Glands that release hormones directly into the bloodstream to transport them to target organs;

Exocrine glands definition

Glands that release secretions into ducts that transport secretions to target organs;

Mixed glands definition

Glands that have both endocrine and exocrine functions, like the pancreas;

Hypothalamus function

Produces ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) and oxytocin to regulate various bodily functions;

Osmoreceptors function

Detect changes in the body's water balance and signal the release of ADH when necessary;

Pituitary gland definition

Known as the "master gland," it controls other glands and produces several hormones;

Growth Hormone (GH) function

Released throughout life to stimulate growth; deficiency in children leads to dwarfism, while excess leads to gigantism;

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) function

Helps regulate the menstrual cycle and stimulates the development of primary follicles into mature Graafian follicles;

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) function

Stimulates ovulation by releasing an egg from the ovary;

Prolactin function

Stimulates mammary glands to produce milk;

ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) function

Regulates water balance in the body by conserving water;

Oxytocin function

Released during childbirth to help with uterine contractions;

Thyroid gland function

Releases thyroxine to regulate metabolism, growth, and development;

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) function

Stimulates and regulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine;

Hypothyroidism definition

Undersecretion of thyroxine, leading to cretinism or myxedema, resulting in mental and physical decline;

Hyperthyroidism definition

Oversecretion of thyroxine, causing symptoms like nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, weight loss, and excessive sweating;

Goiter definition

Swelling of the thyroid gland caused by excessive work or iodine deficiency;

Anabolic steroids function

Promote muscle growth and faster recovery;

Anabolic steroids side effects

Includes acne, high blood pressure, male pattern baldness, liver abnormalities, aggression, and psychiatric disorders;

Blood doping definition

A method to increase oxygen in red blood cells, improving endurance;

EPO (erythropoietin) function

Stimulates red blood cell production, increasing oxygen carrying capacity, but it thickens blood and can be dangerous;

Testosterone function

Produced in the testes and responsible for male secondary sexual characteristics like broader shoulders, deep voice, and facial hair;

Estrogen function

Produced in the ovaries and responsible for female secondary sexual characteristics like breasts, wider hips, and softer skin;

Progesterone function

Thickens the endometrium and keeps uterine muscles relaxed for pregnancy;

Luteinizing hormone (LH) function

Stimulates the production of testosterone in males and ovulation in females;

Aldosterone function

Regulates sodium and potassium levels to control blood pressure by increasing water reabsorption in kidneys;

Adrenaline function

Prepares the body to cope with stress and emergencies by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen intake;

Cortisol function

Helps the body respond to stress, inflammation, and allergies by increasing glucose availability when paired with adrenaline;

Pancreas function

Acts as both an endocrine and exocrine gland, secreting digestive enzymes and hormones like insulin and glucagon;

Glucagon function

Released by alpha cells in the pancreas to raise blood glucose levels when they are too low;

Insulin function

Released by beta cells in the pancreas to lower blood glucose levels by converting glucose into glycogen;

Diabetes mellitus definition

A condition where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body cannot use it effectively, leading to raised blood glucose levels;

Type 1 diabetes definition

Caused by dysfunction of beta cells and ineffective insulin production, treated with insulin injections and regular exercise;

Type 2 diabetes definition

Caused by ineffective use of insulin, typically related to excess body weight and inactivity; symptoms include thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision; treated with diet, exercise, and insulin;

Glucagon secretion process

The process where blood glucose levels drop below the set point, and alpha cells release glucagon to stimulate the liver to release glucose;