Week 4: Endocrine System & Pineal Gland

function of endocrine glands

synthesize secrete hormones in to blood stream (go to target cells)

endocrine system has direct effects on

cellular function and metabolism throughout body

symptoms of endocrine dysfunction often mimic

muscle weakness

hormonal effects onset and duration

slow onset, longer duration

neural signals onset and duration

quick onset and short duration

where do the endocrine and nervous system connect?

hypothalamic pituitary interface

hypothalamic-pituitary interface is the

hypothalamus control center for endocrine and autonomic nervous systems

what does this control system do?

controls function of endocrine organs through both neural and hormonal pathways

how to evaluate endocrine function

imaging of organs, hormone levels in blood/urine

hypothalamic control is done via a

direct neural pathway from hypothalamus to anterior and posterior pituitary gland

hypothalamic-pituitary target organ axis

uses negative feedback loops to control amount of hormone circulating

what type of hormones are released by hypothalamus

releasing or inhibiting hormones

where do teh releasing and inhibiting hormones act

on the pituitary gland

what types of hormones does pituitary release once acted on?

effector, tropic

effector hormones

directly stimulate tissues

-ADH stimulates kidneys

tropic hormones

act on another endocrine gland which then releases hormone

-thyroid stimulating hormone acts on thyroid gland to release other hormones

if an endocrine problem is suspected, what also needs to be assessed?

pituitary

positive feedback

one substance turns ON another substance

negative feedback

once one substance gets high enough, it turns off the stimulating substance

pineal gland produces

melatonin (seratonin derived hormone)

what cells does the pineal gland act on

melanocytes

3 main actions of Pineal Gland

antioxidant, drowsiness, regulates sleep-wake cycle