WCHS Mr. Alasti HBS Human Body Systems 2.2.1 The Endocrine System

What does the endocrine system control?

Communication in the body

Endocrine System

The glands and parts of glands that produce endocrine secretions, which help to integrate and control bodily metabolic activity, and include especially the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, islets of Langerhans, ovaries, & testes

What does the endocrine system work with the nervous system to do?

Regulate & control all the actions of the human machine

How does the endocrine system communicate?

Using chemical signals, or hormones, to regulate body functioning

Hormone

A signaling molecule produced by glands. A hormone induces a specific effect on the activity of cells

What do hormones carry messages between and what are they responsible for?

They carry messages between organs and cells and are responsible for your body’s energy level, growth & development, mood, and sleep

Label the glands within the brain

1. Pineal Gland

2. Hypothalamus

3. Pituitary Gland

Label the image

1. Thyroid Gland

2. Thymus

3. Left Adrenal Gland

4. Right Adrenal Gland

5. Pancreas

Pineal Gland Function

Regulates sleep/wake cycles and secretes the hormone melatonin

Hypothalamus Function

Releases hormones to help with reproduction, thyroid regulation, growth, emotions, water levels in the body, & our response to stress

Pituitary Gland Function

Releases several hormones that relate to growth, metabolism, reproduction, stress or trauma response, lactation, water balance, & childbirth

Thyroid Gland Function

Plays a major role in growth and development of the human body and metabolism

Thymus Function

Makes white blood cells up until puberty, when all the T-cells you need have been made. It also releases hormones that control the pituitary gland

Adrenal Glands Functions

The adrenals release hormones that help regulate the body’s response to stress as well as metabolism, blood pressure, & the immune system

Ovaries Functions

Produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone which regulate reproduction and menstruation

Label the image

1. Secreting Gland

2. Hormone

3. Blood Vessel

4. Target Cells

Basic function of a hormone in the endocrine system

Regulating and coordinating vital body functions like growth, metabolism, mood, reproduction, & maintaining homeostasis

Basic function of the endocrine system

Regulate & coordinate essential body functions like growth, metabolism, reproduction, mood, & stress response by producing & secreting chemical messengers (hormones)

Basic function of a gland in the endocrine system

Produce & secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream

Basic function of a receptor in the endocrine system

Recognize a specific hormone and, upon binding, initiate a series of cellular events that ultimately produces a characteristic biological response in the target cell

Basic function of target cells in the endocrine system

Receive specific chemical signals from the bloodstream via protein receptors, initiating a specific response to maintain bodily balance or triggering processes like growth, metabolism, or reproduction

What do feedback mechanisms in the endocrine system regulate?

Body functions such as temperature, heart rate, & concentration of sugar in the blood

Insulin

A protein hormone secreted by the pancreas. It is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates & the regulation of glucose levels in the blood

Glucagon

A hormone secreted by pancreatic endocrine cells that raises blood glucose levels; an antagonistic hormone to insulin

How do you get your body back on track if you are close to being diagnosed with diabetes?

Focus on nutrition (eat balanced meals, limit sugary drinks & sweets, & eat your meals at a regular time), incorporate physical activity, & limit harmful habits such as smoking and/or drinking

Type 1 Diabetes

An autoimmune disease where the immune system destroys insulin producing cells in the pancreas, leading to little to no insulin production, causing high blood sugar since glucose can’t enter cells for energy

Type 2 Diabetes

A chronic condition where the body either doesn’t make enough insulin, or doesn’t use it properly, leading to high blood sugar levels

Hyperglycemia

High blood sugar

What allows blood sugar to go down?

Hormones (specifically insulin) get secreted into the bloodstream, travel through the entirety of it, and attach to receptors specific to insulin. Glucose receptors then allow glucose into the bloodstream, into a target cell, and allowing the blood sugar to go down

Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar

What happens when the body’s blood sugar is too low (hypoglycemia)?

Glucagon gets released from the pancreas, goes into the bloodstream, travels to the liver (where glycogen is stored), to release glucose into the blood, & tells skeletal muscles to release their stored glucose

How does insulin lower blood sugar?

By getting glucose into cells instead of the bloodstream

How does glucagon raise blood sugar?

By telling the liver & skeletal muscles to release stored glucose