Endocrine System

Function: Regulates body functions through hormones, which are chemical messengers released into the bloodstream.

Components: Includes glands such as the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and pancreas, as well as organs like the hypothalamus.

Types of Hormones

1. Peptide Hormones:

• Made of amino acids.

• Examples: Insulin, growth hormone.

• Action: Bind to cell surface receptors, triggering a cascade of intracellular events.

2. Steroid Hormones:

• Derived from cholesterol.

• Examples: Estrogen, testosterone.

• Action: Penetrate cell membranes and bind to intracellular receptors, affecting gene expression.

3. Amine Hormones:

• Derived from single amino acids.

• Examples: Thyroid hormones, adrenaline.

• Action: Can work like peptide hormones or steroid hormones depending on their nature.

Hypothalamus

• Location: Part of the brain.

• Function: Links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

• Role: Produces releasing and inhibiting hormones, which control the release of hormones from the anterior pituitary.

Anterior Pituitary

• Location: Base of the brain, below the hypothalamus.

• Function: Produces and secretes its own hormones in response to signals from the hypothalamus.

• Hormones Produced: Includes growth hormone (GH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and others.

The coordination between the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary is critical for the regulation of growth, metabolism, stress responses, and reproductive functions. The endocrine system, with its diverse range of hormones, ensures the proper functioning and homeostasis of the body.