Introduction to the endocrine system

1. The endocrine system
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3. The endocrine system
• The endocrine system works together with the nervous system
• To regulate the activities of the other systems in the body.
• Both systems use chemical signals when they respond to changes.
• But they have different means of delivering the signals
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4. Differences between the endocrine and central
nervous system
NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Impulses are transmitted electrically
• Fast reaction
• Reaction is longer
• Impulses are sent through neurons
in the form of neurotransmitters
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
• Impulses are transmitted chemically
• Slow reaction
• Reaction is shorter
• The message is transported through
the bloodstream by means of
hormones
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5. Endocrine Glands
• Endocrine system consist of different endocrine glands in the body.
• Endocrine glands do not have ducts .
• They produce and secrete hormones.
• That are transported through the blood in the blood vessels of the body.
• Towards a specific target organ where it has a specific function.
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6. Endocrine Glands
• The target cells only respond to specific hormones secreted by specific
endocrine glands.
• If the cell can respond to the hormone, the hormone and the receptor
proteins bind together as a key fits into a lock.
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7. Endocrine
glands
• Exocrine glands have
ducts and secrete
chemicals such as
enzymes into these
ducts which takes it to
the lumen of organs
or to the outside of the
body.
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8. Hormones
• Hormones are biological chemical messengers that help cells, body
parts and even individuals to communicate with one another.
• Most hormones are proteins, but the steroids are fats.
• Hormones can inhibit or stimulate a reaction.
• Hormones are temperature, pH and substrate sensitive
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9. Endocrine Glands
• Pituitary- brain
• Thyroid & parathyroid -neck
• Adrenal glands -top of each kidney
• Pancreas -abdomen
• Gonads -pelvis (ovaries & testes)
• Thymus -chest
• Pineal gland -brain
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11. The system is mostly
controlled by the
hypothalamus
The control mechanism
has three levels:
• Hypothalamus
• Pituitary gland
• Other glands (thyroid,
adrenals, etc.)
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12. Sources
• Dr Singh, A (2015) Endocrine system. Available from SlideShare at:
https://www.SlideShare.net/ArmaanSingh786/the-endocrine-system-by-dr-armaan-singh?qid=294167a9-
0476-4b0a-be69-98e614383739&v=&b=&from_search=1 (Accessed 30 August 2018).
• Dr Kate, N. (2015) Endocrine system basic. Available from SlideShare at:
https://www.SlideShare.net/nileshkate79/endocrine-system-basic?qid=82b0dc9f-9afc-4747-82c0-
4439f2b3b5cf&v=&b=&from_search=8 (Accessed 28 August 2018).
• Nefer, D. (2014) Unit 5 nervous system. Available from SlideShare at:
https://www.SlideShare.net/aurorabiologia/unit-5-nervous-system (Accessed 27 August 2018).
• Dr Narendran, S (2015) Endocrine system. Available rom SlideShare at:
https://www.SlideShare.net/drshama65/endocrine-systemstppt?qid=881b060c-6ad5-47be-83a8-
21aa2a699c42&v=&b=&from_search=3 (Accessed 30 August 2018).
• Dr Harjan, I (2018) Endocrine. Available from SlideShare at:
https://www.SlideShare.net/ISRAAH2/endocrine-99823654?qid=e03ecc64-8a95-4e5c-b4b3-
ead5623a0baa&v=&b=&from_search=7 (Accessed 30 August 2018).
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