MLT Homons

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
The endocrine system is the system of glands, each of which secretes different
types of hormones directly into the bloodstream (some of which are transported
along nerve tracts) to regulate the body. The endocrine system is in contrast to the
exocrine system, which secretes its chemicals using ducts. The word endocrine
derives from the Greek words "endo" meaning inside, within, and "crinis" for
secrete. The endocrine system is an information signal system like the nervous
system, yet its effects and mechanism are classifiably different. The endocrine
system's effects are slow to initiate, and prolonged in their response, lasting from a
few hours up to weeks. The nervous system sends information very quickly, and
responses are generally short lived. Hormones are substances (chemical
mediators) released from endocrine tissue into the bloodstream where they travel
to target tissue and generate a response. Hormones regulate various human
functions, including metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, and
mood. The field of study dealing with the endocrine system and its disorders is
endocrinology, a branch of internal medicine.
Features of endocrine glands are, in general, their ductless nature, their vascularity,
and usually the presence of intracellular vacuoles or granules storing their
hormones. In contrast, exocrine glands, such as salivary glands, sweat glands, and
glands within the gastrointestinal tract, tend to be much less vascular and have
ducts or a hollow lumen.
In addition to the specialized endocrine organs mentioned above, many other

organs that are part of other body systems, such as the kidney, liver, heart and
gonads, have secondary endocrine functions. For example the kidney secretes
endocrine hormones such as erythropoietin and renin.
The endocrine system is made of a series of glands that produce chemicals called
hormones. A number of glands that signal each other in sequence are usually
referred to as an axis, for example, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
1
Endocrine organs and secreted hormones
Endocrine glands in the human head and neck and their hormones
Alimentary system
2
Reproductive
Calcium regulation
3
Miscellaneous
Diseases
Diseases of the endocrine system are common, including conditions such as

diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, and obesity. Endocrine disease is characterized
by disregulated hormone release (a productive pituitary adenoma), inappropriate
response to signaling (hypothyroidism), lack of a gland (diabetes mellitus type 1,
diminished erythropoiesis in chronic renal failure), or structural enlargement in a
critical site such as the thyroid (toxic multinodulargoitre). Hypofunction of
endocrine glands can occur as a result of loss of reserve, hyposecretion, agenesis,
atrophy, or active destruction. Hyperfunction can occur as a result of
hypersecretion, loss of suppression, hyperplastic or neoplastic change, or
hyperstimulation.
Endocrinopathies are classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary. Primary

endocrine disease inhibits the action of downstream glands. Secondary endocrine
disease is indicative of a problem with the pituitary gland. Tertiary endocrine
disease is associated with dysfunction of the hypothalamus and its releasing
hormones.
As the thyroid, and hormones have been implicated in signaling distant tissues to
proliferate, for example, the estrogen receptor has been shown to be involved in
certain breast cancers. Endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine signaling have all been
implicated in proliferation, one of the required steps of oncogenesis.
4
Other types of signaling
The typical mode of cell signaling in the endocrine system is endocrine signaling.
However, there are also other modes, i.e., paracrine, autocrine, and neuroendocrine
signaling. Purely neurocrine signaling between neurons, on the other hand, belongs
completely to the nervous system.
Autocrine
Autocrine signaling is a form of signaling in which a cell secretes a hormone or

chemical messenger (called the autocrine agent) that binds to autocrine receptors
on the same cell, leading to changes in the cells.
Paracrine
Paracrine signaling is a form of cell signaling in which the target cell is near the
signal-releasing cell.
Juxtacrine
Juxtacrine signaling is a type of intercellular communication that is transmitted via

oligosaccharide, lipid, or protein components of a cell membrane, and may affect
either the emitting cell or the immediately adjacent cells.
It occurs between adjacent cells that possess broad patches of closely opposed
plasma membrane linked by transmembrane channels known as connexons. The
gap between the cells can usually be between only 2 and 4 nm.
Unlike other types of cell signaling (such as paracrine and endocrine), Juxtacrine
signaling requires physical contact between the two cells involved.
Juxtacrine signaling has been observed for some growth factors, cytokine and
chemokine cellular signals.

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THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

In addition to the specialized endocrine organs mentioned above, many other

Diseases of the endocrine system are common, including conditions such as

Endocrinopathies are classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary. Primary

Autocrine signaling is a form of signaling in which a cell secretes a hormone or

Juxtacrine signaling is a type of intercellular communication that is transmitted via

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