The
same hormone may play a role in a variety of different physiological processes
depending on the target cells involved. For example, the hormone oxytocin
promotes uterine contractions in women in labor. It is also important in
breastfeeding, and may be involved in the sexual response and in feelings of
emotional attachment in both males and females. In general, the nervous system
involves quick responses to rapid changes in the external environment, and the
endocrine system is usually slower acting—taking care of the internal
environment of the body, maintaining homeostasis, and controlling reproduction.
So how does the fight-or-flight response that was mentioned earlier happen so
quickly if hormones are usually slower acting? It is because the two systems
are connected. It is the fast action of the nervous system in response to the
danger in the environment that stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete their
hormones. As a result, the nervous system can cause rapid endocrine responses
to keep up with sudden changes in both the external and internal environments
when necessary.
The endocrine system consists of cells, tissues, and organs
that secrete hormones as a primary or secondary function. The endocrine gland
is the major player in this system. The primary function of these ductless
glands is to secrete their hormones directly into the surrounding fluid. The
interstitial fluid and the blood vessels then transport the hormones throughout
the body. The endocrine system includes the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid,
adrenal, and pineal glands . For example, the pancreas contains cells that
function in digestion as well as cells that secrete the hormones insulin and
glucagon, which regulate blood glucose levels. The hypothalamus, thymus, heart,
kidneys, stomach, small intestine, liver, skin, female ovaries, and male testes
are other organs that contain cells with endocrine function. Moreover, adipose
tissue has long been known to produce hormones, and recent research has
revealed that even bone tissue has endocrine functions. This diagram shows the
endocrine glands and cells that are located throughout the body. The endocrine
system organs include the pineal gland and pituitary gland in the brain. The
pituitary is located on the anterior side of the thalamus while the pineal
gland is located on the posterior side of the thalamus. The thyroid gland is a
butterfly-shaped gland that wraps around the trachea within the neck. Four
small, disc-shaped parathyroid glands are embedded into the posterior side of the
thyroid. The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys.
The pancreas is
located at the center of the abdomen. In females, the two ovaries are connected
to the uterus by two long, curved, tubes in the pelvic region. In males, the
two testes are located in the scrotum below the penis. Endocrine glands and
cells are located throughout the body and play an important role in
homeostasis. The ductless endocrine glands are not to be confused with the
body’s exocrine system, whose glands release their secretions through ducts.
Examples of exocrine glands include the sebaceous and sweat glands of the skin.
As just noted, the pancreas also has an exocrine function: most of its cells
secrete pancreatic juice through the pancreatic and accessory ducts to the lumen
of the small intestine. In endocrine signaling, hormones secreted into the
extracellular fluid diffuse into the blood or lymph, and can then travel great
distances throughout the body. In contrast, autocrine signaling takes place
within the same cell. An autocrine (auto- = “self”) is a chemical that elicits
a response in the same cell that secreted it. Interleukin-1, or IL-1, is a
signaling molecule that plays an important role in inflammatory response. The
cells that secrete IL-1 have receptors on their cell surface that bind these
molecules, resulting in autocrine signaling. Local intercellular communication
is the province of the paracrine, also called a paracrine factor, which is a
chemical that induces a response in neighboring cells.
Although paracrines may
enter the bloodstream, their concentration is generally too low to elicit a
response from distant tissues. A familiar example to those with asthma is
histamine, a paracrine that is released by immune cells in the bronchial tree.
Histamine causes the smooth muscle cells of the bronchi to constrict, narrowing
the airways. Another example is the neurotransmitters of the nervous system,
which act only locally within the synaptic cleft. Endocrinologist Endocrinology
is a specialty in the field of medicine that focuses on the treatment of
endocrine system disorders. Endocrinologists—medical doctors who specialize in
this field—are experts in treating diseases associated with hormonal systems,
ranging from thyroid disease to diabetes mellitus. Endocrine surgeons treat
endocrine disease through the removal, or resection, of the affected endocrine
gland. Patients who are referred to endocrinologists may have signs and
symptoms or blood test results that suggest excessive or impaired functioning
of an endocrine gland or endocrine cells. The endocrinologist may order
additional blood tests to determine whether the patient’s hormonal levels are
abnormal, or they may stimulate or suppress the function of the suspect
endocrine gland and then have blood taken for analysis.
Treatment varies
according to the diagnosis. Some endocrine disorders, such as type 2 diabetes,
may respond to lifestyle changes such as modest weight loss, adoption of a
healthy diet, and regular physical activity. Other disorders may require medication,
such as hormone replacement, and routine monitoring by the endocrinologist.
These include disorders of the pituitary gland that can affect growth and
disorders of the thyroid gland that can result in a variety of metabolic
problems. Some patients experience health problems as a result of the normal
decline in hormones that can accompany aging. These patients can consult with
an endocrinologist to weigh the risks and benefits of hormone replacement
therapy intended to boost their natural levels of reproductive hormones. In
addition to treating patients, endocrinologists may be involved in research to
improve the understanding of endocrine system disorders and develop new
treatments for these diseases. The endocrine system consists of cells, tissues,
and organs that secrete hormones critical to homeostasis. The body coordinates
its functions through two major types of communication: neural and endocrine.
Neural communication includes both electrical and chemical signaling between
neurons and target cells. Endocrine communication involves chemical signaling
via the release of hormones into the extracellular fluid. From there, hormones
diffuse into the bloodstream and may travel to distant body regions, where they
elicit a response in target cells. Endocrine glands are ductless glands that
secrete hormones. Many organs of the body with other primary functions—such as
the heart, stomach, and kidneys—also have hormone-secreting cells. According to
they, the combination of B organic vitamins, organic vitamins C and E (both
antioxidants)and complement D gave the best in terms of nutritional value
discovered in the blood vessels and healthy ideas aging for the study
population. Natural types of these nutritional value include: - B vitamins:
dairy, such as milk, whole grain cereals, bread enriched with these nutritional
value and peanut butter - Vitamin C: fresh fruits and veggies - Vitamin E: nut
products and oils - Vitamin D: unhealthy seafood like fish, fortified milk
Diets with lots of omega-3 individual extra fat were also discovered to benefit
you for the brain. And when it comes to Inteligen A fat reduction plan that is loaded with trans body fat,
most often discovered in unhealthy meals and packaged baked meals and snacks,
is the most troublesome in terms of keeping the brain healthy.
The research
topics average age was 87, and they didn't have risks that are known to up the
chances of considering and storage problems - factors like being diabetic and
hypertension. Beyond the blood vessels testing, the individuals also had to sit
storage and considering capability testing. 42 of them had MRI scans, which
measured their ideas volume. A smaller ideas volume is linked to declines in
the cabability to think that are known to be an element of Alzheimer's illness.
