Endocrine System and Syndromes
Summary Table
Table of Endocrine Glands
| Endocrine Gland | Location/ Description | Hormones Gland Produces | Gland/ Hormone Function | Examples of Disorders Associated with Improper Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypothalamus | Lower middle of the brain | Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) Prolactin Inhibitory Factor (PIF, dopamine) |
Communicates with both nervous and endocrine systems; Stimulates (GHRH, TRH, CRH, GnRH) or inhibits (PIF) hormone production in the pituitary |
Precocious puberty (early GnRH production) Kallman syndrome (inadequate GnRH production) Thyroid diseases |
| Oxytocin | Uterine contraction during labor | |||
| Arginine vasopressin (AVP), also called antidiurectic hormone (ADH) | Water balance | Diabetes insipidus (inadequate AVP production) | ||
| Pituitary | Below hypothalamus, behind sinus cavity | Prolactin | Milk production | Hypopituitarism Empty Sella Syndrome Galactorrhea (milk production not during pregnancy due to high prolactin) |
| Growth Hormone (GH) | Bone growth | Acromegaly or Gigantism (excess GH) Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) |
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| ACTH | Stimulates cortisol | Cushing disease (excess ACTH) | ||
| TSH | Stimulates thyroid hormone | Hyper/hypothyroidism | ||
| LH, FSH | Regulation of testosterone and estrogen, fertility | Loss of menstrual period Loss of sex drive Infertility |
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| Thyroid | Butterfly-shaped; lies flat against windpipe in the throat | T4 (thyroxine) T3 (triiodothyronine) |
Helps regulate the rate of metabolism | Thyroid diseases (including hypo and hyperthyroidism) |
| Calcitonin | Helps regulate bone status, blood calcium | |||
| Parathyroid | 4 tiny glands located behind, next to, or below the thyroid | Parathyroid hormone (PTH) | Regulates blood calcium | Hyperparathyroidism Hypoparathyroidism MEN1 |
| Adrenal | 2 triangular organs, on top of each kidney | Epinephrine (adrenaline) norepinephrine |
Blood pressure regulation, stress reaction | Pheochromocytoma (MEN2) |
| Aldosterone | Salt, water balance | Conn Syndrome | ||
| Cortisol | Stress reaction | Cushing Syndrome Addison Disease |
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| DHEA-S | Body hair development at puberty | Cancer Adrenal Hyperplasia |
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| Ovaries (females only) | 2, located in the pelvis | Estrogen Progesterone |
Female sexual characteristics | Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) |
| Testes (males only) | 2, located in the groin | Testosterone | Male sexual characteristics | Hypogonadism |
| Pancreas | Large, gourd-shaped gland, located behind the stomach | Insulin Glucagon Somatostatin |
Glucose regulation | Diabetes mellitus MENI Zollinger-Ellison syndrome |
| Pineal | Lower side of the brain | Melatonin | Not well understood; Helps control sleep patterns, affects reproduction |
