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Here's a brief introduction about Endocrinology.
When we hear the
word “Endocrinology”, the first thing that comes into our mind is the endocrine
system. As we all know, endocrine system consists of glands that produces and
secretes hormones. These hormones are chemicals that help regulate the body’s
growth, metabolism, maturation, and even sexual development. Glands that are
responsible for the production and secretion of these hormones include the
thyroid gland, adrenal gland, pituitary gland, hypothalamus, pancreas, pineal, thymus, and also the testicles and ovaries.
Below is the list or summary of the hormones and their functions.
Hormones Produced by the Major Hormone-Producing
Glands and Their Primary Functions
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Endocrine Gland
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Hormone
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Primary Hormone Function
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Hypothalamus
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Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
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Stimulates the pituitary to release
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
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Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
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Stimulates the pituitary to release luteinizing
hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
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Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
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Stimulates the pituitary to release
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
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Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
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Stimulates the release of growth hormone (GH)
from the pituitary
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Somatostatin
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Inhibits the release of GH from the pituitary
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Dopamine
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Inhibits the release of prolactin from the
pituitary
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Anterior pituitary gland
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ACTH
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Stimulates the release of hormones from the
adrenal cortex
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LH
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In women, stimulates the production of sex
hormones (i.e., estrogen) in the ovaries as wll as during ovulation; in men,
stimulates testosterone production in the testes
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FSH
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In women, stimulates follicle development; in
men, stimulates sperm production
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TSH
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Stimulates the release of thyroid hormone
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GH
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Promotes the body’s growth and development
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Prolactin
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Controls milk production (i.e., lactation)
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Posterior pituitary gland1
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Vasopressin
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Helps control the body’s water and electrolyte
levels
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Oxytocin
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Promotes uterine contraction during labor and
activates milk ejection in nursing women
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Adrenal cortex
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Cortisol
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Helps control carbohydrate, protein, and lipid
metabolism; protects against stress
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Aldosterone
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Helps control the body’s water and electrolyte
regulation
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Testes
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Testosterone
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Stimulates development of the male reproductive
organs
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Ovaries
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Estrogen (produced by the follicle)
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Stimulates development of the female reproductive
organ
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Progesterone (produced by the corpus luteum)
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Prepares uterus for pregnancy and mammary glands
for lactation
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Thyroid gland
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Thyroid hormone (i.e., thryoxine [T4]
and triiodothyronine [T3])
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Controls metabolic processes in all cells
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Calcitonin
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Helps control calcium metabolism (i.e., lowers
calcium levels in the blood)
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Parathyroid gland
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Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
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Helps control calcium metabolism (i.e., increases
calcium levels in the blood)
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Pancreas
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Insulin
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Helps control carbohydrate metabolism (i.e.,
lowers blood sugar levels)
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Glucagon
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Helps control carbohydrate metabolism (i.e.,
increases blood sugar levels)
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1These hormones are produced in the hypothalamus but
stored in and released from the posterior pituitary gland.
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Table from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh22-3/153.pdf
(Endocrine System: An Overview by Susanne Hiller-Sturmhöfel, Ph.D., and Andrzej Bartke, Ph.D.)
References:
Bishop, M., Fody, E., and Schoeff, L., Clinical Chemistry:
Techniques, Principles, Correlations, 6th Edition
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh22-3/153.pdf
http://www.news-medical.net/health/Endocrinology-What-is-Endocrinology.aspx
