How do complementary hormones maintain homeostasis

The pituitary gland is well known for its feedback loops. Numerous problems can occur in the endocrine system. These can be considered as excessive or deficient hormone production. Endocrine organs are also prone to tumours adenomas which can over produce hormones. Some problems of the endocrine system include:. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.

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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Hormonal system endocrine. Home Hormonal system endocrine. Hormonal endocrine system. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Exocrine glands Functions of the endocrine system How hormones work Endocrine glands and organs Problems of the endocrine system Where to get help Things to remember.

Exocrine glands An exocrine gland, unlike an endocrine gland, is a gland that secretes substances electrolytes, proteins or enzymes straight to a target site via ducts or tube. Some examples include: Salivary glands Sweat glands Sebaceous glands The pancreas. Functions of the endocrine system Some of the roles of the endocrine system include: Growth Repair Sexual reproduction Digestion Homeostasis constant internal balance.

Endocrine glands and organs The main glands and organs of the endocrine system include: Pituitary gland — is inside the brain. It oversees the other glands and keeps hormone levels in check. The pituitary gland is also connected to the nervous system through part of the brain called the hypothalamus. Thyroid gland — sits in the neck at the front of the windpipe.

It releases thyroid hormone T4 and T3 which is required for metabolism and body homeostasis. It is controlled by TSH which is produced by the pituitary gland through a feed-back loop. Parathyroid gland — there are usually four parathyroid glands which lie alongside the thyroid gland. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal cortex. It is responsible for many different functions, including gluconeogenesis, immune and anti-inflammatory responses, and blood pressure through the control of vasoconstriction.

Usually, cortisol is only released in normal pulses following the circadian rhythm or in situations of extreme stress. The adrenal glands themselves are controlled by the pituitary gland. A tumor in this gland can cause an overexpression of adrenocorticotrophic hormone ACTH , which can cause the adrenal glands to release excessive amounts of cortisol.

This presentation can usually be identified by elevated serum ACTH and cortisol. A second cause can be a tumor in the adrenal glands themselves. If this is the case, a blood test may show elevated cortisol, but not elevated ACTH.

As previously mentioned, blood tests are often used to identify the specific composition of the elevated hormones. These blood tests are usually confirmed with the use of a CT scan or an MRI of the area suspected to host the tumor.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment can begin. If the tumor is in the pituitary gland, it is usually treated with radiation and surgically removed.

Adrenal tumors are also surgically removed. After the tumor is removed, it is likely that the patient will need to take replacement hormones, since it is likely that hormones may now be under expressed.

Diabetes insipidus is unlike diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2. In diabetes mellitus, there is a problem with insulin—either it is not produced in sufficient quantities type 1 or cells in the body stop responding to insulin type 2 —which prevents the normal uptake and regulation of sugar. In diabetes insipidus DI , the main problem is the unusually high excretion of water by the kidneys.

Antidiuretic hormone ADH , which is released by the hypothalamus and stored by the pituitary gland, is responsible for keeping the water levels in the body correct. In DI, the body cannot retain water and the kidneys excrete large volumes of it as dilute urine.

There are two main causes for the development of DI—either damage has been done to the hypothalamus and pituitary glands or there is a problem with the small tubes in the kidneys called nephrons which are responsible for the collection of water. As a result, other symptoms of DI can include excessive thirst, fatigue, weight loss, bladder control problems, and the production of between liters of dilute urine a day.

Since DI shares several of these symptoms with diabetes mellitus, diagnostic testing is important for distinguishing between these diseases. Urinalysis is a useful diagnostic test, and will usually demonstrate a low urine specific gravity or the concentration of solutes in the urine. Treatments for DI depend on the underlying cause for the symptoms.

If there is an underlying endocrine problem, ADH replacement treatments can help the body retain additional fluids, restoring balance in the body. This autoimmune disease affects nearly 14 million people in the United States. This causes the tissue to become inflamed and lowers the production of thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism is often attributed to low levels of thyroxine. Thyroxine is a precursor hormone to T4.

It is responsible for maintaining metabolic rate and body temperature regulation. It may take several years for a patient to be diagnosed, since many patients ignore their symptoms. If the immune system attacks the thyroid over enough time, the thyroid swells into a large lump. It is possible for goiters to be seen pressing against the anterior tissues in the neck.

While the goiter itself might not cause pain, it can put pressure on the esophagus and trachea, reducing their functions. Hypothyroidism is often diagnosed using a thyroid stimulating hormone TSH blood test.

This test measures the amount of TSH released by the pituitary gland. If TSH is overexpressed, it is likely that the thyroid is not producing adequate amounts of thyroxine. As such, the immune system produces large amounts of thyroid antibodies. Anti-thyroid antibodies only react in the process of these thyroid antibodies. Pills are taken daily to increase the amount of thyroxine in the blood.

Doctors need to regulate the dosage, since an overdose of thyroxine can also have complications, including osteoporosis and arrhythmia. Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS is characterized by small, fluid filled sacs on the ovaries.

These cysts cause a number of symptoms including pelvic pain, irregular menstrual cycles, and infertility. Other symptoms of PCOS are hirsutism, acne, and dark, flakey patches of skin. Some women can have excessive weight gain around the stomach and male pattern baldness in addition to their other symptoms. While the exact mechanisms behind the formation of POCS are unknown, many women who exhibit this disease have excessive testosterone. Even though testosterone is considered to be a male hormone, it is made in the ovaries of women to help maintain bone density and muscle mass.

During the process of oocyte maturation in the ovaries, follicle cells swell up with fluid. In a woman suffering from PCOS, these swollen follicles do not burst, but collect within the ovaries. Overexpression of testosterone in females can cause many of the symptoms seen in PCOS, including these cysts. In addition to increased testosterone, many women with PCOS also have insulin resistance, preventing adequate regulation of blood glucose.

Treatments of PCOS are aimed at treating symptoms. Since PCOS can manifest in a variety of symptoms, doctors often prescribe specific treatments aimed at lifestyle management and treatments similar to those for Type 2 diabetes are often used to reduce insulin related complications. Testosterone, an androgen hormone produced by the male testes, is crucial to the proper development of secondary sexual characteristics formed during puberty.

In adult males, it is responsible for helping with sperm production and libido, as well as the maintenance of muscle and bone health. If males are exposed to lower levels of testosterone, they may experience several types of symptoms.

Usually, there is a decrease in sperm count, impotence, and the development of breast tissue. Sustained low levels of testosterone may also decrease muscle mass, bone density, and cause symptoms seen in menopause like irritability and hot flashes. There are two main types of hypogonadism—primary hypogonadism and secondary hypogonadism.

In primary hypogonadism, the testicular tissue is damaged. This can result from an injury to the testicles including testicular cancer, Kleinfelter Syndrome, and undescended testicles. Secondary hypogonadism results from a problem in either the pituitary or hypothalamus. Since these endocrine glands are responsible for releasing gonadotropic hormones, a disruption in these tissues may result in reduced expression of testosterone. There has also been a link between type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of developing secondary hypogonadism.

Levels of testosterone can be checked through blood tests, so this is the first procedure used to identify low testosterone levels. If low levels of testosterone are confirmed, physical examinations as well as CT or MRI scans can be used to identify the cause of low testosterone. One of the common treatments for this disorder is to use testosterone supplements. There are several ways that testosterone can be administered.

One method is a deep tissue injection of testosterone every two weeks. This is a slow release form of treatment and is often considered to be the least expensive option. Testosterone gels can also be used, though the must be applied daily.

In these treatments, testosterone is absorbed transdermally. Buccal medications are also available. These small tablets are inserted between the gums and lip and slowly release testosterone into the bloodstream. Usually when hormone replacement therapy HRT is discussed, it is connected to the use of estrogens in order to ease the symptoms associated with menopause.

Menopause is caused by the senescence of ovary reproductive function and the cessation of the majority of estrogen production. While HRT relieves many problems, it can also lead to endometrial cancers due to excessive cellular build-up of cells lining the uterus. Many of the diseases that I discussed in the previous section demonstrate the use of supplemental hormones as a form of treatment, especially in diseases such as hypogonadism where a hormone is under-expressed.

The use of synthetically created hormones or through farmed hormone sources have greatly reduced the impact of many devastating conditions. I have already discussed the use of growth hormone in children with GH deficiencies in order to help with the proper development of bone and muscle. A study performed by Moreau et al demonstrates an unconventional use of GH in the improvement of memory and attention in patients who have traumatic brain injury.

Increased GH boosts neurotransmitters which assist in cognitive functions. Since we are a magnet school with a health science and sports medicine focus, the topic of growth hormones and steroids as athletic enhancement supplements is frequently brought up in debate. Some students feel that, since they are natural compounds already made by the body, application of these hormones to improve natural athletic ability should be allowed.

Other students agree with the banning of performance enhancing steroids like testosterone and growth hormone because they confer an unnatural advantage to some athletes. Synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroids AAS like testosterone are easily purchased online from overseas retailers. AAS are used by male and female athletes to increase muscle mass and strength. Frequent abuse can lead to several toxic side effects including kidney and heart disease.

Growth hormone is also abused as a way to increase aerobic performance and muscle mass. In the s, athletes used cadaver pituitary growth hormone in order to increase the size of their muscles. This practice was reduced after increased worry about the development of Jacob-Creutzfeldt disease and with the increased availability of synthetic growth hormone produced in China My teaching strategies include several reading strategies and modeling.

Many students where I teach have low Lexile scores. One of our initiatives is to include close reading techniques in our instruction of units. In our close reading technique, students are required to analyze small passages of text or graphics and answer text dependent questions. This technique is especially important given the complexity of the endocrine system. A second strategy that I plan to use is jigsaw reading.

There is a significant amount of content knowledge that is covered by the introduction to the endocrine system. I think that it is important for students to have a full survey of the various organs involved in the endocrine system since any one gland can have an impact on another.

I plan to have students become the experts on a specific endocrine gland to teach to their peers, so that I am not doing the majority of this presentation. A third strategy that I use is a flipped classroom model. Our school is placing increased emphasis on home learning and the use of technology. I plan to have students do some of their preparation of class materials at home. I plan to post several videos that I create to a blog that students can access. They are required to watch the video at home or read the transcript and answer several preparation questions for the next day.

Our in class time will be spent reviewing the material and completing activities. The final technique that I will implement to assist with student engagement and understanding is the use of modeling.

Many students in our school are active learners and display higher retention and understanding of material if they are able to physically manipulate what they are studying. There are many different endocrine system glands and hormones—too many to squeeze into a tightly packed curriculum.

One way that I plan on having students take control of their own learning is by having them teach each other. For this activity, I plan on putting students together into partner teams and assigning each team a specific endocrine gland. Their job will be to read about that organ and create a poster that describes its location in the body, the hormones that are released, and their function at the target tissue.

Students will then share these posters with their peers. To accompany the posters, students will be responsible for filling in the information for the other endocrine glands on a provided graphic organizer, similar to the table that is used at the end of this unit.

Once students have completed their endocrine system table, they will have a reference page that will be useful for the remainder of the unit and beyond. Jig saw readings are also a useful teaching strategy for introducing students to a variety of endocrine diseases. Student groups are responsible for reading about a selection of endocrine diseases and sharing the information with their peers.

This activity is aimed at helping students understand the connection between hormones and target cell receptors. The set-up for this activity requires several padlocks and keys.

To start this activity, each students is given a padlock key that fits a specific lock. Students are then asked figure out which lock their specific key opens. As students progress through the locks and start to find their match, have them sit down.

This beginning activity demonstrates the complimentary nature between hormones and target receptors in cognate receptors.

Once students are introduced to this concept, set students into groups consisting of students and have them design a model using various classroom supplies that would demonstrate the following two concepts: one hormone might affect a variety of different target tissues and one target tissue can have receptors for multiple hormones. Students will be responsible for building their models and explaining to their peers how they reflect these two ideas.

After learning about the two feedback loop mechanisms utilized by the endocrine system, students will be responsible for acting out one of the two loops.

The class will be split into four teams and randomly assigned either the positive or the negative feedback loop mechanism. Students will then be asked to create a play or a kinesthetic model that demonstrates their assigned control loop. Once they have come up with a skit, they can either perform it live for the rest of their classmates or video-tape it and play it. The other three teams will then need to identify the type of feedback loop it is and justify their reasoning.

For example, if there is a fall in calcium in the blood, the parathyroid glands sense the decrease and secrete more parathyroid hormone, thereby increasing calcium release from the bones;.

Positive feedback is used when rapid change is needed. For example in childbirth the hormone oxytocin is produced to stimulate and enhance labour contractions Bodyguide, A receptor detects external changes that could influence the internal environment. For example, the following are involved in the regulation of blood pressure:. When there is an increase in heart rate more blood is pumped into the arteries resulting in an increase in blood pressure Docherty, This is detected by the baroreceptors, which are located in the walls of certain arteries.

These receptors send impulses to the control centre the medulla oblongata , which interprets the message and sends impulses to the effectors the cardiovascular system. These slow the pulse, decreasing blood pressure Tortora and Anagnostakos, Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion. You are here: Respiratory. Homeostasis — Part 1: anatomy and physiology. This article, the first in a series of four, looks at the anatomy and physiology of homeostasis.

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