The endocrine system The human body is responsible for the production of substances known as hormones, which are in charge of the control of many processes of great importance for life, such as metabolism, growth, development, respiration, reproductive and sexual functions , sleep or mood.
This system consists of a set of glands distributed in different areas of the body, whose function is essential for the maintenance of body homeostasis, that is, for the maintenance of the internal conditions necessary for life..
The glands of the endocrine system make substances known as hormones. Hormones are chemical compounds (messengers) that are responsible for regulating the functions of tissues and that are discharged into the bloodstream by the endocrine glands..
They are known as "endocrine" glands because their function is to produce substances and secrete them into our body and not outwards, work done by the exocrine glands..
Therefore, the endocrine system, through the hormones produced by the glands that compose it, gives precise orders for the functioning of practically all the tissues, organs and cells of our body..
Its malfunction can have unpleasant implications for our health, mood, development, and ability to have children, among other things..
The endocrine system performs a great diversity of functions in our body.
It is responsible for synthesizing the hormones that control our mood, but also our development and growth, our metabolism, our reproduction and the general function of our organs..
Each gland of the system controls the hormones it produces and the conditions in which they are released into the bloodstream of our body, where they travel to reach the organ on which they will perform their functions..
The endocrine system participates in the regulation of our metabolic rates, our heart rate, our urine production capacity, etc..
The hormones produced by this system help us acquire the necessary energy during training or physical effort, or the rest that we need to rest at night after the daytime..
The endocrine system is made up of the endocrine glands; many of these glands are represented by organs that also belong to other body systems, so some names will seem familiar to us from other functions.
The main endocrine glands of our body are:
This organ represents the connection between our endocrine system and our nervous system and is responsible for giving precise instructions to another endocrine gland, the pituitary gland..
Its job consists of secreting releasing and inhibiting hormones, which exert their functions on the pituitary gland, telling it to synthesize more hormones or to stop their secretion..
The pituitary or pituitary gland is, perhaps, the most important gland of our endocrine system, since it exercises its functions controlled by the nervous system through the hypothalamus, telling the other glands of the system what to do, how and when.
It is responsible for producing trophic hormones, which promote the growth and development of the body's organs, as well as the hormonal secretion capacity of the other glands.
Synthesizes, among others, growth hormone, oxytocin, antidiuretic hormone (which promotes vasoconstriction and fluid retention), prolactin (which helps women produce milk to breastfeed their babies), and luteinizing hormone (which controls other sex hormones in men and women).
The hormones it produces regulate the function of almost all organs and among these, the thyroid hormones stand out: thyroxine, triiodothyronine and calcitonin, which stimulate growth, development, cellular respiration (the first two) and regulate the levels of calcium ions. in the blood (the last).
They are small glands that are located "behind" the thyroid gland and that synthesize parathyroid hormone, which exerts its functions in the bones, kidneys and small intestine; controlling calcium and phosphorus levels.
It is a very important gland, as it produces the hormone thymopoietin, which acts on the lymph nodes, stimulating the production of T lymphocytes, which are the cells that defend us from infectious agents (they are part of our immune system).
They are the glands that are just above our kidneys. They have a structure composed of a cortex that covers their marrow, and each region is responsible for the synthesis of a hormone.
The main hormones produced by these glands are adrenaline or epinephrine and a group of hormones known as glucocorticoids, which regulate metabolism and sexual function..
This organ not only participates in the secretion of digestive enzymes, but also in the production of hormones such as insulin and glucagon, which are responsible for regulating the amount of sugar that is in our blood and that enters our cells, as well as the formation or hydrolysis of fats and glycogen.
The ovaries produce estradiol and progesterone, which act directly on the female reproductive system and the mammary glands. Controls menstrual cycles and the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics in women.
The testicles produce the hormone testosterone, responsible for regulating the prostate, seminal vesicles and other organs, where it mediates the development of secondary sexual characteristics..
The tissue of our body that is made up of cells (adipocytes) capable of accumulating lipids and fats in their cytosol. Produces the hormone leptin, whose target organ is the hypothalamus, where its main action is the suppression or decrease of appetite.
Produces the atrial natriuretic hormone, whose target organs are the kidneys, where it regulates the excretion of sodium ions with the urine.
In this organ secretin and cholecystokinin are produced, which act on the stomach, liver and pancreas, inhibiting gastric motility and stimulating the secretion of bile and pancreatic juices for digestion.
They are responsible for making erythropoietin, a hormone that acts on the bone marrow, stimulating the production of blood cells.
Produces somatomedins, hormones that act on cartilage, stimulating cell division and growth.
It deals with the synthesis of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3, which acts on the small intestine, stimulating the absorption of calcium ions.
Produces gastrin, a hormone that acts in the same organ, promoting gastric acid secretion.
Hormones are the molecules (chemical messengers) produced and secreted into the bloodstream by the endocrine glands..
The blood carries hormones to the "target cells or organs" whose functions it must regulate, which contain specific hormone receptors that recognize them, allowing them to respond to these.
According to their chemical characteristics, hormones can be classified as steroids, amines, polypeptides and glycoproteins, whose interactions can be synergistic, permissive or antagonistic..
When we say that two or more hormones have synergistic actions, we mean that their joint action produces a “superior” effect (additive or complementary) than each one could produce separately. In other words, they both work for the same purpose (1 + 2 => 3).
On the contrary, hormones with antagonistic actions are those whose effects are completely opposite, that is, their mutual action does not produce a “superior” effect, but rather less, than that which each one could produce separately (1 + 2 = < 3).
And, finally, a permissive relationship between two or more hormones has to do with the fact that one of the hormones cannot act without the presence of the other (0 + 1 => 1) or with the fact that one of hormones requires the "enhancing" effect of the other.
Hormones with an amine-like chemical structure are derived from the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan. These are those produced by the adrenal medulla, the thyroid gland, and the pineal glands..
Polypeptide hormones are peptides of no more than 100 amino acid residues, whereas protein hormones have more than 100 residues. Examples of both types of hormones are antidiuretic hormone and growth hormone, respectively..
Hormones with a glycoprotein structure are hormones formed by long polypeptides (with more than 100 amino acid residues) and which in turn are associated with carbohydrate groups (such as sugars). Examples of these are follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
Steroid hormones are lipids derived from cholesterol and this group includes hormones such as testosterone, estradiol, cortisol, and progesterone. This type of hormone is only produced and released by two tissues: the cortex of the adrenal glands and the gonads..
The endocrine system is involved in countless pathologies or disorders, which is evident if we consider its extent and importance for the functioning of all our bodily organs. Among some of these disorders we can mention:
It is a pathology related to an excess production of growth hormone by the pituitary gland that causes excessive growth of the bones, mainly those of the hands, feet and face.
It is characterized by the deficit of hormonal production by the adrenal glands. Its characteristic symptoms, in addition to inadequate stress management, consist of fatigue, anorexia, weakness, muscle and joint pain, among others..
It has to do with the excessive production of cortisol. It causes weight gain, a greater propensity to bruise the skin, muscle and bone weakness (of the bones), etc..
They are two conditions related to the thyroid gland where its function is altered towards an excessive or deficient production of thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism is characterized by excessive nervous behavior, weight loss and sleep problems, while hypothyroidism causes excessive fatigue, weight gain and joint pain, among other symptoms.
It is characterized by an imbalance in the sex hormones related to ovulation and which is often reflected in an irregular menstrual cycle, in the appearance of acne and facial hair in women.
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