Objective 14: Location, Histology, hormones, and function of some glands

Location and Histology
I learned about this objective in my textbook because it was easy to understand and it laid out it for you.  The book to me almost had it step by step.  Just by reading  about the thyroid gland the first thing that is mentioned in the book was its Location which is anterior to the neck, just below the larynx.  Histologically it is composed of spherical hollow follicles which are formed by either cuboidal or squamous epithelial cells.  I learned from the book that the parathyroid glands are behind the thyroid gland almost hidden from view.  Histology of the parathyroid tissues are often found with the thyroid tissue. The chief cells that make up this gland are smaller and darker staining than of the thyroid. The adrenal glands I did not need any introduction on because I knew they were perched on top of the kidneys.  The histology of the adrenal glands are that they are encased in a connective tissue capsule.  Also I already knew about its cortex and medulla.  The pancreas I would say is found behind the stomach.  It's histology would be the islets of Langerhans.  The ovaries are located in the lateral wall of the pelvis.  I learned that it has a lot of histology just to name a few it has follicular cells, granulosa cells just to name a couple. The pineal gland is a part of the epithalamus.  Thymus is located in front of the heart and behind the sternum.  The chart below as you can see helped with the hormones and functions of each of the glands.

Endocrine System Gland	Hormone Produced	Endocrine System Function
Pituitary gland	Antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin)	Its primary function is to help the kidneys to retain water in the body.
	Corticotropin (ACTH)	These hormones are there for regulating the hormones of the adrenal glands.
	Human growth hormone	As the name suggests, it is associated with the growth and development of the body. It is also known to encourage the production of protein.
	Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone	Important functions like the production of sperm and semen, and menstruation, are looked after by this particular hormone. Secondary sexual characteristics such as hair growth pattern, muscles, texture and thickness of the skin, nature of the voice, etc.
	Oxytocin	Helps contraction of the uterus muscles and mammary ducts in the breast.
	Prolactin	The process of milk production in the mammary glands is carried out by this hormone.
	Thyroid-stimulating hormone	Again, as the name suggests, this hormone is responsible for the functions of the hormones of the thyroid gland.
Thyroid gland	Thyroid hormone	The body's metabolic rate is controlled by this hormone.
	Calcitonin	It regulates calcium balance in species other than humans. Studies are still in progress to find its function in the human species.
Pancreas	Glucagon	The blood sugar level raises with its help.
	Insulin	It helps in lowering the blood sugar level. Apart from this, metabolism of sugar, protein, and fat are also carried out with its help.
Adrenal glands	Aldosterone	Responsible for maintaining the salt ans water balance in the body.
	Cortisol	The functions which regulate the blood sugar level, blood pressure, and muscle strength in the body is controlled by the cortisol.
	Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)	It is related to the immune system, bones growth and also to the mood of an individual.
	Epinephrine and norepinephrine	The nervous system is associated with it.
Hypothalamus	Hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)	It is known as the growth hormone.
	Somatostatin	It works by regulating the endocrine system.
	Dopamine	It inhibits the release of prolactin from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
Parathyroid glands	Parathyroid hormone	Calcium and phosphorus are eliminated from the body with the help of this hormone, which is also responsible for bone formation.
Pineal gland	Melatonin	Maintains the body's circadian rhythm, apart from what has been mentioned in the earlier segment.
Ovaries	Estrogen	The female sexual characteristics and the functions reproductive system are influenced by the secretion of this hormone.
	Progesterone	It plays vital roles in pregnancy. For instance, it helps in preparing the lining of the uterus for the fertilized egg to get implanted.
Testes	Testosterone	Men's sexual characteristics and the nature of the reproductive system, involve the secretion of this hormone.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/endocrine-glands-and-functions.html

Objective 12: Hypothalamus-pituitary complex hormones and their function

The anatomy and physiology book made this objective easy to comprehend because it seemed like oxytocin and Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was very easy to locate and understand.  Especially on the table on pg. 531 (below).  What made it easy also to understand and remember was that it is only two hormones.  I remember oxytocin from BIO 100 and I believe from BIO 210 because of positive feedback and that it released in response to uterine stretching.  ADH I had already knew dealt with keeping the body from being dehydrated.  My mother took diuretic drugs for her hypertension so that fluid would not build up in her ankles and such.

Objective 58: Relate structure and function of the endocrine system to digestion

HORMONE	PURPOSE	ACTION
Insulin	Regulate blood glucose (sugar) in the normal range	Forces many cells of the body to absorb and use glucose thereby decreasing blood sugar levels
Glucagon	Assist insulin in regulating blood glucose (sugar) in the normal range (actions are opposite of insulin)	Forces many cells of the body to release (or produce) glucose (increasing blood sugar)
Somatostatin	Regulate the production and excretion of other endocrine hormones	Slows down production of insulin, glucagon, gastrin, and other endocrine hormones
Gastrin	Assist in digestion within the stomach	Induce acid producing cells of the stomach to produce acid
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP)	Help control water secretion and absorption from the intestines	Causes intestinal cells to secrete water and salts into the intestines (inhibit absorption)

The chart above helped me with the pancreas aspect because the only thing I saw to relate the endocrine and digestive system was the pancreas.  By doing some research I found out that a whole system of endocrine cells can be found in the GI.  Their hormones stimulate, for instance, the production of digestive juices. In the stomach, gastrin is secreted which stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid.  Like I stated before the only like structure or organ that I can see is the pancreas.  The job it does for the endocrine system is that it releases insulin by the beta cells and glucagon by the alpha cells. The job it does for the digestive system is that it is the source of powerful digestive enzymes required to chemically break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins. It also secretes another substance to help neutralize stomach acid.

Objective 15: Describing how adrenal glands responds to stress

What have I learned about this objective is that the adrenal glands increase their production of cortisol in response to stress. Cortisol causes high blood sugar and pressure levels to rise in addition to doing other things. If the cortisol level is low, fatigue sets, low blood pressure, low blood sugar, and an inability to deal with stress occurs.  I hope I am not wrong but I believe Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) has something to do with this also because DHEA is the most abundant hormone produced by the adrenal cortex and if it is low, you will feel poorly.  This video below shed some light about the subject.  There was another video with a hot chick on it talking about it that really got me into the video and understanding the adrenals but I could not get it uploaded.  I sound like a guy right now dont I.  This video did do diligence to.

Objective 11: Understand structure and function of the endocrine system in relation to growth and homeostasis

What I have learned about the endocrine system is from watching and listening to my instructor Mrs. Gess in lecture.  Also by watching videos about the specifics of the endocrine system.  I learn by constantly surfing the internet on a specific topic or in this case body systems. So when I gather what I think is enough data I repetitively keep going over them and keep going over them until test time approaches.  Also I recollect what the teacher was saying because she gives good examples about certain things that sticks in your mind.  That is why I grew to love her teaching style. This is a video I found very helpful about the endocrine system

Objective 4: Differentiate the difference between endocrine and exocrine glands

I believe I learned about endocrine and exocrine glands in BIO 100 and what I remember about the lecture is that the main difference about them is that the exocrine glands have ducts andendocrine glands does not.  A great site that gives good details between the two is http://www.differencebetween.net/science/health/difference-between-exocrine-and-endocrine/
Also this video helped me out a lot.  I learned a great deal from videos on youtube.  It helped me to learn the nature of their secretions where endocrine glands secrete hormones while exocrine glands secrete digestive juices and things like sweat.  You will see that this video will be very helpful for anyone wanting to learn the differences of the two.  I know it sure helped me.

Objective 10: Identifying classes of Hormones

Not too much to discuss about this topic because there are only two classes of hormones and they are amino acid based and steroid hormones. I learned about this in BIO 100.  Hormones seems to be just about amino acid based except for the gonadal hormones.  Also if I am not mistaken the adrenal cortex produces some steroid hormones like aldosterone and cortisol.  To get a better understanding of steroid hormones I went to this website http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/steroid-hormones.html.  The pictures below gave a good understanding of how both deals with the plasma membrane.

Objective 5: Is the hypothalamus a true endocrine gland

This question was asked in class one day and half of the class thought the hypothalamus is not considered a endocrine gland and half believed that it is. I was with the latter. I believe the hypothalamus is an endocrine gland because the endocrine system is the second controlling system which influences metabolic activities of cells by means of hormones.  The hypothalamus acts as the helmsman of the endocrine system.  First by releasing and inhibiting hormones control the secretion of hormones by the anterior pituitary.  Secondly, it is supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei makes the hormones ADH and oxytoxin.  The picture above gives you a good lokk at the hypothalamus.

Objective 13: Gonad Hormones and their function

Everyone who is grown should know what the gonads are but for those who may not they are the testes aka nuts or balls and of course the ovaries. Testes for the male, ovaries for the female. There was really no need for me to be taught this information because I already knew this information through life and possibly the sixth grade.  For anyone who is 18 and older and does not know that men produce testosterone and women produce estrogen has to be living on another planet. You may get away by the skin of your teeth about not knowing about progesterone but estrogen and testosterone uh-uh noooo baby. As far as the function of the gonadal hormones, testosterone starts the maturation process of the male reproductive organs during puberty.  Also during puberty, secondary sex characteristics such as facial hair, deeping of the voice, body hair in general start to initiate.  In females, estrogen does the exact thing in females except the sex characteristics are different. Along with estrogen, progesterone starts breast formation and the menstral cycle.
All of this information was already known by yours truly.  Since I already knew this objective, here is a chart below that gives a little in sight of the gonadal hormones and their function.
 

Ovaries	Estrogen	It controls the development of female sex characteristics and the reproductive system.
	Progesterone	Prepares the lining of the uterus for implantation of a fertilized egg and readies the mammary glands to secrete milk.
Testes	Testosterone	It controls the development of sexual characteristics in men and the reproductive system.