Endocrinology?
- What do we really know about endocrinology? First from its word "Endocrinology" we can easily say that it talks about the Endocrine System, and also about the different glands that produces "HORMONES".
Now, for us girls
have you ever wondered why we are experiencing menstruation and some physical
changes that happen to our body that include breast development, underarm and
pubic hair growth? And for boys that experiencing also underarm growth and
deepening of the voice? This is what they called Puberty.
What about,
experiencing bad moods, tiredness, sleeping a lot or craving in a particular
food? Not only that, for example when you see your crush? Or when you are
performing on the stage? Do you feel your heartbeat beats faster and loud? Because, these are
entirely due to HORMONES, HORMONES, HORMONES.
Hmm, but have you've
ever wondered, what is the Importance in knowing the relationship of Hormones
and Puberty? But before that, let's now define first Endocrinology. :)
What is Endocrinology?
Endocrinology is the
Scientific Study of Hormones and Endocrine glands.
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Figure 1.
the Endocrine System and its organs.
Image Credit:
In Endocrinology, it's not only about the glands and hormones that are being studied but also what type of diseases and conditions can it cause due to its hormonal imbalances.
These diseases and conditions can be due to the damage of the glands that produces hormones (e.g., pancreas, ovary) and through the use of some synthetic or natural hormonal drugs.
In the Endocrine System, there is what we called HORMONES. these hormones are being secreted by a series of ductless glands and these hormones signals the endocrine system to control and combines the functions of the organs in the body.
According to the book of Human Anatomy, Fourth Edition it says that in some ways the "Endocrine System resembles the Nervous System with which it closely interacts".
However, the Hormones in the endocrine system process slowly because it takes time to regulate the growth of the body and also the metabolism. Unlike the nervous system it rapidly response because of its nerve impulses. For example the contraction of the skeletal muscle, and the pain stimuli that activates if we are hurt.
What are the Endocrine Organs?
The Endocrine System like the other system has also what they called the Endocrine Organs, which has also specific functions and locations. Unlike other organs of the other systems the endocrine organs are just small glands that produce hormones.
These endocrine organs have what they called purely endocrine organs which these organs do not belong to the other organs.
Examples of these are the Pituitary gland, Pineal gland, thyroid and parathyroid and the adrenal glands.
The other endocrine organs that belong to other organs are the following: the Pancreas, gonads, thymus and the hypothalamus.
The endocrine system is also responsible in secreting hormones that helps in controlling the production of some body fluids or nutrients in the body.
For Example: the cases of gigantism and dwarfism,
Figure 2.
Image Credit:
It is due to
hyper and hypo secretion of growth hormone in the body that is being produced
by the pituitary gland.
Figure 3.
Image Credit:
Figure 4.
Image Credit:
Aside from
the pituitary gland the other case is, if the body produces too
much glucose,
The pancreas
one of the endocrine organs will produce insulin that will help in
lowering the glucose production in order to balance the
body metabolism or activity.
In that,
endocrine also helps in maintaining the homeostasis in our body.
Figure 5.
this picture shows the relationship of pancreas and insulin in maintaining the body glucose of a person.
this picture shows the relationship of pancreas and insulin in maintaining the body glucose of a person.
Now let us talk about the one question awhile ago:
- The importance between the Puberty and Hormones.
Video Credit:
In this video it talks about how do hormones and puberty
relate to each other and what are the specific hormones that
functions in a specific puberty stage.
One example is the menstruation cycle in girls and the
hormones responsible for that are the ovarian hormones, progesterone
and estrogen.
But what
about Hormones related in Emotions??
One example could be, when you see
your crush? Performing on stage or an emergency situation like when your house
is on fire?.. A Hormone that is responsible for this is the ADRENALINE.
Our Body produces Adrenaline when we are afraid or excited in something’s
or occasions, where in these hormones came from a gland which is located
near our kidneys called Adrenal gland.
To
further understand the hormone, ADRENALINE let's watch the video. :)
that's all :) godbless everyone! :)
Book of Human Anatomy, Fourth Edition Marieb|Mallat|Wilhelm
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