The Endocrine Glands and some of their Functions

FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY – NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE OR CURE ANY MEDICAL ISSUES

Endocrine Gland Function -- These are the basic Functions of the Endocrine Glands within the human body:

Anterior Pituitary Gland -– functions as a tropic hormone to stimulate thyroid, adrenal and follicle stimulating hormones

Posterior Pituitary Gland -– functions to stimulate the production of anti-diuretic hormones and oxytocin, which stimulates uterine contractions during labor

Hypothalamus Gland -– stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine.

Parathyroid Gland -– functions to produce parathyroid hormones which cause the breakdown of bone and an increase in circulating calcium concentrations within blood

Adrenal Cortex Gland - regulates electrolyte and fluid homeostasis, stimulates libido, and stimulates gluconeogenesis during times of stress

Adrenal Medullar Gland -– produces and excretes adrenalin, which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system during times of stress

Pancreatic Islets Gland -– produces the hormone glucagon, which promotes glycogenolyis and insulin, which acts as a ligand (key) to allow entry of blood glucose into muscle cell walls.

Ovary Gland -– produces estrogens and progesterone, which promotes female sexual development and pregnancy

Testis Gland – releases testosterone and promotes the development of male sexual characteristics

Thymus Gland – promotes the development of thymus cells, which aid in immune system development and maintenance

Placenta Gland – promotes conditions required during early pregnancy

Atria – release atrial natiuretic hormone (ANH), which regulates fluid and electrolyte homeostasis

Pineal Gland -- The pineal gland is involved in several functions of the body including:

• Secretion of the Hormone Melatonin
• Regulation of Endocrine Functions
• Conversion of Nervous System Signals to Endocrine Signals
• Causes Feeling of Sleepiness
• Influences Sexual Development

Pituitary Gland (anterior & posterior) --It is the gland that secretes hormones which are essential for the other endocrine glands to function like the adrenal glands, ovaries and testes, and thyroid in the human body.

Hypothalamus Gland -- in order for the brain to function properly and for the neurotransmitters in the brain to receive messages, the hypothalamus must be working correctly, since it is the functioning center for four of the brains most powerful hormones (neurotransmitters) that affect the mind; Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine and acetylcholine. 

The general functions of the hypothalamus are of extreme importance for the body, such as:      
pituitary gland regulation                  blood pressure regulation                                  hunger and salt cravings 
feeding reflexes                                   thirst                                                                       body temperature regulation 
hydration                                               heart rate                                                              bladder function 
water preservation                              hormonal/neurotransmitter regulation           ovarian function 
testicular function                               mood & behavioral functions                            wakefulness 
metabolism                                   sleep cycles                                                          energy levels  

Thyroid Gland Function -- Thyroid Gland Function controls how your body uses energy as well as makes proteins in addition to how sensitive your body is to other hormonal production. It is an endocrine gland located in the neck. The thyroid controls your metabolism meaning it affects how your body reacts with other bodily processes.

When something fails with your thyroid it can cause hypothyroidism which is when it is under active.  Symptoms of hypothyroidism:

Fatigue                   Depression            Loss of Libido        Constipation          Weight Gain          Dry and Itchy Skin

Parathyroid Gland Function -- The sole purpose of the parathyroid glands is to control calcium within the blood in a very tight range between 9.0 and 10.1 .  In doing so, parathyroids also control how much calcium is in the bones, and therefore, how strong and dense the bones are. Although the parathyroid glands are located next to (and sometimes inside) the thyroid gland, they have no related function. The thyroid gland regulates the body’s metabolism and has no effect on calcium levels, while parathyroid glands regulate calcium levels and have no effect on metabolism. Calcium is the element that allows the normal conduction of electrical currents along nerves—it’s how our nervous system works and how one nerve 'talks' to the next. Our entire brain works by fluxes of calcium into and out of the nerve cells. Calcium is also the primary element which causes muscles to contractKnowing these two major functions of calcium helps explain why people can get a tingling sensation in their fingers or cramps in the muscles of their hands when calcium levels drop below normal. A sudden drop in the calcium level (like after a successful parathyroid operation where the patient doesn't take their calcium pills for the first few days after the surgery) can cause patients to feel "foggy", "weird" or "confused like my brain isn't working correctly". The brain DEMANDS a normal steady-state calcium level, so any change in the amount of calcium can cause the brain to feel un-loved and the patient to feel bad.  Likewise, too much parathyroid hormone causes too high a calcium level--and this can make a person feel run down, cause them to sleep poorly, make them more irritable than usual, and even cause a decrease in memory. In fact, the most common symptoms for patients with parathyroid disease are related to the brain, and include depression and lack of energy! After removal of a bad parathyroid gland, most people will feel dramatically better. Some say it’s like "someone turned the lights on".  Most people don't feel good when their calcium level is above 10, and the vast majority of people will feel pretty darn tired and run-down when their calcium level is above 10.5 .

Adrenal Gland Function -- The adrenal cortex provides the life-sustaining function of providing hormones such as corticosteroids, androgens and aldosterone. The adrenal medulla provides hormones--adrenaline and noradrenaline--whose functions are important to a person's ability to deal with mental and physical stress.

Corticosteroids

• There are two corticosteroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex: cortisol and corticosterone.

Cortisol controls the body's use of the major nutrients--fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Corticosterone works with cortisol to suppress the body's responses to inflammation and has effects on the body's immune system.

Androgens

• Androgens are hormones that minimally affect male characteristics development and produced by the adrenal cortex.

Aldosterone

• Another hormone of the adrenal cortex, aldosterone, regulates blood pressure levels through influencing how much sodium is retained or excreted from the body.

Adrenaline and Noradrenaline

• Often referred to as the "fight or flight" hormone, adrenaline prepares the body to respond to perceived stresses/threats by increasing heart rate, increasing blood flow to the brain and muscles and assisting in the conversion of glycogen to glucose for ready use by the body.

Noradrenaline affects vasoconstriction, which elevates blood pressure during perceived stresses/threats.

Thymus Gland Function -- The main function of the thymus gland is to produce and process lymphocytes or T-cells (where 'T' stands for thymus derived). Lymphocytes are white blood cells (WBCs), which are also known as leukocytes. After the white blood cells mature, they leave the thymus gland and get settled in the spleen and the lymph nodes, where a fresh batch of T-cells is produced. These white blood cells are the body's immunity system and protect the body by producing antibodies that stop the invasion of foreign agents, bacteria and viruses. These cells also ensure the proper functioning of the body system and look after the wear and tear of the organs. Another function of thymus gland is to prevent the abnormal growth of cells that may lead to cancer. The T lymphocytes travel from the bone marrow to the thymus gland where they remain till they get activated. After maturity, the lymphocytes enter the blood stream from where they travel to other lymphatic organs and provide defense mechanism against diseases. The thymus gland also produces a hormone called thymosin, which stimulates the T-cells in the other lymphatic organs to mature. This gland also produces another hormone called thymopoietin, which is protein present in the mRNA (messenger RNA) and is encoded by the TMPO gene.

In some cases, the thymus gland tends to become under-active. The individual may have a weak immunity system and be prone to many infections and allergies. These infections can be chronic and may prolong for a long time. When there is a lack of T-cells in the body, it can lead to immunodeficiency diseases. The person suffering from immunodeficiency diseases may show symptoms like extreme sweating, puffiness or soreness of the throat, swelling in the glands and depression. Malnutrition and a deficiency of protein, from an early age, in the diet can lead to the slow or limited growth of the thymus, thus impairing the normal functioning of the lymphocytes. Thus ensure that your child eats a well-balanced meal and also has the right amount of essential nutrients, which can also be given in the form of supplements.

Bartholin Gland Function -- The vestibular glands secrete mucus for lubrication of the vestibule. Sexual stimulation increases the mucus production.

Information brought to you by Healthier 4 Me, LLC_{, and is in no way intended to diagnose or cure any possible illness.  This information is strictly for sharing within the community.  Some of the information contained herein obtained from a myriad of professionals.}