Endocrine System Overview - Anatomy & Physiology
The Endocrine System
Comprised of a group of glands, the endocrine system secretes hormones into the bloodstream which may have their effects on tissues and organs far from where they were produced.
The endocrine system consists of cells and tissues that have no direct anatomical contact with eachother but still function as a unit. The function of the endocrine system is to integrate with the nervous system to control the physiology of the body systems.
The endocrine system is under control of the nervous system with close association between the Hypothalamus and the Pituitary Gland, which acts to co-ordinate many of the body's other endocrine glands. The system relies largely on negative feedback loops to maintain homeostasis, with some examples of positive feedback to elicit suitable responses.
Many of the endocrine glands have a similar basic structure, composed of clusters of secretory cells of epithelial origin. Hormones are secreted into the interstitial space wherby they are rapidly absorbed into the circulatory system. In contrast the exocrine system has a duct system and so can secrete its contents directly into its target area.
Here we will consider the main endocrine glands and their functional anatomy and physiology:
Endocrine functions of the following organs which have a partially endocrine function will be briefly covered: