Simple Hormone Pathways

The endocrine system works mostly off Negative Feedback which is how the product prevents the stimulus. Sound hard? It’s like a Cordero student procrastinating on two timed writings due on Friday. If he/she continues, the product is an F in the class. The F, can in turn “turn off” the laziness and procrastination. The product, the F, prevents the Procrastination, the stimulus.

Insulin and Glucagon

Insulin lowers blood glucose levels when it spikes up too high. Glucagon does the exact opposite. The two hormones are made in the islets of Langerhans, a part of the endocrine system resting on the pancreas. The islets have beta cells that make insulin and alpha cells that make glucagon. Insulin makes the entire body other than the brain suck up glucose. Glucagon stimulates organs like the muscles, liver, and fat storage to break down and make more glucose.

Diabetes

Some people that like drinking down crazy tons of soda or eat superhuman amounts of food generally increase their risk for diabetes, which is when they lack insulin to lower blood sugar. There are two types of diabetes. The first type, Type I, is called the insulin-dependent diabetes. This form of diabetes comes mostly from birth. When this happens, the body kills off its own beta cells, so they can’t make insulin. They then need to get lots of shots so they don’t get too high of a glucose concentration in blood. Type II is called the insulin – independent diabetes. This one is when insulin is produced normally, but the target cells don’t want to take up the insulin. This form is mostly due to fatty habits like eating too much, then being lazy and not exercising like they should.

The endocrine and nervous systems don’t work together, but they both help an animal:

Though they do different stuff, the nervous system and endocrine system help each other out. For example, the brain can send signals that induce the generation of hormones. Most of the hormones secreted come from the hypothalamus, one of the endocrine glands on the brain. The hypothalamus sends crazy signals to the pituitary gland, which has an anterior part and a posterior portion.

The Posterior Pituitary secretes Oxytocin and ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone). Oxytocin induces contractions of uterus and mammary gland cells. ADH promotes the retention of water from kidneys.

The Anterior Pituitary secretes hormones such as FSH and LH, TSH, ACTH, Prolactin, MSH, and GH. Of these, TSH, FSH, LH, and ACTH are tropic hormones – hormones that regulate function of endocrine cells or glands. Prolactin and MSH are nontropic hormones, not regulating endocrine tissues. Growth Hormones (GH) circulate in the blood and induce growth of bones and cartilage. Synthetic Growth Hormones are used to treat dwarfism.