ANATOMY OF THE

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

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 Endocrine System
• Secretory cells of endocrine glands release their products,
signaling molecules called hormones, into adjacent
vascularized tissue for uptake by capillaries & distribution
throughout the body, rather than directly into an epithelial
duct like the cells of exocrine glands.
• Endocrine cells typically aggregate as cords, or as follicles
in the case of the thyroid gland.
• The major ones include: Pituitary, Pineal, Thyroid,
Adrenal, Parathyroid, Pancreatic Islets glands
• Besides, many other organs specialized for other functions,
such as the heart, thymus, gut, kidneys, testis, and ovaries
contain various endocrine cells.
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PITUITARY GLAND

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 Pituitary Gland (Hypophysis)
• It lies below the brain in a cavity of the sphenoid bone.
• It develops in the embryo partly from oral ectoderm and
partly from the developing brain.
• B/c of its dual origin, the pituitary actually consists of two
glands—the posterior neurohypophysis and the anterior
adenohypophysis—united anatomically but with d/t
functions.

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 Cell Type Hormone  Functions
Cell Type Hormone Produced Main Physiologic Activity
Somatotropic Somatotropin Acts on growth of long bones
cell (growth hormone,
GH)
Mammotropic Prolactin (PRL) Promotes milk secretion
cell
(Lactotropic cell)
Gonadotropic Follicle-stimulating FSH promotes ovarian follicle and development
cell hormone (FSH) and estrogen secretion in women and
luteinizing hormone spermatogenesis in men. LH promotes ovarian
(LH) follicle maturation and progesterone secretion in
women and interstitial cell androgen secretion in
men.
Thyrotropic cell Thyrotropin (TSH) Stimulates thyroid hormone synthesis, storage,
and liberation
Corticotropic cell ACTH Stimulates secretion of adrenal cortex
hormones
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 PINEAL GLAND

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 Pineal Gland (Body)
• It is also known as epiphysis cerebri, regulates the daily
rhythms of bodily activities.
• It develops with the brain from neuroectoderm in the roof of
the diencephalon.

Pituitary
Gland

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• A characteristic feature of the pineal gland is the presence of
variously sized concretions of calcium and magnesium salts
called brain sands.
• It is covered by pia mater, from which emerge septa
containing small blood vessels and subdividing various
sized groups of secretory cells as lobules.

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• The prominent and abundant secretory cells are the
pinealocytes, which produce melatonin.
• Melatonin release from pinealocytes is promoted by
darkness and inhibited by daylight and the resulting diurnal
fluctuation in blood melatonin levels induces rhythmic
changes in the activity of hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and
other endocrine tissues that characterize the circadian (24
hours, day/night) rhythm of physiological functions and
behaviors.
• In humans and other mammals the cycle of light & darkness
is detected within the retinas and transmitted to the
pinealocytes via the retinohypothalamic tract and the tracts
of sympathetic fibers entering the pineal.

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ADRENAL GLAND

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 ADRENAL GLAND
• They are roughly pyramidal, fattened organs, one at the
cranial pole of each kidney.
• Sectioned, fresh glands show two regions: Cortex (outer)
and medulla (inner).
• Each gland is surrounded by a tough connective tissue
capsule, which sends radial trabeculae, consisting
principally of reticular fibers, into the cortex.

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 THE CORTEX
The cortex is divided into three layers:
1.- The zona glomerulosa
2.- The zona fasciculate
3.- The zona reticularis
The adrenal cortex secretes steroid hormones:
i. Gluococorticoids (Cortisol and corticosterone), Affect
metabolism of carbohydrates.
ii. Mineralocorticoids (Aldosteron), Regulated water
balance.
iii. Gonadocorticoids (Androgens and estrogens).

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 ZONA GLOMERULOSA
 Zona glomerulosa is a thin, outer zone, which
consists of columnar epithelial cells arranged in
ovoid groups, which normally show no central
lumen.

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 ZONA FASCICULATA
 Zona fasciculata is a thick, middle zone, which is
composed of large, cuboidal cells, arranged in
long cords. The cytoplasm is basophil and
contains lipid droplets.

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 ZONA RETICULARIS
 Zona reticularis is an inner zone, directly in
relation to the medulla.
 In this zone, the cell form cords and anastomosing
network.
 The cells contain fewer lipid droplets.
 Many cells have shrunken nuclei and deeply
staining cytoplasm and contain pigment granules.

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 ADRENAL MEDULLA
• Cells in the adrenal medulla are ovoid and occur in groups
or short, anastomosing cords, surrounded by venules and
capillaries.
• Medullary cells have large, vesicular nuclei, and their
cytoplasm contains fine granules.
• This is the chromaffin cells. In addition the medulla
contains a few autonomic ganglion cells.
• The adrenal medulla produces epinephrine &
norepinephrine.

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 PANCREATIC ISLETS

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 Pancreatic Islets
• Pancreatic islets (islets of Langerhans) are compact
spherical masses of endocrine tissue embedded within
the acinar exocrine tissue of the pancreas.
• There are more than 1 million islets in the pancreas,
with the gland's narrow tail region most enriched for
islets, but they only constitute 2% of the organ's
volume.

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• The major hormone-producing islet cells are most easily
identified and studied by immunohistochemistry:
• 1. Alpha cells secrete primarily glucagon and are located
near the periphery of islets.
• 2. Beta cells produce insulin and are located centrally in
islets and are the most numerous cell type.
• 3. Delta cells, secreting somatostatin, are scattered and
much less abundant.
• 4. F or PP cells, which secrete pancreatic polypeptide.

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 THYROID GLAND

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 THYROID GLAND
• It is situated in the anterior region of the neck,
consists of two lateral lobes connected by a narrow
isthmus.
• A connective tissue capsule envelops the gland
externally, which is continuous with the deep cervical
fascia.
• Under this there is an inner, true capsule, which
adheres closely to the gland.
• Delicate continuation of the inner capsule extends as
septa into the gland, dividing it into indefinite lobes
and lobules.

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 THYROID FOLLICLES
• Thyroid follicles are the structural units of the gland
compose the lobules.
• The follicles are embedded within a delicate meshwork of
reticular fibers, which also supports a close net of
capillaries.
• A follicle consists of a layer, simple, epithelium enclosing a
cavity, which usually is filled with a stiff jelly called
colloid.
• The shape of the component cells is cuboidal. The bases of
the cells rest upon a delicate basal lamina.
• The large, vesicular nuclei lie centrally or toward the base.

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 PARATHYROID GLAND
• There are two pairs of parathyroid glands.
• They are not present in man until about 6 years of age, and
thereafter they increase in number, especially after puberty.
• The glands are small, oval bodies, which lie in close
relation to the thyroid gland.
• The parathyroid glands elaborate the parathyroid hormone.
• The hormone is important in the regulation of calcium
metabolism.

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