ABC's of Endocrinology

I AM HUNGRY!!
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       Have you ever wondered what happens to the food we eat (e.g. sugar, rice, meat)?Like how are they converted to simple substances, regulated and absorbed by our bodies? How about our body's mechanism against stress, change in temperature, formation of free radicals and even infections?Or what are the principal actions of our body as it responds to the alteration in fluid balance, electrolyte concentrations, blood pressure or glucose availability? 

Everyday millions of biochemical processes occur in our body. Most of these processes happen "para-sympathetically" or unconsciously. 
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To answer the questions above, understanding and studying a part of our system named the Endocrine system would be of great help. 

But first let us define the branch of science which deals with it : The ENDOCRINOLOGY. 

The etymology of endocrinology is from the Greek word "endo" which means within, "krino" meaning to separate and "logia", the study of. And so, " Endocrinology is the study of the intra- and also the extra-cellular interaction of the chemical messengers termed "hormones" as well as the tissue or glands that produces them and how these hormones affects the tissue it acted upon"

This image simply illustrates steroid molecules are
 being released by steroid hormone which diffuse in
 the capillary walls in able to reach  a target cell membrane
Photo credit: Google.com
Endocrine system is composed of several glands which directly secretes hormones into the bloodstreams. This is the basic differentiation of endocrine from exocrine because exocrine glands secretes hormones via duct. Although there is a gland which is in between like the pancreas since it secretes hormones on both ways. 

The classical paradigm of an endocrine system consists of a hormone produced by a certain gland into the circulation and then it will bind into a specific receptor of its target tissue and then the presence of the hormone will initiate systemic reactions and biochemical change of the cellular nature.

Let's take a look with "HORMONES"...

Glands and their Hormonescheck this for summary
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 Hormones, according to literature are chemical messengers from a gland to a specific target site to cause a series of process of biochemical reactions. Generally, hormones are produced by a specific gland released into the bloodstream and carried to the site of action and will cause a biochemical process.


Classification and Functions of Hormones
Chemical messengers can be classified according to their structure or  hormone according to tissue at which they are produced or click here.


These hormones are of great importance and that they are one of the reason why do we need to study the endocrine system. Note that the following are the functions of hormones:

1. Hormones act to stabilize the acute changes that happens in the body's internal environment
2.  Hormones controls the storage and utilization of the energy by the body
3. Hormones are important in the regulation of normal growth and development
4. Hormones are essential for reproduction.

Any irregularity in endocrine system may lead to different diseases. To know these diseases you can watch the video below: ROLL THE VIDEO!

 

*Endocrinology is a broad field of clinical science but I hope that  I was able to share the basic and essential facts  about it and that we both learned and gained knowledge from this blog.Please subscribe, comment below and check out my upcoming educational blogs about clinical chemistry. Remember no one is too young or too old to learn:)God bless guys!


To GOD be all the Glory!

References:

-Calbreath, Donald F. Clinical Chemistry: A Fundamental Textbook, Mosby 1998

-Whitley, Ronald J. et al: Pathophysiology

-Cheatham B, Kahn CR. Insulin action and the insulin signaling network. Endocrine Reviews16:117-142,1995

Suggested Readings:

-Tortora, D.J : Anatomy And Physiology

- Henry, John Bernard: Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods 22nd edition