1. PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

2. The Endocrine System A “communication” system for the body
Major components of the endocrine system are:
Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland

3. The Endocrine System (cont.)
Secondary components of the endocrine system are:
Thyroid
Parathyroid
Pancreas
Adrenal glands
Gonads
The pituitary gland controls the secondary components of the endocrine system
During pregnancy, the placenta also acts as an endocrine gland

4. The Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland
Part of the brainstem
Controls the activity of the pituitary gland
Pituitary gland
About the size of a large pea
Called the “master gland” because it controls many other glands
Composed of anterior and posterior lobes
Each lobe contains a number of hormones
Hormones—chemical substances that regulate certain bodily functions

5. Hormones
Transfer information and instructions from one set of cells to another
Each hormone affects only the cells that are genetically programmed to receive and respond to its message
Hormones are divided into two groups according to their structure:
Steroids—slow acting, long lasting, and usually end in the suffix “-rone” (examples: testosterone, progesterone)
Peptides and amines—made of proteins, fast acting, and short lived (examples: insulin, ADH)

6. Female Sex Hormones Estrogen—responsible for:
Development of secondary sex characteristics
Formation of osteoblasts
Inhibition of osteoclasts
Bone loss
Progesterone—prepares lining of uterus for implantation of fertilized egg
Replacement female hormones may be derived from animal, plant, or lab-modified sources

7. Male Sex Hormones Also called androgens or masculinizing hormones
Primary male sex hormone is testosterone:
Produced in the testes
Stimulates the development of male sex organs
Maintains secondary sex characteristics
Progesterone—maintains healthy prostate
Replacement male hormones are typically anabolic steroids

8. Glandular Disease States
Some cancers (breast, uterus, prostate gland) are dependent on sex hormones
Use of opposite sex hormones appears to antagonize or inhibit tumor growth
Endocrine therapy is palliative only

9. Pituitary Gigantism
Results from an excessive secretion of GH in childhood
Usually caused by a nonmalignant tumor of the pituitary gland
Causes the child to grow excessively and to be bigger in all areas of the body
Size and growth are proportionate

10. Pituitary Dwarfism Results from a lack of GH
Person may be somewhat short at birth
In most cases the child’s growth is normal until 6 to 12 months of age

11. Acromegaly Excessive secretion of GH during the adult years
Characterized by enlarged bones of the cheek, hands, feet, and jaws
Prominent forehead and large nose
Arms, legs, and hands are disproportionate, excessively large
Often the person will have slender arms, sometimes with atrophied muscles

12. Anabolic Steroid Use
Excessive steroid use signals the pituitary gland to stop producing gonadotropin
Natural ability to produce testosterone may shut down
May lead to a permanent imbalance of the hormone
In men and women, anabolic steroid use can lead to:
Edema and weight gain due to sodium and water retention
Jaundice or hepatic carcinoma
High cholesterol and associated diseases
Increased or decreased libido

13. Anabolic Steroid Use (cont.)
Women may undergo masculinization, such as growth of facial hair, permanent increases in amount of body hair, and permanent deepening of the voice
Men may endure sterility, impotence, priapism, and gynecomastia (enlarged breast and nipple tenderness)