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List the main endocrine glands of the body.
List the chemical nature of the major hormones.
Describe how the chemical nature influences hormone synthesis, storage, secretion, transport, clearance, mechanism of action, and appropriate route of exogenous hormone administration.
Explain the significance of hormone binding to plasma proteins.
Describe the major signal transduction pathways, and their mechanism for termination, for different classes of hormones and provide a specific example of each.
Endocrine glands secrete chemical messengers, called hormones ( Box 1.1 ), into the extracellular fluid in a highly regulated manner. Secreted hormones gain access to the circulation, often via fenestrated capillaries, and regulate target organs throughout the body. The endocrine system is composed of the pituitary gland , the thyroid gland , parathyroid glands , and adrenal glands ( Fig. 1.1 ). The endocrine system also includes the ovary and testis , which carry out a gametogenic function that is absolutely dependent on their endogenous endocrine function. In addition to dedicated endocrine glands, endocrine cells reside as a minor component (in terms of mass) in other organs, either as groups of cells (the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas) or as individual cells spread throughout several glands, including the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, kidney, heart, adipose tissue , and liver . In addition, there are several types of hypothalamic neuroendocrine neurons that produce hormones. The placenta serves as a transitory exchange organ, but also functions as an important endocrine structure of pregnancy.
Growth hormone (GH)
Prolactin
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Tetraiodothyronine (T 4 ; thyroxine)
Triiodothyronine (T 3 )
Calcitonin
Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
Insulin
Glucagon
Somatostatin
Epinephrine
Norepinephrine
Cortisol
Aldosterone
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS)
Ovaries
Estradiol-17β
Progesterone
Inhibin
Testes
Testosterone
Antimüllerian hormone (AMH)
Inhibin
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH; vasopressin)
Oxytocin
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH)
Somatostatin
Dopamine
Melatonin
Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
Erythropoietin
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