The Endocrine System and its Functions

This solved assignment delves into the structure and function of the endocrine system. It examines key glands like the pituitary, thyroid, and pancreas, and their roles in hormone production. The assignment further explores how hormones regulate vital bodily processes such as blood glucose levels, growth, and metabolism. It also discusses the consequences of endocrine system dysfunction, citing examples like hypothyroidism.

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BIOLOGICAL COMMUNICATION
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Table of Contents
Structure of Endocrine System......................................................................................................3
Regulation of blood glucose levels................................................................................................4
Effects of hormonal imbalance .....................................................................................................5
Comparing endocrine and nervous system...................................................................................5
The central nervous system .....................................................................................................5
The activities of the central nervous system ............................................................................6
Effects of transmission of nerve impulses ................................................................................7
Reference List ...............................................................................................................................9
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Structure of Endocrine System
The endocrine system is comprised of thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, pineal and parathyroid glands.
Hormones secreted as messenger molecules flow along in the blood stream towards interstitial fluid
(Structure of endocrine system, 2017).
Function : Each and every cell, organ along with every human-body function is affected by these
hormones thereby having a major impact upon emotional-behavior, growing & developments, tissues as
well as sexual-functions. Also, the metabolic & reproductive systems are also affected.
Regulation of blood glucose levels
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Illustration 1: Structure of endocrine system
(Source : Structure of endocrine system, 2017)

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Proper maintenance of blood-sugar that is blood-glucose is a necessity of human-body. The
responsible hormones for this are glucagon & insulin whose secretion is done from the pancreas ( Normal
Regulation of Blood Glucose, 2015). The secretion of insulin & glucagon is are indicators responsible
for determination of diabetes within a human or any other type of sugar related problem.
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Illustration 2: Blood glucose regulation
(Source : Normal Regulation of Blood Glucose,
2015)

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Effects of hormonal imbalance
The main reason behind the occurrence of hormonal imbalance is the poor diet and excessive
stressful lifestyles. The energy of the body gets declines.
For example if the human body possesses an under-active thyroid gland, this situation is referred
as hypothyroidism. The impact of such a hormonal imbalance results in tiredness, weight-gain, body-
ache, dry-skin, hair becoming lifeless and constipation as well.
Comparing endocrine and nervous system
A quick response is shown towards the stimuli from the nervous-system, however they occur for
a very short time span (Underactive Thyroid Gland (Hypothyroidism), 2015). On the other hand, certain
time is taken by endocrine system in reacting towards stimuli by secretion of hormones in circulatory-
system targeting the desired tissues.
The central nervous system
The central nervous system controls the most important activities within the body which consists
of two main parts namely the brain and the spinal cord. The brain is the receiver and the
interpreter of the external environment, which is connected to the spinal that works as highway
of communication in terms receiving, interpreting, and then providing the interpretation. The
interpretation may include the taste, sound smell and the like (Louveau et al. 2015). Among the
two parts, the brain rests inside the skull that is protected by the cranium. The brain is connected
to the spinal cord through the vertebrae. From within the skull, the spinal that is foramen
magnum which further join the first or in some cases second lumbar vertebrae. The reponds or
the stimuli that are the interpretations as mentioned above, are received by the spinal cord
through the spinal cord in the form of spinal nerves that are projections of the nervous system
that are peripheral. The spinal cord is connected to the skin, muscles or joints through these
nerves. The transmission of efferent motor and efferent sensory motos in the form of stimuli is
carried through the spinal cord to the brain. The information or the stimuli are sent to the brain
through the spinal cord to the thalamus of the brain further to the cortex.
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The motor neuron plays a very important role in delivering the stimuli. The motor neuron is cell
within the spinal cord that is projected outside the spinal cord that controls the effector organs
like the muscles or rather carries out the stimuli-respond phenomena. The axons of the motor
neurons are called the efferent fiber nerve that consists of the upper motor neurons and lower
motor serves the role of different activities (Walhout et al. 2015). The upper motor neuron arises
from motor cortex that are called the cortico-spinal interneurons which further joins the lower
motor neurons in through the synapses that are carried through the spinal cord.
The activities of the central nervous system
The nerve impulses are transmitted across the membrane that of the neuron along the neuron that
are connected from one end and other. The transmission is the results of electrical changes within
the membranes. The electrical charges are different inside the membrane and outside the
membrane that are being polarised in case of unstimulated neuron. Neurotransmitter is the
chemical channel thruogh which inputs are received by a neuron from other neurons. When the
input or the stimuli are strong then only the input is passed down to the downstream. If the
transmission is in one direction then it is from dendrite to the axon that is done through the
opening or closing of the channels that are voltage-gated ions (Kim et al. 2015). In this case,
there occurs reversal of the membrane that was resting earlier which is potential of creating any
action in response (Taylor et al. 2013). The phenomena start as soon as a single stimulus reaches
the axon, the very moment it stimulates the other neurons.
The chemical messengers within the nervous system is the neurotransmitter that a carry the
messages. The neuron transmissions are carried out by these neurotransmitters. Signals are
transmitted through the neurotransmitters accross the chemical synspse like the neuro muscular
junction. The signals are transmitted through the chemical neurotransmitters that is done like
this. One nerve cell or neuron transfers the signals to another nerve that is the “targeted” nerve
which may be a gland cell or muscle cell. The synaptic vesicles release the neurotransmitters
into the synaptic cleft. In the synaptic cleft the signals or the chemical messengers are received
by the receptors in the target cell. Neurotransmitters play a very important role in the function of
the nervous system that shapes our everyday activities, life and function. The exact number of
transmitters are still not known but over 100 neurotransmitters are identified that carry out the
neuro functions.
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These transmissions of the chemical messengers determine the different actions of in human
bodies that include the voluntary and reflex actions within the body. The voluntary actions are
the ones that are dependent on these chemical messengers or rather neurotransmitters. The
voluntary actions within the human body are the one that are response to stimuli that which are
taken intentionally with conclusion from the brain and are never spontaneous or instant in any
way. The impulse are send from the cerebral cortex to the to the effectors through the spinal
cord. The effectors may be gland cells or muscle cells. From the spinal cord the impulse is sent
from relay neurons to the motor neurons ultimately. The reflex actions of the human body or the
involuntary actions are carried by the transmitters and are spontaneous or instant and no time for
taking decision about the action are given to the brain. The whole action is carried in a very fast
way within fraction of seconds. In this case the whole control is exercised by the spinal cord and
not totally by the brain without least consciousness. The consciousness comes after the result of
the action. The reflection action include sneezing , scratching and the like. The cranial reflex
consists of blinking that is exception in terms of control since this controlled by the brain but not
by the cerebral cortex.
Effects of transmission of nerve impulses
Any form of drug affects the function of the nervous system is terms of neurotransmitters. The
consumption of drugs like cocaine, nicotine,. Amphetamine, caffeine. These drugs interfere in
the actions of the neurotransmitters affecting the central nervous system. Though caffeine is not
considered as drugs by any actually it is considered a drug in medical terms because it affects the
central nervous system that does not effects since it speeds up the impulses in the nervous
system. However, the effect varies from person to person. The prominent effects include the
increase urination, increased alertness in the person.
The effect of the cocaine is very serious since it directly affects the central nervous system. It
increase heart rate, agiateion, sexula arise, feeling of well-being, inability to judge risks. Higher
dose causes headache, heart problems and other health issues. The effect amphetamine lasts from
few days top few weeks. This includes reduced appetite, high blood pressure, panic attack,
hyperactivity. Consumption of tobacco includes the risk of coronary diseases, heart attack and
other physical diseases. The nervous system is very much affected by the drugs in terms of
transmitting the impulses (Kreuter, 2014).
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Reference List
Louveau, A., Smirnov, I., Keyes, T.J., Eccles, J.D., Rouhani, S.J., Peske, J.D., Derecki, N.C.,
Castle, D., Mandell, J.W., Lee, K.S. and Harris, T.H., (2015). Structural and functional features
of central nervous system lymphatic vessels. Nature, 523(7560), pp.337-341.
Walhout, R., Westeneng, H.J., Verstraete, E., Hendrikse, J., Veldink, J.H., Van Den Heuvel,
M.P. and Van Den Berg, L.H., (2015). Cortical thickness in ALS: towards a marker for upper
motor neuron involvement. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 86(3), pp.288-
294.
Taylor, P., Humphreys, L. and Swain, I., (2013). The long-term cost-effectiveness of the use of
Functional Electrical Stimulation for the correction of dropped foot due to upper motor neuron
lesion. Journal of rehabilitation medicine, 45(2), pp.154-160.
Kim, H.E., Corcos, D.M. and Hornby, T.G., (2015). Increased spinal reflex excitability is
associated with enhanced central activation during voluntary lengthening contractions in human
spinal cord injury. Journal of neurophysiology, 114(1), pp.427-439.
Kreuter, J., (2014). Drug delivery to the central nervous system by polymeric nanoparticles: what
do we know?. Advanced drug delivery reviews, 71, pp.2-14.
ONLINE
Structure of endocrine system, 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.webset-lms.com/vtct/Course.aspx?id=5221>. [Accessed On: 27th May
2017].
Normal Regulation of Blood Glucose, 2015. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/diabetes/normal-regulation-blood-glucose>.
[Accessed On: 27th May 2017].
Underactive Thyroid Gland (Hypothyroidism), 2015. [Online]. Available
through:<https://patient.info/in/health/underactive-thyroid-gland-hypothyroidism>.
[Accessed On: 27th May 2017].
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