Endocrine system
Hormonal messenger system regulating distant organs via feedback loops.
Last updated
The endocrine system is a messenger system that uses feedback loops of hormones released by internal glands directly into the circulatory system to regulate distant organs.[1]
Quick Facts
- Latin
- systema endocrinum
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
The hypothalamus links the endocrine system to the nervous system via the pituitary gland.[2] The posterior pituitary stores and secretes antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin, which are synthesized in the hypothalamus.[3] Sixty percent of the cells within the pancreatic islets are beta cells; these cells release insulin when blood sugar levels are elevated.[4][5] Endocrine glands lack ducts, are well supplied with blood vessels, and often store their hormones inside intracellular vacuoles or granules.[6]
What the research sources say
The textbook "Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems" by Sherwood states that the human endocrine system operates via feedback loops.[7][8] Sherwood's "Human Physiology" describes feedback loops involving the hypothalamus and pituitary, such as TRH–TSH–T3/T4 and CRH–ACTH–cortisol.[7][8] According to the 2017 edition of "Greenspan's Basic and Clinical Endocrinology", the thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, pineal, adrenal glands, testes, and ovaries are the major endocrine glands.[2][9]
References
- Wikipedia, "Endocrine system" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Anatomy of the Endocrine System", www.hopkinsmedicine.org, 2019-11-19 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Endocrine system" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Gardner, Shoback, "Greenspan's Basic and Clinical Endocrinology", McGraw Hill / Medical, 2017, p. 49–68 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Endocrine system" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Quesada, "Physiology of the pancreatic α-cell and glucagon secretion: role in glucose homeostasis and diabetes", Journal of Endocrinology, 2008, p. 5–19; Patel, "How Does The Pancreas Work?", StatPearls, 2021 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Endocrine system" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Patel, "Physiology, Posterior Pituitary", NCBI, 2020 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Endocrine system" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Yau, "Islet Biology and Metabolism", Metabolites, 2021, p. 786 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Endocrine system" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Marieb, "Anatomy & physiology", Pearson Education, Inc, 2014 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Endocrine system" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Sherwood, L., "Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems", Wadsworth Pub Co, 1997 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Sherwood, L., "Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems", Wadsworth Pub Co, 1997. facts only, no text reused. archive.org
- Open Library record, ISBN 9781259589287 ("Greenspan's Basic and Clinical Endocrinology, Tenth Edition"). CC0 (metadata); book content not read. openlibrary.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Endocrine system (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Human Anatomy
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Endocrine system (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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