How can human
body able to adapt to changes? How can human body maintain homeostasis? What
causes your voice to change throughout adolescence? What controls female menstrual
cycle, pregnancy, birth and lactation? The answer is hormone.
Endocrinology is
a branch of medical science specializing in conditions of the endocrine system.
The endocrine system is a body system that consists of glands that secrete
hormones directly into the blood stream. The endocrine system and the nervous
system are related because each system can influence the function of each
other. Both systems help maintain homeostasis in our body.
Hormones are
substances synthesized at one location and travel through the blood stream to
produce effects at another location. For example, the concentration of Calcium ions
in extracellular fluids is regulated mainly by the parathyroid glands. When Calcium
concentration drops below normal, parathyroid glands stimulates to release
parathyroid hormones. Parathyroid hormones causes increase activity in
osteocytes and osteoclasts. These cells dissolve Calcium Phosphate crystals
found in bones, thereby releasing Calcium and Phosphate ions into the
extracellular fluids. The different types of hormones will be discussed by the
video below:
The endocrine
system is involved in tissue function, metabolism, regulating mood, sexual functions
and reproductive processes. Our growth and development can also be addressed by
studying the varying hormone patterns. Disruption of the endocrine processes
can lead to different disease states like for example underproduction and
overproduction of thyroid hormones leads to thyroid problems like
Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism.
References:
Medical Terminology, A living language 3rd Edition by Bonnie F. Fremgen and Suzanne S. Frucht
Clinical Chemistry, Interpretation and Techniques 4th Edition by Williams and Wilkins
Donald F. Calbreath, PhD Clinical Chemistry, A fundamental textbook
