A Career In Endocrinology
Alex Ford, Tyler Peterson, Aleck Gao, Rachel Arkebauer
What is Endocrinology?
• Endocrinology is the study of the endocrine
system and it’s secretions
• The endocrine system is made up of glands
that secrete different hormones which act as
chemical messengers for the body
What Does the Endocrine System Do?
• The endocrine system’s overall function is to:
a) Help maintain the body’s energy levels
b) Aid in reproduction
c) Guide growth and development
d) Maintain homeostasis
e) Control some reactions to surroundings,
stress, and injury
How Does the Endocrine System
Interact With Other Main Body
Systems?
• Nervous System:
a) The nervous system controls some secretions
including those of the posterior pituitary
b) Some hormones influence the growth and
development of the nervous system
c) Hormones provide feedback to the brain to affect
neural processing
How Does the Endocrine System
Interact With Other Main Body
Systems?
• Cardiovascular System:
a) The blood is the main mode of transportation for
hormones to reach their destinations
b) Some hormones influence blood volume,
pressure, heart contractility, substance levels,
and red blood cell production
How Does the Endocrine System
Interact With Other Main Body
Systems?
• Reproductive System:
a) Hypothalamic, anterior pituitary, and gondal
hormones direct reproductive system
development and function
b) Oxytocin and prolactin are involved in birth and
breastfeeding
How Does the Endocrine System
Interact With Other Main Body
Systems?
• Respiratory System:
a) Adrenalin, secreted by the adrenal glands, helps
stimulate respiratory activity
b) Some hormones can affect the dilation of the
alveoli, controlling the amount of oxygen that
can be absorbed into the lungs
Effects of Drugs and Alcohol on the
Endocrine System
• Marijuana:
a) Marijuana causes a short term drop in hormones
that guide growth and development
b) Lowers sperm production and rate of normalcy in
males
c) Messes with the balance of hormones that
control menstrual cycles in females
• While these effects are usually short term in adults,
researchers suspect that marijuana smoking can
have long term developmental problems in youths
Effects of Drugs and Alcohol on the
Endocrine System
• Alcohol:
a) Alcohol can impair the functions of hormone
secreting glands
b) Alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to
obtain glucose from food, synthesize it, and
break down glycogen into glucose
Effects of Tobacco on the
Endocrine System
• Overview:
a) Studies have shown that nicotine affects many
different endocrine glands through direct and
indirect means
b) Tobacco smoke contains as many as 4,000
chemicals, with at least 60 different ingredients
being toxic
Effects of Tobacco on the
Endocrine System
• Thyroid Function:
a) Nicotine inhibits thyroid function by causing an
excess of iodine secretion while at the same
time slowing iodine uptake, it also inhibits
thyroid hormone synthesis
Effects of Tobacco on the
Endocrine System
• Adrenal Glands:
a) In the adrenal glands, smoking can cause higher
levels of cortisol (stress hormone) to be released
into the bloodstream, causing the body to feel
stressed
Effects of Tobacco on the
Endocrine System
• Reproductive System:
a) In a study done in 1994, the sperm count of a
group of smokers was 13%-17% lower than that
of non-smokers
b) Some research also suggests that fertility is lower
in smoking women than non-smokers
Endocrine Malfunctions
• Tumor cells from cancers of the lung or
pancreas may synthesize hormones identical
to those made by normal endocrine function,
but in excessive and uncontrolled fashions,
causing harsh side effects
Endocrine Malfunctions
• Human Growth Hormone:
Hypersecretion (Overproduction)
Hyposecretion (Underproduction)
If before growth plates fuse,
Children with HGH
hyposecretion
then it causes gigantism (8 ft+). lack the needed levels of HGH
to
grow to normal heights. Can
have
If after growth plate fusion
multiple causes, including
radiation
it causes abnormal proportions or chemotherapy, cancer cells,
Endocrine Malfunctions
• Diabetes Mellitus:
• Results from hyposecretion or hypoactivity of insulin
• When insulin is absent or deficient, blood glucose levels
remain high after a meal because the present insulin
either isn’t numerous enough or isn’t active enough
• Can cause excessive urine output, thirst, and hunger
• Hypersecretion causes blood glucose levels to drop too
low, causing the body to run low on energy, leading to
anxiety, nervousness, tremors, and weakness
• In Type 1 Diabetes, the body secretes little or no insulin
• In Type 2 Diabetes, the body produces ineffective insulin
Endocrine Malfunctions: Effects of
Gland Removal
• Lack of a gland may disrupt synergism,
permissiveness, lack of energy, and irritability
• After a gland is removed, there is no way for
the body to produce the hormone(s) that the
gland produced
• When this avenue of treatment is taken,
medicines are prescribed that have chemicals
that perform the functions of the missing
hormone(s)
Endocrinology Statistics
• School: It takes four years traditional college,
four years medical school, 3 years of
residency, and 2 years of fellowship to become
an endocrinologist
• Salary: The median salary for endocrinologists
in the United States is $186,666
• Outlook: The job outlook for endocrinologists
is steadily rising due to increased populations
and need for treatment
Bibliography
• Endocrine System. (n.d.). How the Nervous System Interacts with Other Body
Systems. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from http://faculty.washington.edu/
chudler/organ.html
• The Endocrine System: Diseases, Types of Hormones & More . (2010). Retrieved
April 26, 2010, from The Hormones Foundation website:
http://www.hormone.org/endo101/
• Marieb, E. N., & Hoehn, K. (n.d.). Developmental Aspects of the Endocrine
System. In Human Anatomy and Physiology (7th ed., p. 639). Retrieved from
http://wps.aw.com/bc_marieb_happlace_7/41/10721/2744585.cw/index.html
• Endocrine Effects of Tobacco Smoking. (2004). Retrieved April 28, 2010, from
Blackwell Publishing website: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/496223