Hormones and Glands
Natalie Schieder and Samantha Schulz
Alden High School - Alden, NY - 14004 - Mr. Kasper’s Block 1 Biology Class
Results
Abstract
In the body, there are many types of glands and hormones. For
the body to maintain homeostasis, the glands must produce
certain hormones for each specific cell. Glands can be
Endocrine or Exocrine and then break down into specific types.
Glands release hormones for different types of cells to perform
certain tasks for the body. Exocrine glands are glands that
retain ducts to body surfaces. There are many activities for
glands to perform. They also release enzymes, metabolites, and
other molecules. Both systems may release hormones, but the
Exocrine glands most likely release enzymes for the body to
function. But the pancreas is the only gland that these systems
share and it plays out a major role in releasing hormones to
target cells.
The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland located at the base of the skull
between the optic nerves. The pituitary gland secretes hormones. Hormones
are chemicals that travel through our blood stream. The pituitary is sometimes
referred to as the "master gland" as it controls hormone functions such as our
temperature, thyroid activity, growth during childhood, urine production,
testosterone production in males and ovulation and estrogen production in
females. In effect the gland functions as our thermostat that controls all other
glands that are responsible for hormone secretion. The gland is a critical part
of our ability to respond to the environment most often without our knowledge.
Materials and Methods
For the completion of this project, the class had to use computers
to research topics on glands and hormones. We had to research
the Exocrine and Endocrine glands to discover how they secrete
their hormones for the body.
Conclusions
Hormones are your body's chemical messengers. They travel
in your bloodstream to tissues or organs. They work slowly,
over time, and affect many different processes, including
Growth and development
Metabolism - how your body gets energy from the foods you
eat
Sexual function
Reproduction
Mood
Endocrine glands, which are special groups of cells, make
hormones. The major endocrine glands are the pituitary, pineal,
thymus, thyroid, adrenal glands and pancreas. In addition, men
produce hormones in their testes and women produce them in
their ovaries. The ovary hormone Estrogens, works to create
growth promotion, maintain elasticity of connective tissues,
preserve bone mass and, and vascular compliance. For the
male testes, the hormone testosterone, creates growth of male
secondary sexual characteristics, sperm production and libido.
Introduction
To start, the Endocrine and Exocrine glands produce
hormones for their main priority, to reach cells. Endocrine
glands like the Thyroid can be large and obvious, but others
are small with very little duties to fulfill. Exocrine glands are
buried further into tissues, but when they act out their job,
there are ducts to connect them to the surface. There are
different types of Exocrine that are simple, which are tubular,
branch tubular, coiled tubular, and branched alveolar. But
more advanced types are the Alveolar.
Results
The pituitary gland actually functions as two separate compartments an
anterior portion (adenohypohysis-hormone producing) and the posterior
gland (neurohypophysis). The anterior gland really is made of separate
collection of individual cells that act as functional units that are dedicated to
produce a specific regulatory hormone messenger or factor. These factors
are secreted in response to the outside environment and the internal bodily
responses to this environment. These pituitary factors then travel through a
rich blood work network into the blood stream and eventually reach their
specific target gland. They then stimulate the target gland to secrete the
appropriate type and amount of hormone so the body can respond to the
environment correctly. Similar to the cortisol factory there are additional
factories: Growth Hormone, Prolactin,Gonadotropin, Thyroid.
Although
the pituitary gland is apart of the Endocrine system, they both have one
gland in common. The exocrine gland secretes digestive enzymes. These
enzymes are secreted into a network of ducts that join the main pancreatic
duct, which runs the length of the pancreas. The endocrine gland, which is
made up of the islets of Langerhans, secretes hormones into the
bloodstream. The enzymes secreted by the exocrine gland in the pancreas
help break down carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and acids in the duodenum.
These enzymes travel down the pancreatic duct into the bile duct in an
inactive form. When they enter the duodenum, they are activated. The
exocrine tissue also secretes a bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid in
the duodenum.
The hormones secreted by the endocrine gland in the pancreas are insulin
and glucagon (which regulate the level of glucose in the blood), and
somatostatin (which prevents the release of the other two hormones). The
Pancreas gland is major for both types because it has digestive and
hormonal functions.
Pancreas
Gland
The hormone that works for the pancreas, is called Insulin and it helps
the pancreas achieve to regulate blood sugar levels. Most hormones are
Steroid Hormones synthesized from cholesterol, or Protein hormones,
which are synthesized by amino acids. But in order for a hormone to
reach its target, it must received by the binging site of receptor molecules
which are either proteins, or Glycoproteins. The Pituitary gland secretes
the Luteinizing hormone, which In females this LH acts on the ovary to
stimulate the production of estrogens and induce ovulation. In males this
LH acts on the testis to stimulate the production of testosterone.
To end, Endocrine and Exocrine glands are very different in the way they transport
hormones, but they are alike in how they help the body maintain homeostasis.
Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers that are sent to certain target
cells. But mainly, hormones help keep the body functioning and in balance. The
glands that secrete these hormones are always working and may send hormones
through ducts, if it’s an exocrine gland, or directly through the bloodstream if it’s
endocrine. The pancreas creates the Insulin hormone which maintain blood sugar
levels and help properly digest the food a human consumes. Like all glands, each
one produces a hormone that is for a direct cell to respond to.
Literature Cited
http://www.emcom.ca/primer/list.shtml
http://www.hormone.org/endo101/
http://www.wisc-online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=AP13704
http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/liver_
biliary_pancreatic_disease/pancreas_anatomy_function/Pages/inde
x.aspx
http://www.netterimages.com/image/13159.htm
Steroid Hormones
Protein Hormones
Exocrine glands manufacture and release hormones. These
hormones are transported to the surround area, and to the blood. A
specific receptor is then needed for that hormone to do its specified
job. The ducts may be simple or compound. Simple ducts are ducts
that are single, while compound ducts accommodate more areas,
because they branch out. These ducts can coil and turn in different
ways giving rise to sub-classifications, depending on the shape of
the ducts. Classifications of exocrine ducts are merocrine glands,
holocrine glands and apocrine glands. Secretions in merocrine
glands are generated by intact cells. In holocrine glands, cells are
permitted to break up to produce compounds, and discharge
desired secretions. Apocrine glands dispense the cells with their
secretion. Cells are sprouting, and are replaced when needed.
These glands secrete proteins or mucus depending on where they
are located.
http://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/story.php?title=types-exocrineglands
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/ap/histology_mh/glands.html
Acknowledgements
All of our thanks in this project should be projected to our biology
teacher. The education in this project has been absorbed very well
thanks to our families because their support is more thank we could ask
for.
Exocrine
Duct
www.buffalo.edu