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Endocrine glands
1. Endocrine glands overview
2. Pituitary gland, hypophysis cerebri
3. Pineal gland, epiphysis cerebri
4. Thyroid gland. Parathyroid glands
5. Suprarenal (adrenal) glands. Paraganglia
6. Endocrine pancreas – islets of Langerhans
7. Gonads
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Endocrine system� Endocrine glands:
� work parallel (in concert) with the immune and nervous systems
� neurohumoral regulation of body functions
� Anatomical peculiarities:� do not have excretory ducts (ductless),
glandulae sine ductibus (PNA)
� secrete hormones directly into the blood� highly vascularized
� surrounded with a dense network of fenestrated capillaries
� produce small amounts of hormonesacting on distant target tissues
� Chemical nature of hormones:� amino acid-derived hormones� peptide hormones – secretory granules
o small proteinso glycoproteins
� lipid derivatives� steroid hormones – cholesterol� eicosanoids – prostaglandins
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Endocrine glands
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� Endocrine cells:� aggregated as distinct endocrine glands:
� pituitary gland� pineal gland� thyroid gland� parathyroid glands� adrenal glands
� a distinct part of certain organs:� islets of Langerhans in the pancreas� collection of cells in:
o hypothalamuso testis (Leydig cells)o ovary – follicular and theca cells
� single endocrine cells – paracrine signaling
� intestinal enteroendocrine cells
� Typical arrangement of endocrine tissue:� in radially arranged cords or
in narrow anastomosing cords� adenohypophysis� parathyroid glands� adrenal glands
� epithelial vesicles – follicles� thyroid gland
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Pituitary gland, hypophysis
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� Pituitary gland, hypophysis cerebri(Lat. glandula pituitaria):
� small, unpaired body
� housed in the sella turcica
� overlapped by diaphragma sellae
� connected to the hypothalamus by a neural stalk, infundibulum
� External morphology:� ovoid shape
� weight ~0.5 g (>1 g multipara)
� size:
� length 8-10 mm
�width 12-15 mm
� height 5-6 mm
� color – reddish-grey
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Macroscopic anatomy
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� Anatomical parts:� anterior pituitary,
adenohypophysis (anterior lobe):� pars distalis – 75% of the mass� pars intermedia� pars tuberalis
� posterior pituitary, neurohypophysis (posterior lobe):� lobus nervosus – 25% of the mass� infundibulum
o pedunculus infundibulariso eminentia mediana
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Microscopic anatomy
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� Adenohypophysis – cell types:� chromophobes, endocrinocyti chromophobi:
� 50-60% of the cell population� small (12-15) agranular cells� stem cells
� chromophils, endocrinocyti chromophili:� acidophilic cells, endocrinocyti acidophili – 30-40%
� somatotropic cells – STH� mammotropic cells – prolactin (luteotropic hormone)
� basophilic cells, endocrinocyti basophili – 4-10%� gonadotropic cells – FSH and LH� thyrotropic cells – TTH and TSH� corticotropic cells – ACTH and MSH (melanotropin)
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Microscopic anatomy
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� Neurohypophysis:� pituicytes, pituicyti:
� glial cells – 25% of its volume� highly branched processes
� neurosecretory axons � Herring bodies� axovasal synapses, synapses axovasculares� neurosecretory material:
o neurohypophyseal hormones• oxytocin• Arg-vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone, ADH)
o neurophysin – a binding glycoproteino АТP
� postganglionic sympathetic terminals –catecholamines
� axonal endings in synaptic contactwith neurosecretory terminals
� Pars intermedia – 2%:� weakly basophilic cells
– MSH (intermedin)� chromophobes
– Rathke’s cleft cysts
� Pars tuberalis – 2%:� a funnel-shaped region� arranged in cell cords –
gonadotropins (FSH and LH)� small follicles
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Effects of hypophyseal hormones
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NB: pituitary gland is the conductor of the endocrine orchestra!
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov 9
� Hypothalamic nuclei:� nucleus supraopticus et paraventricularis
� tractus supraopticohypophysialis� tractus paraventriculohypophysialis
� axovasal synapses – neurohypophysis, Herring bodies
� Hypothalamic nuclei:� nucleus ventromedialis� nucleus dorsomedialis� nucleus infundibularis
� neurosecretory cells –releasing- and inhibitory-hormones
� rete capillare primarium ofeminentia mediana
� hypophyseal portal system,vv. portae hypophysis
Hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Pineal gland, epiphysis cerebri
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� Pineal gland, epiphysis cerebri (Lat. glandula s. corpus pineale):� small, unpaired body
� part of the epithalamus
� occupies the depression between colliculi superiores
� connected with habenulae tocommissura habenularum
� recessus pinealis – third ventricle
� grows in size until 1-2 years of age; undergoes involution after age 7
� External morphology:� pine cone-shaped (piriform) body
� weight ~120 mg
� size:� length 5-8 mm
� width 3-5 mm
� height 5-6 mm
� color – reddish-grey organ
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Microscopic structure
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� Pineal parenchyma – cell types:� pinealocytes, endocrinocyti pineales
� arranged in cords and follicles
� production of melatonin and pineal peptides – vasotocin
� Pineal stroma:� neuroglial cells, gliocyti centrales – 5-10%
� astrocytes – supportive function
�microglial cells – phagocytic function
� calcified concretions or “brain sand”,acervuli cerebri (corpora aranacea)� up to 1 mm in diameter
� accrue with age � degenerative changes
� covered by pial connective tissue capsule
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Thyroid gland, glandula thyroidea
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� Thyroid gland, glandula thyroidea:� the largest endocrine glands� anteriorly in the lower part of the neck
� External morphology:� a "butterfly" shape, thyroid (Gr. “shield”)� weight 20-40 g� size:
� transverse 3 cm� anterior-posterior 2 cm� height 5 cm
� color – brownish-red
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Macroscopic anatomy
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� Anatomical parts:� two large lobes – conical in shape:
�right and left lobes
� isthmus gl. thyroideae
� length – 1-1.5 cm
�at ІІ-ІV tracheal cartilage
�pyramidal lobe,lobus pyramidalis
�variable in length
�occasionally absent
�remnant from ductus thyroglossus
�gll. thyroideae accessoriae
� thin fibrous capsule
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Microscopic anatomy
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� Thyroid parenchyma, parenchyma:� follicles, folliculi gl. thyroideae
� total number – 20-30 million� spherical or ovoid structures, d=35-500 µm� contain a gelatinous substance, colloid
� secretory product is stored in great quantity
� surrounded by an extensive lymphatic and fenestrated blood capillary network
� simple cuboidal secretory epithelium:o follicular cells,
thyrocytes• produce thyroid hormones,
triiodothyronine (T3) andthyroxine (T4)
• stimulation from TTH• thyroid colloid, thyroglobulin
o parafollicular cells, clear or light, C-cells
• secretion of calcitonin• part of the
follicular epithelium• isolated clusters
between thyroid follicles
o basal lamina
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Parathyroid glands, glandulae parathyroideae
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� Parathyroid glands, glandulae parathyroideae:� gll. parathyroideae superiores
� gll. parathyroideae inferiores� usually four small glands
� variable number and location� located behind the thyroid gland,
at each end of its upper and lower poles
� sometimes embedded in the thyroid gland
� contained within a connective tissue capsule
� External morphology:� ovoid or bean-like shape
� total weight 30-50 mg
� size:� length 6 mm� width 3-4 mm� thickness 2-3 mm
� 'mustard yellow' color
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Microscopic anatomy� Parenchyma – lobulated structure:
� anastomosing cords of parenchymal cells,
parathyrocytes:
� chief (principal) cells, endocrinocyti principales
o small polygonal cells with granules
o contain parathyroid hormone
� oxyphil (eosinophil) cells,
endocrinocyti oxyphilicae (acidophilicae)
o appear just before puberty
o up to 3% of the cell population
o larger in size
o unknown function
� intermediate forms
between chief and oxyphil cells
� adipose cells – more than 50%
of the gland in older people
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Adrenal (suprarenal) gland, glandula suprarenalis (adrenalis)
� orange-colored paired organs
� location:� in the retroperitoneum
� on the superior poles of the kidney, embedded in adipose tissue
� shape:� right – triangular
� left – half-moon shape
� size:� length – 5-6 cm
� width – 3-4 cm
� thickness – 1 cm
� weight:� right – 4-5 g
� left – 5-7 g
� size and mass – age-relatedand functionally variable
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Macroscopic anatomy� Two margins and three surfaces:
� margo superior et medialis� facies renalis – basis� facies anterior – hilum� facies posterior
� Anatomical parts:� adrenal cortex – a yellow
peripheral layer – 9/10
� adrenal medulla – a reddish-browncentral layer – 1/10
� capsule – two layers� subcapsular layer of
epithelial cells �accessory glands, gll. suprarenales accessoriae:� spermatic cord� epididymis� lig. latum uteri
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Microscopic structure
� Adrenal cortex – endocrinocytus corticalis– steroid hormones:� zona glomerulosa (15%) – mineralocorticoids� zona fasciculata (60%) – glucocorticoids (cortisol)
� pars externa et interna
� zona reticularis (35%) –androgens and (possibly) glucocorticoids?
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
� Adrenal medulla – cellulae chromaffinae(medullary cells):� endocrinocyti lucidi � epinephrine
(adrenaline – 80%)� endocrinocyti densi � norepinephrine -
(noradrenaline – 20%)
�pheochromocytoma
Microscopic structure
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
� Embryonic origin – neuroectoderm(neural crest)
� chromaffin cells, chromaffinocyti (type І)� epitheloid satellite cells (type ІІ)
� aortic bodies, paragangliа aortica(of Zuckerkandl) – 1 cm
� carotid body, glomus caroticum� jugular body, glomus jugulare – 0.5 mm
� coccygeal body, glomus coccygeum(Luschka’s gland) – 2-3 mm
Paraganglia
Emil Zuckerkandl (1849-1910)
Hubert Luschka (1820-1875)
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Endocrine testis� Interstitial cells (of Leydig),
endocrinocyti interstitiales –12% of the testicular volume
� Embryonic origin:� mesenchymal?� neuroectodermal?
� fenestrated capillaries� steroid-secreting cells – testosterone� hormonal control – luteinizing hormone
(LH or ICSH) from the hypophysis
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Endocrine ovary� endocrinocyti thecales, theca cells
– theca interna
� epitheliocyti folliculares, follicular or granulosa cells – stratum granulosum
� fenestrated capillaries� synthesize estrogens (estradiol)
and gestagens (progesterone)� hormonal control – follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the hypophysis
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Endocrine pancreas, pars endocrina pancreatis
� Islets of Langerhans, insulae pancreaticae Langerhansi
� number: > 1 million (1-2%)
� total weight: ~ 1 g� location: more abundant
in the tail, cauda pancreatis� size: diameter 100-300 µm � fine capsule of reticular fibers� a network of blood capillaries,
rete capillare
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Islets of Langerhans� three principal cell types, inculocyti:
� А (α)-cells – 15-20% � glucagon� B (β)-cells – 60-80% � insulin� D (δ)-cells (A1-cells) – 5-10% �
somatostatin
� other cell types – 5%:� PP (F)-cells – 2-5% �
pancreatic polypeptide� D1-cells – 0.5-1% �
vasoactive intestinal polypeptide� EC-cells – isolated �
secretin, motilin, substance P, serotonin, dopamine
� G-cells � gastrin� Y-cells � ghrelin
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Gastroenteropancreatic (GEP)endocrine system
� GEP = all the enteroendocrine (chromaffin) cellsof the digestive system
� APUD = Amine Precursor Uptake and Decarboxylation
� DNES = diffuse neuroendocrine system orparaneuron concept
AGE Pearse(1916-2003) 27
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ENDOCRINOLOGY
Prof. Dr. Nikolai Lazarov
Thank you ...
So, at long last, here are the glands!
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