The endocrine system is an integrated system of organs which involve the release of extracellular signaling molecules known as hormones. The endocrine system is instrumental in regulating metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, and plays a part also in mood. The field of medicine that deals with disorders of endocrine glands is endocrinology, a branch of the wider field of internal medicine.

Role in disease

Hypothalamus produces

• Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) Parvocellular neurosecretory neurons
  Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) Neuroendocine cells of the Preoptic area
  Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) Neuroendocrine neurons of the Arcuate nucleus
  Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) Parvocellular neurosecretory neurons
  Vasopressin Parvocellular neurosecretory neurons
  Somatostatin (SS; also GHIH, growth hormone-inhibiting hormone) Neuroendocrince cells of the Periventricular nucleus
  Prolactin inhibiting hormone or PIH or Dopamine (DA) Dopamine neurons of the arcuate nucleus
  Prolactin releasing hormone
  Pineal body produces
  
  
  
  • Melatonin(Primarily) Pinealocytes
    Pituitary gland (hypophysis) produces
    
    
    
    • Anterior pituitary lobe (adenohypophysis)
      
      
      
      • Growth hormone (GH) Somatotropes
        Prolactin (PRL) Lactotropes
        Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, corticotropin) Corticotropes
        Lipotropin Corticotropes
        Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, thyrotropin) Thyrotropes
        Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) Gonadotropes
        Luteinizing hormone (LH) Gonadotropes
        Posterior pituitary lobe (neurohypophysis)
        
        
        
        • Oxytocin Magnocellular neurosecretory cells
          Vasopressin (AVP; also ADH, antidiuretic hormone) Magnocellular neurosecretory cells
          Intermediate pituitary lobe (pars intermedia)
          
          
          
          • Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) Melanotroph
            Thyroid produces
            
            
            
            • Triiodothyronine (T3), the potent form of thyroid hormone Thyroid epithelial cell
              Thyroxine (T4), Also known as tetraiodothyronine, it is a less active form of thyroid hormone (Primarily) Thyroid epithelial cells
              Calcitonin Parafollicular cells
              Parathyroid produces
              
              
              
              • Parathyroid hormone (PTH) Parathyroid chief cell
                Heart produces
                
                
                
                • Atrial-natriuretic peptide (ANP) Cardiac myocytes
                  Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) Cardiac myocytes
                  Adenosine Cardiac myocytes
                  Striated muscle produces
                  
                  
                  
                  • Thrombopoietin Myocytes
                    Skin produces
                    
                    
                    
                    • Vitamin D₃ (calciferol)
                      Adipose tissue
                      
                      
                      
                      • Leptin (Primarily) Adipocytes
                        Estrogens (mainly Estrone) Adipocytes
                        Stomach produces
                        
                        
                        
                        • Gastrin(Primarily) G cells
                          Ghrelin P/D1 cells
                          Neuropeptide Y (NPY)
                          Secretin S cells
                          Somatostatin D cells
                          Histamine ECL cells
                          Endothelin X cells
                          Duodenum produces
                          
                          
                          
                          • Cholecystokinin I cells
                            Liver produces
                            
                            
                            
                            • Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) (Primarily) Hepatocytes
                              Angiotensinogen Hepatocytes
                              Thrombopoietin Hepatocytes
                              Pancreas produces
                              
                              
                              
                              • Insulin (Primarily) β Islet cells
                                Glucagon (Also Primarily) α Islet cells
                                Somatostatin δ Islet cells
                                Pancreatic polypeptide PP cells
                                Kidney produces
                                
                                
                                
                                • Renin (Primarily) Juxtaglomerular cells
                                  Erythropoietin (EPO) Extraglomerular mesangial cells
                                  Calcitriol (the active form of vitamin D₃)
                                  Thrombopoietin
                                  Adrenal glands
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  • Adrenal cortex produces
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    • Glucocorticoids (chiefly cortisol) Zona fasciculata and Zona reticularis cells
                                      Mineralocorticoids (chiefly aldosterone) Zona glomerulosa cells
                                      Androgens (including DHEA and testosterone) Zona fasciculata and Zona reticularis cells
                                      Adrenal medulla produces
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      • Adrenaline (epinephrine) (Primarily) Chromaffin cells
                                        Noradrenaline (norepinephrine) Chromaffin cells
                                        Dopamine Chromaffin cells
                                        Enkephalin Chromaffin cells
                                        Testes
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        • Androgens (chiefly testosterone) Leydig cells
                                          Estradiol Sertoli cells
                                          Inhibin Sertoli cells
                                          Ovarian follicle/Corpus luteum
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          • Progesterone Granulosa cells, Theca cells
                                            Androstenedione Theca cells
                                            Estrogens (mainly estradiol) Granulosa cells
                                            Inhibin Granulosa cells
                                            Placenta (when pregnant)
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            • Progesterone (Primarily)
                                              Estrogens (mainly Estriol) (Also Primarily)
                                              Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) Syncytiotrophoblast
                                              Human placental lactogen (HPL) Syncytiotrophoblast
                                              Inhibin Fetal Trophoblasts
                                              Uterus (when pregnant)
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              • Prolactin (PRL) Decidual cells
                                                Relaxin Decidual cells See also
                                                
                                                Journals Designed for Clinical Endocrinologists
                                                Islet cell antibody
                                                Binding of antibody to pancreas
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