A special place among the internal structures of man is the endocrine system. This is due to the fact that its activity extends to all organs and tissues.
General information
A certain number of endocrine system cells are collected together. They form the glandular apparatus - intracretory glands. The compounds produced by the structure penetrate directly into the cells through the intercellular substance or are carried with blood. The science that carries out the general study of structure is biology. The endocrine system is of great importance to humans and performs the most important functions in ensuring normal functioning.
Structure Functions
The endocrine system of the body takes part in chemical processes, coordinates the activity of all organs and other structures. She is responsible for the stable course of life processes in the face of constant changes in the environment. As the immune and nervous, the endocrine system is involved in the control of human development and growth, the functioning of the reproductive organs and sexual differentiation. Her activity also extends to the formation of emotional reactions, mental behavior. The endocrine system is, among other things, one of the generators of human energy.
The structural elements
The endocrine system of the body includes intrasecretory elements. Together, they make up the glandular apparatus. It produces some hormones of the endocrine system. In addition, cells in the structure are present in almost every human tissue . A group of endocrine cells scattered throughout the body forms the diffuse part of the system.
Intracretory elements
The glandular apparatus includes the following intrasecretory glands of the endocrine system:
- Thyroid gland . It is considered the largest intracretory gland. It produces important chemical compounds. In particular, hormones of the endocrine system such as T4 (thyroxine), calcitonin, T3 (triiodothyronine) are produced. These compounds take part in controlling the growth process, tissue differentiation, and human development. Substances increase the intensity of metabolic processes, the level of O2 consumption by tissues and organs. Failure in the development of certain compounds in the thyroid gland is fraught with the development of such pathologies as hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's goiter, thyrotoxicosis, cancer, cretinism, toxic diffuse goiter, myxedema (extreme stage of hypothyroidism).
- Thymus . This gland produces T cells of the body's defense system. She also secretes thymopoietins. These hormones of the endocrine system are responsible for the functional activity and maturation of immune cells. We can say that the thymus is involved in the vital process of controlling and developing the internal defense of a person. In this regard, it can be argued that violations in the operation of this element are also immune disorders. Moreover, it is difficult to overestimate the value of the protective system for humans.
- Parathyroid glands of the endocrine system . A compound responsible for the concentration of calcium is produced here. He, in turn, ensures the stable functioning of the nervous and motor apparatus. Pathologies associated with a malfunction in the activity of the parathyroid glands include hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid osteodystrophy, and hypercalcemia.
- Adrenal glands . These elements are the main source of norepinephrine and adrenaline. With violations in the functioning of the adrenal glands, a variety of pathologies can appear, including with a severe course. At first glance, the endocrine system is not associated with some of them. This, in particular, is about cardiovascular pathologies - hypertension, heart attacks and other vascular disorders. However, in many cases, a direct relationship is noted in the diagnosis and identification of the causes of the development of diseases.
- Pancreas This element belongs to the group of digestive tract organs. Two types of compounds are produced in the iron - glucagon and insulin. The latter provides a decrease in the concentration of glucose in the blood. Glucagon, in contrast, increases its content. Both hormones are involved in the normalization of fat and carbohydrate metabolism. In this regard, pathologies associated with violations in the activity of this body include diabetes mellitus and its complications, as well as disorders that are caused by overweight.
- Gonads . They produce sex hormones.
- The ovaries . These elements are part of the female reproductive system. Their main functions include the production of estrogen and progesterone. By producing these hormones, the ovaries are thus involved in the reproductive system. Pathologies associated with impaired functions of these elements include mastopathy, myoma, cystosis, cancer, infertility, endometriosis and others.
- Testicles . They are part of the structure of the male reproductive system. It produces steroid hormones (testosterone, mainly), sperm (germ cells). With testicular dysfunction, various disorders in the male body develop, including infertility.
Diffuse part
The main element that includes the endocrine system in this case is pituitary. This gland of the diffuse part of the structure is of particular importance. It can be called a central authority. The pituitary gland quite closely interacts with the hypothalamus, forming the pituitary-hypothalamic apparatus. Thanks to him, the regulation of the interaction of compounds produced by the pineal gland is carried out.
Compounds are produced in the central organ, with the participation of which stimulation and regulation of the endocrine system are performed. Six important substances are produced in the anterior pituitary gland. They are called dominant. These include, in particular, adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyrotropin, four gonadotropic compounds that control the activity of the sexual elements of the structure. Somatropin is also produced here. This is a very important compound for humans. Somatropin is also called growth hormone. It is the main factor affecting the development of bone, muscle and cartilage apparatus. With excessive production of somatropin in adults, agrocaemia is diagnosed. This pathology is manifested in an increase in the bones of the face and limbs.
Epiphysis
It produces antidiuretic hormone, which regulates the water balance in the body, as well as oxytocin. The latter is responsible for the contractility of smooth muscles (including the uterus during childbirth). In the pineal gland, compounds of a hormonal nature are produced. These include norepinephrine and melatonin. The latter is a hormone responsible for the sequence of phases during sleep. With the participation of norepinephrine, the regulation of the nervous and endocrine system, as well as blood circulation, is carried out. All components of the structure are interconnected. With the loss of any element, the regulation of the endocrine system is disrupted, as a result of which failures also occur in other structures.
Pathology Overview
Diseases of the endocrine system are expressed in conditions associated with hyper-, hypo- or dysfunction of the intrasecretory glands. Currently, medicine knows quite a lot of different therapeutic methods that can adjust the activity of the structure. They influence the choice of adequate options that correct the functions that the endocrine system possesses, symptoms, type and stage of pathology, and individual characteristics of the patient. As a rule, for basic diseases, complex therapy is used. This choice is due to the fact that the endocrine system is a rather complex structure, and the use of any one option to eliminate the causes of failure is not enough.
Steroid therapy
As mentioned above, the endocrine system is a structure whose elements carry out the production of chemical compounds involved in the activity of other organs and tissues. In this regard, steroid therapy is the main method for eliminating certain malfunctions in the production of substances. It is used, in particular, when an insufficient or excessive content of the compounds produced by the endocrine system is diagnosed. Steroid treatment is mandatory after a series of operations. Therapy, as a rule, involves a special regimen of drugs. After partial or complete removal of the gland, for example, the patient is prescribed lifelong administration of hormones.
Other drugs
With many pathologies to which the endocrine system is subject, treatment involves the use of restorative, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic agents. Radioactive iodine therapy is also often used. In cancer pathologies, radioactive radiation is used to destroy pathologically dangerous and damaged cells.
The list of medicines used to normalize the endocrine system
Many drugs are based on natural ingredients. Such agents are more preferred in the treatment of a number of diseases. The activity of active substances of such drugs is aimed at stimulating metabolic processes and normalizing hormonal levels. Specialists distinguish especially the following drugs:
- "Omega Q10". This tool strengthens the immune system and normalizes the function of the endocrine glands.
- "Flavit-L". This drug is designed to treat and prevent endocrine disruption in women.
- "Childhood." This tool is quite powerful and is used for chronic impaired functioning of the intracretory glands.
- Apollo IVA. This tool has the ability to stimulate the immune and endocrine systems.
Surgical intervention
Surgical methods are considered the most effective in the treatment of endocrine pathologies. However, they resort to them whenever possible in the last turn. One of the direct indications for the appointment of surgical intervention is a tumor that threatens a person's life. Given the severity of the pathology, part of the gland or organ may be removed completely. With cancerous tumors, tissues near the foci are also subject to removal.
Alternative methods of treating diseases of the endocrine system
Due to the fact that a large number of medicines presented today in the pharmacy network has a synthetic base and has a number of contraindications, herbal treatment is becoming increasingly popular. However, it should be noted that the use of herbal remedies without consulting a specialist can be dangerous. Among the most common recipes, we note a few. So, with hyperthyroidism, a herbal collection is used, which contains the root of the white cinquefoil (4 parts), catnip grass (3 parts), oregano (3 parts), peppermint (leaves), motherwort (1 part). Raw materials need to take two tablespoons. The collection is poured with boiling water (five hundred milliliters) and insisted overnight in a thermos. In the morning it is filtered. Take 1/2 cup before meals three times a day. Duration of admission is two months. After two to three months, the course is repeated.
Obese people are recommended decoctions and infusions that reduce appetite and increase the excretion of interstitial fluid from the body. Regardless of which folk prescription is chosen, the means should be used only after visiting a doctor.