What is endocrinology?
Study of the endocrine organs and the action of its hormones
What are common features of endocrine glands?
What are the five primary endocrine organs?
What are the organs that combine endocrine activity with other functions?
The placenta combines endocrine functions with the functions of cells in what other organs?
Kidney, Brain, Liver, Thymus, Heart, GI Tract
What is considered the “master gland?”
Hypophysis (Pituitary Gland)
The hypophysis (pituitary gland) occupies a central depression of what?
sella turcica of basisphenoid
(also known as hypophyseal fossa)
The hypophysis (pituitary gland) is formed by what two parts?
The adenohypophysis secretes what hormones?
The neurohypophysis secretes what hormones?
The hypothalamus and adenohypophysis is connected by what?
Hypophyseal portal vascular (blood) system
The hypothalamus and neurohypophysis are connected by what?
Neural stem
The adenohypophysis is _____ and in a ____ location related with the neurohypophysis.
rostral, ventral
The neurohypophysis is in direct connection with the hypothalamus, which makes it an extension of what?
Encephalon (brain)
The pineal gland is located where?
in the middle of the encephalon (diencephalon), caudo-dorsal to the thalamus
The pineal gland produces what?
Melatonin
What is the purpose of melatonin?
Modulates sleep patterns in both circadian and seasonal cycles
The shape of the pineal gland represents what?
pinecone
Thyroid glands produce what?
Thyroxine hormones T3 and T4
The thyroid glands live where?
lateral to the trachea, caudal to the larynx
Thyroid glands occasionally may be connected by what?
An isthmus
Parathyroid glands produce what?
parathyroid hormones
How many parathyroid glands are there in normally?
normally 4, two in each side
Parathyroid glands are usually embedded where in dogs and cats?
thyroid glands