HORMONES. That’s the first word
that comes into my mind whenever I hear the word endocrinology. From what I
know, hormones are the one responsible for the pimples and mood swings whenever
our monthly period comes. Though hormones may seem to be making it hard for us
at some point, its still important that we have this as this will balance
everything that happens inside our body. Hormones may seem to be doing simple
things but in truth, it is much more than we know of it. Of course, hormones are
not produced anywhere in our body. They are produce by several organs which are
collectively called the “Endocrine Glands”. The endocrine glands include the
pituitary, thyroid, adrenal and pineal glands. Together with these glands and other
hormone-secreting cells, these will constitute of what we call the Endocrine
System. With this, we need to study endocrinology in order to know how these
glands work inside our body.
WHAT IS ENDOCRINOLOGY?
According to Tortora,
Endocrinology is the science that deals with the structure and function of
these glands, and includes the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the endocrine
system. This system consist of complex organs that deals with the synthesis of
hormones to form new molecules, stimulation of the transport process of a
substance into the target cell and change the rate of a particular metabolic
reaction.
With these functions of the
endocrine system, balance is maintained in our body. A sign of disruption to
the system is the presence of disorders like goiter and acromegaly. Thus, in
order to return the normal function of the system, treatment will be given to
the patient such as thyroidectomy if patient experience goiter.
Goiter
References:
Tortora, G., Derrickson B.
(2009). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, 12th Edition, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., Chapter 17
Calbreath, D. (1998). Clinical
Chemistry: A Fundamental Textbook, WB Saunders Company, Chapter 14
Images credited to: http://www.kefaya.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Endocrinology.jpg
