ENDOCRINOLOGY


    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
Acromegaly


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

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