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Click any of the nine major endocrine glands on the human silhouette to see its location, hormones, function and NEET-tested disorders. Visual reference for the entire chapter.
Tap any of the nine major endocrine glands on the silhouette or in the chip list to see its exact location, hormones, what those hormones do and the NEET-tested disorders for that gland.
Pituitary
Location
In the sella turcica at the base of the brain; attached to the hypothalamus.
Hormones
Anterior: GH, TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH, prolactin, MSH. Posterior: stores ADH and oxytocin.
Function
Called the "master gland". Its hormones control thyroid, adrenal cortex, gonads, and growth.
NEET disorder fact
GH deficiency = dwarfism (child); GH excess = gigantism (child) or acromegaly (adult).
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Filter by gland or search by name. Twenty-four NEET-tested hormones with gland, chemical type, target, action and NEET trap.
Filter by gland or search by name. Every NEET-tested hormone with its gland, type, target, action and a NEET trap. Twenty-four hormones in one place.
Growth Hormone (GH)
Gland
Anterior pituitary
Target
Long bones, liver, muscle
Action
Stimulates growth of long bones, protein synthesis, cell division.
NEET fact: Excess in childhood = gigantism; in adult = acromegaly. Deficiency in childhood = dwarfism.
TSH
Gland
Anterior pituitary
Target
Thyroid
Action
Stimulates the thyroid to release T3 and T4.
NEET fact: In iodine deficiency, TSH rises high while trying to push the thyroid harder, causing goiter.
ACTH
Gland
Anterior pituitary
Target
Adrenal cortex
Action
Stimulates the adrenal cortex to release glucocorticoids (mainly cortisol).
FSH
Gland
Anterior pituitary
Target
Sertoli cells (male); ovarian follicle (female)
Action
Supports spermatogenesis; stimulates ovarian follicle growth and estrogen secretion.
LH
Gland
Anterior pituitary
Target
Leydig cells (male); ovary (female)
Action
Stimulates testosterone production; triggers ovulation and maintains corpus luteum.
NEET fact: LH surge around day 13-14 of the menstrual cycle triggers ovulation.
Prolactin
Gland
Anterior pituitary
Target
Mammary glands
Action
Stimulates milk synthesis during pregnancy and lactation.
MSH
Gland
Anterior pituitary
Target
Melanocytes (skin)
Action
Controls pigmentation by stimulating melanin production.
ADH (Vasopressin)
Gland
Posterior pituitary (made by hypothalamus)
Target
Distal tubule and collecting duct of kidney
Action
Increases water reabsorption, reducing urine volume.
NEET fact: Deficiency causes diabetes insipidus (15+ litres of dilute urine per day).
Oxytocin
Gland
Posterior pituitary (made by hypothalamus)
Target
Uterus and mammary glands
Action
Contracts uterine smooth muscle during childbirth (parturition); milk ejection during lactation.
Thyroxine (T4) and T3
Gland
Thyroid (follicular cells)
Target
Almost every cell
Action
Control basal metabolic rate, body temperature, growth and RBC formation. Need iodine to be made.
Calcitonin
Gland
Thyroid (parafollicular C-cells)
Target
Bone and kidney
Action
LOWERS blood calcium by depositing it into bone and reducing kidney reabsorption.
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
Gland
Parathyroid (4 small glands)
Target
Bone, kidney, intestine (via vitamin D)
Action
RAISES blood calcium. Mobilises calcium from bone; increases intestinal absorption and kidney reabsorption.
NEET fact: PTH and calcitonin act in opposition. PTH is the hypercalcemic hormone.
Cortisol
Gland
Adrenal cortex (zona fasciculata)
Target
Liver, muscle, immune cells, almost all tissues
Action
Raises blood glucose by gluconeogenesis; breaks down protein and fat; anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive.
NEET fact: Deficiency = Addison disease. Excess = Cushing syndrome.
Aldosterone
Gland
Adrenal cortex (zona glomerulosa)
Target
Kidney distal tubule
Action
Reabsorbs sodium and water; excretes potassium. Raises blood pressure.
Adrenaline + Noradrenaline
Gland
Adrenal medulla
Target
Heart, blood vessels, muscles, liver
Action
Fight or flight emergency response: raise heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose; dilate bronchioles.
Insulin
Gland
Pancreas (beta cells of islets)
Target
Liver, muscle, fat cells
Action
LOWERS blood glucose. Promotes uptake (via GLUT4), glycogen synthesis, fat storage.
NEET fact: Deficiency or resistance = diabetes mellitus.
Glucagon
Gland
Pancreas (alpha cells of islets)
Target
Liver
Action
RAISES blood glucose by glycogenolysis (breakdown of glycogen) and gluconeogenesis.
Testosterone
Gland
Testis (Leydig cells)
Target
Reproductive organs, skeletal muscle, bone, brain
Action
Supports spermatogenesis; male secondary sexual characters; muscle and bone growth.
Estrogen
Gland
Ovary (granulosa cells of follicle, also placenta)
Target
Uterus, mammary glands, bone, brain
Action
Grows the uterine lining (follicular phase); female secondary sexual characters; bone health.
Progesterone
Gland
Ovary (corpus luteum, also placenta)
Target
Uterus, mammary glands
Action
Maintains uterine lining for implantation; prepares mammary glands for lactation; sustains pregnancy.
Melatonin
Gland
Pineal gland
Target
Brain
Action
Regulates the 24-hour circadian rhythm and sleep-wake cycle. Levels rise at night.
Thymosins
Gland
Thymus
Target
T lymphocytes (in thymus)
Action
Drive maturation and differentiation of T cells.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor (ANF)
Gland
Atrium wall of heart
Target
Kidney and blood vessels
Action
Released when blood pressure rises. Excretes sodium and water; dilates blood vessels. LOWERS blood pressure.
Erythropoietin (EPO)
Gland
Kidney (juxtaglomerular cells)
Target
Bone marrow
Action
Stimulates red blood cell production when blood oxygen is low.
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All major endocrine disorders grouped into hyposecretion (too little) and hypersecretion (too much). Cause, symptoms, treatment and the NEET trap for each.
Every NEET-tested endocrine disorder grouped into hyposecretion (too little hormone) and hypersecretion (too much). See cause, symptoms, treatment and the NEET trap for each.
Diabetes insipidus
Hormone
ADH (vasopressin)
Gland
Posterior pituitary
Cause
Deficiency of ADH from the posterior pituitary. Kidneys cannot reabsorb water in the collecting duct.
Symptoms
Passing very large volumes of dilute urine (sometimes 15+ litres per day). Extreme thirst.
Treatment
Synthetic ADH (desmopressin).
NEET fact
Blood glucose is normal. Do not confuse with diabetes mellitus.
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