The endocrine system feedback loop explained

[timguyperson]

A quick summary for you guys that I wrote up.

• Endocrine system = glands that release hormones which affect the development and functioning of the body.
• Hormonal changes of puberty start in the hypothalamus when it starts to increase production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in pulses every 2 hours. *starts releasing it a bit in middle childhood.
• Release may increase due to threshold level of body fat is reached. *Fat cells release the protein leptin which provides the signal to the hypothalamus.
• Puberty is delayed in adolescents who are excessively thin.
• Other factors influencing the time of puberty: genetics, stress, socioeconomic status, and environmental toxins.
• Release of GnRH affects pituitary gland which then releases gonadotropins which are follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and these then stimulate the development of gametes (eggs cells in ovaries and sperm in testes *gonads).
• Gonads release estrogens (#1 estradiol) and androgens (#1 testosterone ) *these hormones are responsible for most observable bodily changes in puberty (boobies and stuff). *childhood estradiol and test are about equal, but puberty the balance changes.
• Androgens also produced by the adrenal glands. Pituitary gland increases production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) which causes adrenal glands to increase androgen production.
• The feedback loop in the endocrine system runs between the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, the gonads, and the adrenal glands that monitors and adjusts the levels of the sex hormones. *Hypothalamus monitors levels of androgens and estrogens, at optimal level (set point) it reduces its production of GnRH. Pituitary responds to this reduction by reducing FSH, LH, and ACTH; the gonads and adrenal glands, in turn, respond to this reduction by reducing the amount of sex hormones they produce.
• When puberty beings, the set points for androgens and estrogens rise in the hypothalamus.

[sizerp]

Good notes.