The Endocrine System at a Glance

Preface to the Third Edition 6 Preface to the First Edition 7 Part 1 Fundamentals 1. Introduction 8 2. Chemical transmission 10 3. Mechanisms of hormone action: I Membrane receptors 12 4. Mechanisms of hormone action: II Intracellular receptors 14 5. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland 16 6. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone: a peptide hormone 18 7. Principles of feedback control 20 8. Endocrine function tests 22 Part 2 Growth 9. Growth: I Cellular growth factors 24 10. Growth: II Normal growth 26 11. Growth: III Growth hormone 28 12. Growth: IV Pathophysiology 30 Part 3 Thyroid 13. Thyroid: I Thyroid gland and thyroid hormones 32 14. Thyroid: II Thyroid hormone secretion and action 34 15. Thyroid: III Thyroid pathophysiology 36 Part 4 Adrenals and Autoimmunity 16. Adrenal gland: I Adrenal medulla 38 17. Adrenal gland: II Adrenocortical hormones 40 18. Adrenal gland: III Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) 42 19. Adrenal gland: IV Cortisol and androgens 44 20. Adrenal gland: V Aldosterone 46 21. Adrenal gland: VI Pathophysiology 48 22. Endocrine autoimmunity 50 Part 5 Sexual Differentiation and Development 23. Sexual differentiation and development: I Introduction 52 24. Sexual differentiation and development: II Puberty 54 Part 6 Female Reproduction 25. Female reproduction: I Menstrual cycle 56 26. Female reproduction: II Ovarian steroids 58 27. Female reproduction: III Pregnancy 60 28. Female reproduction: IV Parturition and lactation 62 29. Female reproduction: V Pathophysiology 64 30. Female reproduction: VI Contraception 66 Part 7 Male Reproduction 31. Male reproduction: I The testis 68 32. Male reproduction: II Actions of androgens 70 33. Male reproduction: III Pathophysiology 72 Part 8 Posterior Pituitary Hormones, Salt and Water Balance and Hypertension 34. Oxytocin 74 35. Vasopressin 76 36. Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system 78 37. Endocrine hypertension 80 Part 9 Metabolic Endocrinology: Pancreas and Gastrointestinal Tract 38. Insulin: I The pancreas and insulin secretion 82 39. Insulin: II Insulin action 84 40. Insulin: III Type 1 diabetes mellitus 86 41. Insulin: IV Type 2 diabetes mellitus 88 42. Glucagon 90 43. Gastrointestinal hormones 92 Part 10 Metabolic Endocrinology: Energy Homoeostasis and Obesity 44. Energy homoeostasis: I Summary 94 45. Energy homoeostasis: II Central control 96 46. Obesity: I Causes of obesity 98 47. Obesity: II Cardiovascular and respiratory complications 100 48. Obesity: III Insulin resistance and endocrine complications 102 Part 11 Calcium and Metabolic Bone Disease 49. Calcium: I Parathyroid hormone 104 50. Calcium: II Calcitonin 106 51. Calcium: III Vitamin D 108 52. Bone remodelling 110 53. Metabolic bone disease: I Paget’s disease 112 54. Metabolic bone disease: II Primary osteoporosis 114 55. Metabolic bone disease: III Secondary osteoporosis 116 Part 12 Self Assessment MCQs 118 Answers 133 Appendix: Normal Values 136 Glossary 137 Index 139