Neuroendocrine System: Parts, Functions And Characteristics
Our body is a complex organism which is made up of various organ systems, tissues, enzymes and fluids which allow us to fulfill certain biological functions which allow us to survive.
Now, the correct functioning of all these systems requires the existence of others that allow them to be managed and coordinated. The first and most relevant is the nervous system, responsible precisely for said management and control. But it is also necessary to generate elements that allow the systems to be activated or inhibited by the orders of the nervous system. The latter would be the case of the endocrine system.
And since the emission of these substances requires certain control at the neural level, We can also talk about a neuroendocrine system which allows controlling the emission of substances such as hormones, necessary for the proper functioning of various body systems. And it is about the latter that we are going to talk about throughout this article.
We can consider the neuroendocrine system to be set of structures that form the endocrine system and part of the brain dedicated to the emission, control and transmission of the substances they generate.
It is a vital system for the human being, which is responsible for the emission and management of hormones and as such influences the generation of changes in the functioning or even the structure of our body. These hormones travel mainly through the cardiovascular system towards the organs and tissues on which they must act.
In general, we can consider that this system originates in the hypothalamus and from there, passing through the pituitary gland, it can generate different circuits or pathways.
Among them, three stand out: the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (which especially regulates the body’s response to the environment as well as stress and activation), hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (focused on maturation and sexual development) and hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid. (more linked to body regulation and growth).
Features
Although at a general level the function of this system is to generate and manage the production and transmission of hormones, this fact means that the neuroendocrine system actually has a large number of subfunctions.
In this sense, among many other elements, it allows us to contribute to manage our immune system, regulate our sexual response, generate hunger or thirst so that we act when our body needs nutrients, experience emotions and feelings towards elements of the environment or towards other people, regulate digestion, control biological rhythms, maintain the electrolyte balance of our body. or even cause our growth and development during the life cycle.
Main parts of the neuroendocrine system
The endocrine system is made up of a large number of various hormone-producing glands, which are managed by the nervous system, jointly configuring the neuroendocrine system. Among the main components of this last system we can find the following elements.
1. Hypothalamus
The main nucleus of the nervous system that is responsible for regulating the entire neuroendocrine system the part of the system with the greatest role in controlling and coordinating its functioning and the release of hormones, is the hypothalamus.
This part of the brain initiates the production of different hormones that in turn activate the pituitary gland, another of the main elements of the system. Different circuits also arise from it, which include the pituitary gland and which are aimed at regulating different systems.
The hypothalamus produces different hormones among which oxytocin and vasopressin stand out, as well as hormones that release other substances that allow them to be synthesized in the hypothalamus
2. Pituitary gland
The pituitary gland or pituitary gland is another of the main elements of the neuroendocrine system, and it is specifically where most of the hormones are generated that are sent from the brain and through the blood to other areas and organs of the body. It is connected and attached to the hypothalamus by neurons and blood vessels, in fact hanging from it.
Although the hypothalamus is more of a part of the nervous system, the pituitary gland is halfway between it and the endocrine system, acting as the main nucleus that allows the orders of the nervous system to be sent to the rest of the endocrine glands of the body.
Likewise, it is made up of the anterior pituitary or adenohypophysis and the posterior pituitary or neurohypophysis. In the adenohypophysis, important hormones such as growth hormone, ACTH, luteinizing hormone, betaendorphins, prolactin or thyroid-stimulating hormone are generated. It is responsible for the release of trophic hormones, which are those that activate other endocrine glands in the body.
The neurohypophysis, although it is linked to hormones such as oxytocin or vasopressin, does not actually synthesize hormones: Its main function is to store and subsequently release these substances into the blood which are produced by the hypothalamus.
3. Epiphysis
Sometimes forgotten and sometimes confused with the pituitary gland, the epiphysis or pineal gland. It is a gland located in the brain which is of great relevance for us, given that it participates in the emission of substances such as melatonin and therefore in the maintenance of biological rhythms (such as sleep/wake).
It is also linked to the production of endorphins and is relevant in helping to manage our emotional sphere, or the production of melatonin.
4. Thyroid
The thyroid gland is one of the main glands of the endocrine system. Located in the throat, specifically on the trachea and under the pharynx, the thyroid is the organ that generates, among others, thyroid hormone and thyroxine which are fundamental in the metabolism and participate in the growth of the body.
It also affects the body’s temperature, the functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, and the management of body energy.
5. Parathyroid glands
Generally little known, this group of four glands is located behind the thyroid and its main function is to maintain a balance or homeostasis in the levels of calcium present in our body (both at the level of blood and bones, For example).
6. Timo
The thymus is a part of the endocrine system that is often unfairly forgotten, but that plays a fundamental role in our survival: it is responsible for producing T lymphocytes, an essential part of our immune system. It is located just behind the sternum.
7. Adrenal glands
Located above the kidneys and divisible into cortex and medulla, these glands are a fundamental part in the generation of hormones such as corticosteroids or in the production of substances essential for growth (including part of sexual characteristics), carbohydrate management, regulation of elements such as sodium or potassium, activation of the body or preparation for fight-flight.
In them, for example, adrenaline, cortisol or angiotensin are generated
8. Pancreas
Part of the digestive system, it is the main producer of insulin and glucagon, fundamental elements for the management, use and storage of glucose extracted from food. So, It is essential for blood glucose management and therefore a relevant element in metabolism.
It also secretes somatostatin, which helps slow growth by stopping the secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.
9. Testicles/Ovaries
The testes and ovaries are also part of the endocrine and neuroendocrine system, and are one of the main sources of sex hormones in our body The testes mainly produce testosterone, while the ovaries do the same with progesterone and estrogen.
These hormones affect sexual behavior, contribute to the formation of secondary sexual characteristics specific to each sex and have to do with aspects such as desire, preparation for childbirth, the strengthening and growth of bones and muscles or even socio-emotional elements (in both sexes) beyond the reproductive aspect.
Some diseases that affect it
As with the rest of the systems, the neuroendocrine system or some of its components can be affected by some type of condition.
Examples of this can be found, for example, in diabetes mellitus (the most common of all diseases linked to the endocrine system, which even has fatal potential if not controlled), in which the cells of the pancreas that secrete insulin are altered, or hyper or hypothyroidism in which the production of hormones by the thyroid is excessively increased or decreased in such a way that it generates various problems.
Different neoplasms or tumors can also cause problems in the different pathways that make up the neuroendocrine system. Other problems that may appear are Cushing’s or Addison’s syndrome, linked to excess/deficiency of cortisol, gigantism or dwarfism, hirsutism, growth arrest or alterations in physical development.
In short, there are many problems that can arise from a malfunction of the neuroendocrine system and that They can have physical, mental or behavioral consequences, to the point of being able to pose a risk to survival. It is essential to further investigate this system in order to be able to resolve problems that may already exist or prevent them from appearing.
