Oh.. Endocrinology.. Right....

Fun tidbit:

The Bearded Lady

The bearded lady you see from the circus that you are astounded of is actually an individual with a condition call hirsutism where excessive growth of facial and body hair is induced by excess androgen production and yes, like Salma Hayek in the movie ‘Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant’ where she portrays the role of the bearded lady. But no, in the real hormonal condition, the growth of hair cannot be controlled or induced according to ones will, that’s Salmas’ power.

Personal thought…

Puberty, warfare of Hormones

When I was a wee lass, I would encounter cues from old American cliché 40’s sitcoms and educational commercials or infomercials from telly(TV), where the speaker wound sound really enthusiastic plus the audio record of people laughing would make it sound more interesting to listen to that would go on something like this, “Hey Jimmy, are you experiencing changes in your body since you turned thirteen? If yes, don’t be stressed because these are normal events happening during puberty and chiefly because of HORMONES.” That’s where I first encountered one of the major concerns of endocrinology, and no, it’s not about Jimmy going through “The Phase” as they say but it’s what’s causing the phase, Hormones. Well, endocrinology isn’t all about hormones entirely though, it also involves the squishy part of our body that produces them, the tissue which is appropriately termed as glands composed of hormone secreting cells. Its collective term is the endocrine system. 

What ever is Endocrinology?

Let’s dissect the word itself, “Endo” which means within, “crino” meaning to secrete, and “logo” meaning to study.

In a comprehensive way to express what it means, it is the science which deals with the understanding of the structure of tissues composed of hormone secreting cells, wherein these tissues do not require the aid of ducts to secrete their byproducts we know as the hormones. It also tackles the comprehension of the role these structures maintaining homeostasis or the feedback system which sets the body at constant equilibrium. Being said, the aforementioned basic definition can be linked to its clinical function encompassing pathophysiology to aid in diagnosing pathologic conditions which the endocrine system is very much involved and being able to determine the disease, appropriate treatment can be formulated and provided.

Squishy Squashies

In some sources, endocrinology can also be defined as the study of intercellular communication as stated in a book by J. Larry Jameson. In the mechanism of how the endocrine system works, an endocrine cell produces hormones that is directed to a target cell, either distant or nearby. If the target cell is distant, it is secreted to the blood stream but if the target cell is nearby, the hormones travel via the interstitial space. It can also be an intracellular phenomenon where the endocrine cell producing the hormone is also the target cell; therefore it produces regulators of itself, an autocrine type of hormone transport.

Connections

The principles of Endocrinology doesn’t merely focus on one system (Endocrine System), it encompasses other body systems. In such case, the Nervous System is interlocked with the Endocrine System since the former can control the stimulation or inhibition of the function of the latter. The Endocrine System can regulate almost all cells in the body, remembering its hemostatic ability, so its effect in the body can be local or systematic.

Endocrinology is an ancient science and cause of that its boundary between other disciplines is growing thin because of its dynamic correlation with the other body systems. Its evolution continues to expand, formulate new expertise and sub-branches.

Why learn about it?
Its significance is obviously clinical, as stated earlier part of the function of endocrinology is to provide health assessment for diagnosis hormone-induced pathologies.

Diseases induced by hormonal abnormalities can be mild or severely fatal. From the slightest, reason why you don’t stop peeing because you either gulp loads of fluids or you have problems with your ADH(Antidiuretic Hormone) secretion to contracting insulin dependent diabetes.

Reference 

• Clinical Chemistry: Techniques, Principles, Correlations. M. Bishop et. al. 6th Ed. 2010. Wolter's Kluwer-Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 351 West Camden St. Baltimore.

• Harrison's Endocrinology. J. L. Jameson. 2nd Ed. 2010. Mc-Grawhill Companies Inc. China

•Endocrinology: Adult & Pediatric Vol. 1. J. L. Jameson et. al. 6th Ed. 2010. Saunders Elsevier. 1600 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Philadelphia.

• Principles of Anatomy & Physiology: Organization, Support and Movement, and Control Systems of the Human Body. Vol. 1. G. Tortora et. al. 12th Ed. 2009. John Wiley & Sons Inc. Asia-ISV

Photo Credits

donaldsweblog.blogspot.com

someecards.com
ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/internalmedicine/endocrinology/pcos.html