[Biology Class Notes] on Hormones and Hormonal Disorders Pdf for EXAM

Hormonal Imbalance Disease

The endocrine system is a network of glands in the human body that produce and release hormones that help control many essential body functions. Each gland releases specific hormones into the bloodstream. Hormonal disorders or endocrine diseases result when glands produce too much or too little of endocrine hormones, causing hormonal imbalance. In case of an excessive amount of a certain hormone in your body, the endocrine feedback system signals the brain, which in turn signals the proper gland to maintain the secretion level in check. However, failure in this process leads to hormonal disorders. Female bodies are more prone to getting hormonal imbalance diseases than a male body, which occur throughout their life during puberty, pregnancy, menstruation and menopause.      

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Figure 1 the Endocrine System in Male and Female Body

Types Of Hormonal Disorders

The symptoms of hormonal imbalance in men and women vary widely and depend on the specific gland involved. Blood and urine tests can help to check the hormone levels in your body, and you can further go under an imaging process to locate a nodule or tumour.

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Figure 2 Gigantism

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Figure 3 Goitre

Among the many types of hormonal disorders, Diabetes is the most common of hormonal imbalance diseases. Some of them are discussed below-

• Cushing’s Disease- If the pituitary gland starts to churn out more, the adrenal gland is affected. It leads to a similar condition called Cushing’s syndrome, which mostly affects children who intake a higher amount of corticosteroid medication.

• Adrenal Insufficiency- The adrenal gland in the human body releases too little of cortisol which is another hormone, and sometimes aldosterone. The disease caused by this phenomenon is Addison’s disease.

• Gigantism- The growth hormone is an essential hormone as it controls the growth rate in the human body as the name suggests. It is controlled by the pituitary gland. If the pituitary gland produces too much of it child’s bones and other body parts may grow abnormally. This can go in the other way around, hampering the growth in it is secreted too low.

• Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism- An overactive thyroid gland can cause hyperthyroidism, and an underactive thyroid gland leads to hypothyroidism in a child’s body. The most common cause for an overactive thyroid gland is Grave’s disease. Hypothyroidism, in some cases, is present at birth.

• Hypopituitarism- If the Pituitary gland stops to function or releases too little or even no hormones, this phenomenon can occur. Under this condition, women may stop getting their menstruation.

Hormonal Imbalances In Men And Women

Puberty and ageing are some of the natural causes of male hormonal imbalance. Men can develop different hormonal imbalance diseases than women for their different endocrine organs and cycles. Major types of hormonal disorders in men include- Prostate cancer and hypogonadism. Symptoms of hormonal imbalances in men are- reduced sex drive, ED (erectile dysfunction), a decrease in sperm count, reduced body hair growth, osteoporosis.

Hormonal disorders in females include- Polycystic ovary syndrome, primary ovarian insufficiency, ovarian cancer, early menopause. Women naturally experience cycles of hormonal imbalance throughout their life, especially during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. Hormone disorder symptoms in a female body such as heavy or irregular periods, weak and brittle bones, vaginal dryness, constipation or diarrhoea, infertility are highly suggestive of medical attention.

Solved Examples

1. Mention some of the hormone disorder symptoms in male body. 

Symptoms of hormonal imbalances in men are- reduced sex drive, ED (erectile dysfunction), a decrease in sperm count, reduced body hair growth, osteoporosis.

2. Name 2 hormonal disorders related to the Pituitary gland.

Acromegaly and gigantism are two hormonal disorders related to the Pituitary gland.    

Did You Know

• The term ‘hormone’ dates back several centuries, to the 1800s.

• There are hormones which are not part of the endocrine system, such as the hormones secreted from the placenta of a pregnant woman, including estrogen and progesterone. Ghrelin and Gastrin, known as hunger-inducing hormones, are also not part of the endocrine system.

• Diabetes is one of the most popular hormonal disorders, which happens when the pancreas stops producing insulin.