Drugs and Hormones
Think of hormones as messengers that can increase or decrease tissue, organ,
and cellular activities by the amount of hormones that are carried by the blood.
Sometimes, through aging or disease, an inappropriate amount of hormones are
produced causing the patient to experience adverse reactions.
Hormonal drug therapy is used to return the patient to hormonal balance by
either replacing the missing hormone or by inhibiting the secretion of the hor-(^386) CHAPTER 21 Endocrine Medications
Gland Location Secretes
Pituitary Base of the brain Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
(hypophysis) Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Anterior Gonadotropins (follicle-stimulating
(adenophypophysis) hormone (FSH) and luteinizing
hormone (LH). Growth hormone (GH),
prolactin, melanocyte-stimulating
hormone (MSH)
Posterior Antidiuretic hormone (ADH),
(neurohypophysis) vasopressin, oxytocin
Thyroid gland Anterior to Thyroxine (T4) and
the trachea triodothyroinine (T3)
(Two lobes)
Parathyroid gland Lie on the dorsal Parathormone (PTH)
surface of the
thyroid gland
(4 glands—2 pairs)
Adrenal glands Top of each kidney Cortex secretes corticosteroids
(2 sections—medulla (glucosteroids and mineralcorticoids);
is inner and 2 cortex Small amounts of androgen, estrogen,
surrounds medulla) and progestin.
Pancreas Left of and behind Exocrine secretes digestive enzymes
the stomach into the duodenum;
(exocrine and Endocrine has cell clusters called
endocrine gland) islets of Langerhans; alpha islet cells
produce glucagons; beta cells secrete
insulin
Table 21-1. Endocrine glands and their secretions.