Hormones of Heart, Kidney And Gastrointestinal

The hormones made by the Heart, Kidney, and Gastrointestinal Tract are very important for our health. Different parts of the body make different hormones that help control important functions like blood pressure, water levels, and digestion of food. Hormones heart releases, such as ANP and BNP as they control the amount of blood in the body and the blood pressure. Hormones made by the kidneys are called erythropoietin, renin, and calcitriol. Hormones made by our stomach and digestive system affect our appetite and how our food is processed.

Hormones of the Heart

The heart makes two hormones called ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) and BNP (brain natriuretic peptide). These hormones are important in controlling the level and pressure of blood in our bodies.

• ANP: The heart’s atria make ANP when there’s too much blood or pressure. It affects the kidneys and blood vessels, making the body get rid of extra salt and water. This makes the amount of blood go down, which also lowers blood pressure.
• BNP:  BNP comes mostly from the heart’s ventricles when there is more pressure. This medicine affects the kidneys and blood vessels by making them wider and causing more water and salt to be removed from the body. This helps to lower blood pressure.

Hormones of the Kidneys

The kidneys make special chemicals that help keep regulating our body functions.

1. Erythropoietin (EPO): The kidneys make a hormone called EPO that helps our body in regulating red blood cells (RBCs) in the bone marrow. It is produced only when the body does not get sufficient oxygen.
2. Renin: Renin is made by special kidney cells called Juxtaglomerular cells. It controls blood pressure by turning on a system in the body called RAAS i.e. (the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system). This system keeps sodium and water in the body, which makes the blood volume and blood pressure go up.
3. Calcitriol: Your kidneys make a thing called calcitriol, which is also called active vitamin D. It helps control calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body. It helps the body soak up more calcium and phosphate from food and makes calcium come out of bones.

This is a picture that shows where heart and kidney hormones travel in the body.

Hormones of the Gastrointestinal Tract

The Gastrointestinal tract produces numerous hormones that regulate the digestion and appetite of our body.

1. Gastrin: The stomach makes a substance called gastrin. Gastrin helps the stomach to make acid to break down food.
2. Cholecystokinin (CCK): Presences of cells in the small intestine make a hormone called cholecystokinin (CCK). It tells the pancreas and gallbladder to release juices like Bile that help digest food.
3. Secretin: Secretin is made by cells in the duodenum and controls how much bicarbonate is released from the pancreas to balance out the acid from the stomach.
4. Ghrelin:  Ghrelin makes you feel hungry and is made in the stomach.
5. Leptin: Leptin is made by fat cells and helps to control how much food we eat by making us less hungry and using up more energy.

Here you can see how these hormones are made and what they do.

Application of these Hormones in Everyday Living

Studying the hormones made by the heart, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract is important for medicine and everyday living. Here are some things to show you.

• Diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases: To find and treat heart problems, doctors look at two types of hormones called ANP and BNP that the heart produces. These chemicals help identify and keep track of heart failure. The kidneys control a system called renin-angiotensin-aldosterone. Drugs that work this system are commonly used to cure high blood pressure and heart issues.
• Management of kidney disease: Kidney disease can be managed by understanding how hormones like EPO and renin affect kidney function. EPO replacement therapy helps people with chronic kidney disease who have anemia.
• Regulation of digestion and metabolism: Digestion and metabolism are controlled by hormones made by the gastrointestinal tract. Hormones like gastrin and CCK help with this regulation. Some medicines can treat acid reflux and obesity by focusing on certain body hormones.
• Hormone replacement therapy: When hormones in our body are not balanced or insufficient, we may get sick and experience different problems. To solve this, we can take hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a way to treat problems by giving someone hormones. The hormones will make them feel better by fixing their hormone balance. For instance, women who are going through menopause may get medicines called estrogen and progesterone HRT to feel better when they have hot flashes, night sweats, or other problems.

FAQs on Hormones of Heart, Kidney, and Gastrointestinal Tract

Q1: What does the erythropoietin (EPO) hormone made by the kidneys do?

Answer:

The kidneys make something called EPO hormone, which controls the creation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. It comes out when there is not enough air in the body.

Q2: How does the kidney’s renin hormone control blood pressure? 

Answer:

The kidneys make a hormone called renin. This hormone starts a process called the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). RAAS helps the body keep more sodium and water, which raises blood pressure.

Q3: What does the hormone gastrin, made by our gut, do?

Answer:

The stomach makes a hormone called gastrin that helps to control how much acid is produced for digesting food..

Q4: How does the calcitriol hormone from the kidneys control calcium and phosphate levels in our body?

Answer:

The kidneys make a hormone called Calcitriol which helps control how calcium and phosphate work in the body. It helps get more calcium and phosphate from food and makes bones release calcium.