Coronary heart disease is the single most common cause of death in the UK. Much of the ensuing morbidity and premature morbidity is preventable and the Government is addressing this with the National Service Framework (NSF) initiative.

Endocrine systems overview. Summary of basic cellular mechanisms. Control of endocrine hormone release. Growth hormone and growth factors. Human growth, growth disorders and treatments. Steroidogenesis. Sexual differentiation and pathophysiology. Puberty. Female sex organs and the menstrual cycle. Female sex hormones and their receptors. Endocrinology of pregnancy, parturition and lactation. Contraception. Menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Female reproductive pathophysiology - a glossary. Male reproductive endocrinology. Oxytocin and vasopressin. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system. The adrenal gland I: introduction. Adrenal pathophysiology. Insulin. Glucagon. The thyroid gland. Endocrine hypertension. Appetite regulation and obesity. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP). Calcitonin. Vitamin D (cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol). Osteoporosis and paget's disease of bone. Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN). Chapter quiz answers.