The Endocrine System WHAT IS THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

The Endocrine System

WHAT IS THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM?

What is it? • The endocrine system (ES) regulates long term changes in the body such as growth and development. • It also controls many of your body’s daily activities and influences almost every cell, organ, and function of our bodies. • It regulates mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism, and sexual function, and reproductive processes.

Endocrine Glands • Gland - a group of cells that produces and secretes, or gives off, chemicals. • Your ES is made up of a group of organs, called endocrine glands. • An endocrine gland produces and releases chemical substances that signal changes in other parts of the body.

Hormones • A chemical substance produced by an endocrine gland • Chemical messengers • Each hormone has a specific function and specific “targets” in the body • Many different hormones move through the bloodstream, but each type of hormone is designed to affect only certain cells.

FUNCTIONS OF ENDOCRINE GLANDS

Functions • Each of your endocrine glands plays a specific, important role in your body • • Hypothalamus Pituitary gland Thyroid gland Parathyroid gland Thymus glands Adrenal glands Pancreas Reproductive glands (M&F)

Hypothalamus • Located in the lower center part of the brain • Links the nervous and endocrine systems • Controls many of the pituitary gland functions

Pituitary Gland • “Master gland” • Located at the base of the brain, below the hypothalamus • It makes hormones that control several other endocrine glands

Thyroid • Located in the front part of the lower neck • Produces the thyroid hormones thyroxin, which controls the rate at which we burn food • Controls calcium levels in the blood stream

Parathyroid Glands • Attached to the thyroid • Four glands • They release parathyroid hormone, which regulates the level of calcium in the blood with the help of calcitonin, which is produced in the thyroid

Adrenal Glands • Two glands, located on the top of each kidney, triangular in shape • Produces epinephrine, also called adrenaline, which increases blood pressure and heart rate when the body experiences stress

Pancreas • Part of the digestive system • Produces insulin and glucagon – work together to maintain blood sugar levels

Reproductive Glands • Gonads – main source of sex hormones • Male gonads – testes – Testosterone – male sex hormone • Female gonads – ovaries – Estrogen – female sex hormone • Puberty – the period of sexual development during which a person becomes sexually mature and is physically able to reproduce

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