Download
1 / 13
E N D
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM • The endocrine system—the other communication system in the body—is made up of endocrine glands that produce hormones, chemical substances released into the bloodstream to guide such processes as metabolism, growth, and sexual development. Hormones are also involved in regulating emotional life.
The Thyroid Gland • The thyroid gland secretes thyroxin, a hormone that can reduce concentration and lead to irritability when the thyroid is overactive, and cause drowsiness and a sluggish metabolism when the thyroid is under active.
The Pancreas • The pancreas lies in a curve between the stomach and the small intestine and controls the level of sugar in the blood by secreting insulin and glucagon.
The Pituitary Gland • The pituitary gland produces the largest number of different hormones and therefore has the widest range of effects on the body's functions.
The Gonads • These reproductive glands—the testes in males and the ovaries in females, produce testosterone and estrogens, respectively.
The Adrenal Glands • The two adrenal glands are located above the kidneys. • influence the body's responses to stress.
Hormones • Chemical substances that are produced in the endocrine glands and travel in the blood to target organs where they elicit a response.
The endocrine system is a collection of glands that secrete chemical messages we call hormones. These signals are passed through the blood to arrive at a target organ, which has cells possessing the appropriate receptor.
The Hypothalamus • The pituitary gland (often called the master gland) is located in a small bony cavity at the base of the brain. A stalk links the pituitary to the hypothalamus, which controls release of pituitary hormones. The pituitary gland has two lobes: the anterior and posterior lobes. The anterior pituitary is glandular.
