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Unit 5-p3 the endocrine system
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Unit 5-p3 the endocrine system
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The endocrine systemThe endocrine system is a network of glands and organs located throughout the body, that play a
vital role in controlling and regulating many of the body’s functions. Many glands make up the
endocrine system including the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and pineal gland which are found in
the brain. The thyroid and parathyroid glands are in your neck. The thymus is between your lungs,
the adrenals are on top of your kidneys, and the pancreas is behind your stomach. The endocrine
system is made up of glands that produce and secrete hormones, chemical substances produced in
the body that regulate the activity of cells or organs. These hormones regulate the body’s growth,
metabolism, sexual function, body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.
The main function in summary
The endocrine system is a collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism,
growth, and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep and mood.
Main components of the endocrine system
The endocrine system is made up of the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the
adrenal glands, the ovaries, the testicles, the pancreas, the pineal gland, and thymes.
Pituitary gland
The pituitary gland is a gland, a part of the endocrine system. Your pituitary gland is a small pea like
gland located in the brain with major responsibilities. But what are its major responsibilities? The
pituitary gland is responsible for producing numerous hormones which travel throughout the body,
stimulating other glands to produce hormones, and directing certain processes. Furthermore, the
pituitary gland, makes and stores hormones such as prolactin, which stimulates breast milk product
after childbirth, and growth hormone, which stimulates growth during childhood.
Thyroid gland
The thyroid gland may be a gland you are familiar with as many claim they have an underactive
thyroid. The thyroid, is a gland which is situated at the front of the neck below the larynx, shaped
like a butterfly. The thyroids main purpose is to produce certain hormones which regulate the body’s
metabolic rate controlling heart, muscle and digestive function, brain development, and bone
maintenance.
The thyroid is activated when the pituitary gland produces and stimulates thyroid-stimulating
hormone which tell the thyroid gland how much hormones to produce and secrete.
Adrenal glands
The adrenal glands are tiny glands located next to each kidney, consisting of a pair of two. The
adrenal gland is made up of an outer part known as the adrenal cortex and the inner adrenal
medulla. What the adrenal glands exactly do is secrete hormones that act as messengers. Once
secreted, these hormones travel in the bloodstream and act on body tissues to enable them to
function adequately.
Hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex include mineralocorticoids, that help maintain the bodies
salt and water levels, glucocorticoids, which stimulate glucose production helping the body free fat
and muscle to make glucose, and adrenal androgens, which play a small role in the development of
male sex hormones.
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