 |
| The Endocrine System |
The Endocrine System
The endocrine glands secrete hormones into the blood stream to maintain chemical balances in the body, to help prepare your body for emergency situations, and to control longer term processes such as sexual maturation and body growth. Specific hormones may start, stop, or inhibit a process and often participate in chemical feedback loops to help maintain normal body conditions.
The pituitary is the master endocrine gland. It is the size of a pea and is located just under the thalamus, surrounded by bone at the bottom of the skull. The thalamus provides the connection between the brain and the pituitary gland.
The front portion of the pituitary produces growth hormone and other hormones that influence the thyroid glands, the adrenal glands, the gonads, and the mammary glands. The back portion of the pituitary produces a hormone that controls the body’s water balance and oxytocin. Oxytocin is involved in initiating the birth process and the production of breast milk.
The other main endocrine glands are the:
1. Adrenal glands (above each kidney) – produce adrenaline that controls the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response.
2. Thyroid gland (front of the neck) – produces thyroxine that controls the body’s rate of metabolism.
3. Parathyroid glands (just above the thyroid gland) – modulate the chemical balance of calcium and phosphorous.
4. Pancreas (in front of the kidneys) – produces insulin to control the amount of sugar in the blood. Unlike the other glands, you only have one pancreas.
5. Gonads (testicles in the male, ovaries in the female) – modulate sexual functions.
The influence of the endocrine system is pervasive. It monitors and controls basic body chemistry. It also provides the chemical stimulus for vital survival activities and all stages of reproduction.
The endocrine glands secrete hormones into the blood stream to maintain chemical balances in the body, to help prepare your body for emergency situations, and to control longer term processes such as sexual maturation and body growth. Specific hormones may start, stop, or inhibit a process and often participate in chemical feedback loops to help maintain normal body conditions.
The pituitary is the master endocrine gland. It is the size of a pea and is located just under the thalamus, surrounded by bone at the bottom of the skull. The thalamus provides the connection between the brain and the pituitary gland.
The front portion of the pituitary produces growth hormone and other hormones that influence the thyroid glands, the adrenal glands, the gonads, and the mammary glands. The back portion of the pituitary produces a hormone that controls the body’s water balance and oxytocin. Oxytocin is involved in initiating the birth process and the production of breast milk.
The other main endocrine glands are the:
1. Adrenal glands (above each kidney) – produce adrenaline that controls the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response.
2. Thyroid gland (front of the neck) – produces thyroxine that controls the body’s rate of metabolism.
3. Parathyroid glands (just above the thyroid gland) – modulate the chemical balance of calcium and phosphorous.
4. Pancreas (in front of the kidneys) – produces insulin to control the amount of sugar in the blood. Unlike the other glands, you only have one pancreas.
5. Gonads (testicles in the male, ovaries in the female) – modulate sexual functions.
The influence of the endocrine system is pervasive. It monitors and controls basic body chemistry. It also provides the chemical stimulus for vital survival activities and all stages of reproduction.
