Like many glands, the adrenal glands work hand-in-hand with the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The adrenal glands make and release corticosteroid hormones and epinephrine that maintain blood pressure and regulate metabolism. The pancreas is located across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. The pancreas plays a role in digestion, as well as hormone production. Hormones produced by the pancreas include insulin and glucagon, which regulate levels of blood sugar.
A woman's ovaries are located on both sides of the uterus, below the opening of the fallopian tubes tubes that extend from the uterus to the ovaries. In addition to containing the egg cells necessary for reproduction, the ovaries also produce estrogen and progesterone. A man's testes are located in a pouch that hangs suspended outside the male body. Much like a lock and key, many hormones act by binding to receptors that are produced within cells.
When a hormone binds to a receptor, the receptor carries out the hormone's instructions, either by altering the cell's existing proteins or turning on genes that will build a new protein.
The hormone-receptor complex switches on or switches off specific biological processes in cells, tissues, and organs. The endocrine system, made up of all the body's different hormones, regulates all biological processes in the body from conception through adulthood and into old age, including the development of the brain and nervous system, the growth and function of the reproductive system, as well as the metabolism and blood sugar levels.
The female ovaries, male testes, and pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands are major constituents of the endocrine system.
Hypothalamus - The hypothalamus links our endocrine and nervous systems together. The hypothalamus drives the endocrine system. Pituitary gland - The pituitary gland receives signals from the hypothalamus. This gland has two lobes, the posterior and anterior lobes.
The posterior lobe secretes hormones that are made by the hypothalamus. The anterior lobe produces its own hormones, several of which act on other endocrine glands. Thyroid gland - The thyroid gland is critical to the healthy development and maturation of vertebrates and regulates metabolism. Adrenal glands - The adrenal gland is made up of two glands: the cortex and medulla.
These glands produce hormones in response to stress and regulate blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and the body's salt and water balance. Pancreas - The pancreas is responsible for producing glucagon and insulin. Both hormones help regulate the concentration of glucose sugar in the blood. Gonads - The male reproductive gonads, or testes, and female reproductive gonads, or ovaries, produce steroids that affect growth and development and also regulate reproductive cycles and behaviors.
Insulin helps keep the body supplied with stores of energy. The body uses this stored energy for exercise and activity, and it also helps organs work as they should. Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is the Endocrine System? What Does the Endocrine System Do? Endocrine glands release hormones into the bloodstream.
This lets the hormones travel to cells in other parts of the body. The endocrine hormones help control mood, growth and development, the way our organs work, metabolism , and reproduction. The endocrine system regulates how much of each hormone is released. This can depend on levels of hormones already in the blood, or on levels of other substances in the blood, like calcium.
Many things affect hormone levels, such as stress, infection, and changes in the balance of fluid and minerals in blood. What Are the Parts of the Endocrine System? While many parts of the body make hormones, the major glands that make up the endocrine system are the: hypothalamus pituitary thyroid parathyroids adrenals pineal body the ovaries the testes The pancreas is part of the endocrine system and the digestive system.
The pituitary gland makes many hormones, such as: growth hormone, which stimulates the growth of bone and other body tissues and plays a role in the body's handling of nutrients and minerals prolactin pronounced: pro-LAK-tin , which activates milk production in women who are breastfeeding thyrotropin pronounced: thy-ruh-TRO-pin , which stimulates the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormones corticotropin pronounced: kor-tih-ko-TRO-pin , which stimulates the adrenal gland to make certain hormones antidiuretic pronounced: an-ty-dy-uh-REH-tik hormone, which helps control body water balance through its effect on the kidneys oxytocin pronounced: ahk-see-TOE-sin , which triggers the contractions of the uterus that happen during labor The pituitary also secretes endorphins pronounced: en-DOR-fins , chemicals that act on the nervous system and reduce feelings of pain.
The adrenal glands have two parts, each of which makes a set of hormones and has a different function: The outer part is the adrenal cortex. It makes hormones called corticosteroids pronounced: kor-tih-ko-STER-oydz that help control salt and water balance in the body, the body's response to stress, metabolism, the immune system , and sexual development and function.
The inner part is the adrenal medulla pronounced: muh-DUH-luh. It makes catecholamines pronounced: kah-tuh-KO-luh-meenz , such as epinephrine pronounced: eh-puh-NEH-frun. Also called adrenaline, epinephrine increases blood pressure and heart rate when the body is under stress. To help keep your endocrine system healthy: Get plenty of exercise. Eat a nutritious diet.
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