The Endocrine System of the Human Body

The Endocrine Sy= stem of the Human Body

The Endocrine System consists of glands and the release of hormones produced in the glands that influence almost every cell, organ, and functio= n of the human body. Growth, development, and metabolism are just a few of the jobs of the endocrine system. These processes happen slowly.

The Hormones travel throughout the bloodstream to the cells. They are chemical messages receive= d by the target cells. Receptors o= n the hormones attach to receptors on the target cell. The cells then respond to the hormones. An example is stress which can influence hormone levels. The Glands produce and release these chemicals. Glan= ds function to select and remove substances from the blood, process them, and release the end chemical substance for somewhere else in the body. Some of the glands are the salivary glands disgusted in the digestive system.&= nbsp; The sweat glands also release hormones.

The Major Glands of the Endocrine System:<= /o:p>

The hypothalamus

The pituitary

The thyroid

The parathyroids

The adrenals

The pineal body

The reproductive glands

The hypothalamus is found in the brain and it links the nervous and endocrine systems. Nerve cells in the hypothalamus control the pituitary gl= and.

The pituitary gland is below the hypothalamus in the brain. This gland is a major gland of the endocrine system and functions to control several endocrine glands. These hormones can influence funct= ions such as emotions. The brain t= akes in information about such conditions such as temperature, light and feelings and sends it to the hypothalamus and then the information is sent to the pituitary gland. Endorphins are produced in the hypothalamus. These chemicals= act on the nervous system to influence and reduce pain. The pituitary gland also produces many of the hormones that control the male and female reproductive systems. The pituitary has and ant= erior lobe and a posterior lobe.=

The Anterior Lobe functions to regulate the thyroid, adrenals, and reproductive glands. The horm= ones produced by the anterior lobe are:

Growth hormone, which stimulated = bone and tissue growth

Prolactin, which activates milk production

Thyrotropin, which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones

Corticotropin, which stimulates t= he adrenal gland to produce hormones

The Posterior lobe also functions to regulate body processes. Hormones produced by the posterior= lobe are:

Antidiuretic hormone, which maint= ains water balance in the body

Oxytocin hormone, which aid child= birth

The Thyroid, is located in the neck. Thyroxine and triiodothyronine hormones are produced here. These hormones function to regulate metabolic processes such as how cells burn fuels from nutrients to produce energy. There are four small = glands attached to the thyroid. The = four glands are called the parathyroids= which function to regulate calcium levels in the blood. Calcitonin helps this process and is produced in the thyroid.

The Adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys. The Adrenal cortex produces corticosteroid= s that function to regulate the salt water balance in the body, response to stress, metabolism, the immune system and sexual development. The adrenal medulla functions to produce c= atecholamines such as epinephrine known as adrenaline which raises blood pre= ssure and heart rate under stress.

The Pineal body or pineal gland is in the middle of the brain. The function of the pineal body is= to release melatonin which regula= ted the sleep cycle in the body.

The Gonads function to regulate sex hormones. The testes produce and release and= rogens such as testosterone. The ova= ries release estrogen and progesterone.

The Pancreas must also be mentioned. The pancreas produces Insulin hormone and glucagon hormone. These hormones function to regulat= e the blood glucose.

A disease called = diabetes affects many people. They are not able to metabolize carbohydrates correctly. They must often take injections of insulin to counteract the problem.

Type 1 diabetes- When the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin

Type 2 diabetes-Unlike type 1 diabe= tes- the body can't produce normal amounts = ; of insulin. In type 2 diabetes, = the body is unable to respond to insulin normally.

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