The endocrine system is made up of glands that make and secrete hormones, chemicals produced in the body that regulate the activity of cells or organs. These hormones regulate the body's growth, metabolism (the physical and chemical processes of the body), and sexual development and function. Hormones are released into the bloodstream and can affect one or more organs throughout the body.
Hormones are chemical messengers created by the body. They transfer information from one set of cells to another to coordinate the functions of different parts of the body.
The main glands of the endocrine system are the hypothalamus, the pituitary, the thyroid, the parathyroids, the adrenal glands, the pineal body, and the reproductive organs (ovaries and testes). The pancreas is also a part of this system; It has a role in the production of hormones, as well as in digestion.
The endocrine system is regulated by regeneration in the same way that a thermostat regulates the temperature in a room. For hormones that are regulated by the pituitary gland, a signal is sent from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland in the form of a "releasing hormone", which stimulates the pituitary to secrete a "stimulating hormone" into the circulation. The stimulating hormone then signals the target gland to secrete its hormone. As the levelof this hormone increases in the circulation, the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland shut down the secretion of releasing hormone and stimulating hormone, which in turn slows the secretion by the target gland. This system produces stable blood concentrations of the hormones that are regulated by the pituitary gland.
Although we rarely think about the endocrine system, it influences almost every cell, organ, and function in our bodies. The endocrine system plays a role in the regulation of mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism, and sexual function and reproductive processes.
In general, the endocrine system is in charge of slowly occurring bodily processes such as cell growth. Faster processes such as breathing and body movement are controlled by the nervous system. But even though the nervous system and the endocrine system are separate systems, they often work together to help the body function properly.
