Endocrine+System

Hormones and gland are the foundations of endocrine system. Hormones transfer signal and instruction from one set of cells to another.” A gland is a group of cells that produces and secretes, or gives off, chemicals. A gland selects and removes materials from the blood, processes them, and secretes the finished chemical product for use somewhere in the body.” ( Dowshen, Steven.)



Major organs of the Endocrine system are:
 * Pituitary Gland ****: ( ** Alphonse, Marlene)



· It produces hormones, which control the functioning of the other endocrine system organs . · Located on the lower side of the brain, and is the size of a pea . · Consists of two parts - the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe. · The anterior lobe controls the hormones secreted by the adrenal, reproductive and thyroid glands . · The posterior lobe secretes two hormones; antidiuretic hormone, which regulates water content in the body and oxytocin, the hormone which activates the contraction of muscles in the uterus during [|childbirth].
 * Hypothalamus ****: ( ** Alphonse, Marlene)



· The hypothalamus is situated above the pituitary gland, in the brain and connects the endocrine system with the [|nervous system]. · The hypothalamus produces certain chemicals that help in stimulating or controlling secretion of hormones in the pituitary gland. “Connections with structures of the endocrine and nervous systems enable the hypothalamus to play a vital role in maintaining [|homeostasis]. For example, [|blood vessel] connections between the hypothalamus and [|pituitary gland] allow hypothalamic hormones to control pituitary hormone secretion. As a [|limbic system] structure, the hypothalamus also influences various emotional responses.” ( [|Regina Bailey] )


 * Thyroid and Parathyroid ****: ( ** Alphonse, Marlene)



· The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland, situated in the front part of the lower neck . · The thyroid produces two hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine, which control chemical reactions in the body, like burning food to produce energy. · Thyroid hormones contribute towards bone growth and proper development of the brain and nervous system in children. · Parathyroids are tiny glands attached to the thyroid.
 * Adrenal Glands ****: ( ** Alphonse, Marlene)



· Adrenal glands are situated on top of the kidneys. They are triangular in shape and have two parts; adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla. · The outer part of the adrenal gland, adrenal cortex, secretes a hormone called corticosteroids which controls the level of salt and water in the body, the [|metabolism] rate, [|immune system], sexual development and function, and the response of the body to stress. · When the body is stressed, epinephrine increases the heart rate, widens the blood vessels and air passage and helps the body gain more oxygen.
 * Pineal Gland ****: ( ** Alphonse, Marlene)



· The pineal gland is a small endocrine system organ that is situated at the center of the brain. · It secretes melatonin that regulates sleep cycle and hormonal changes during adolescence.
 * Reproductive Glands or Gonads ****: ( ** Alphonse, Marlene)

· The gonads mainly secrete sex hormones - androgen of which the most necessary is testosterone, the male sex hormones; and progesterone and estrogen, the female sex hormones . · The male gonads, called the testes, are located in the scrotum. . · The female gonads, or ovaries, secrete the female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, which help in stimulating the production of eggs .
 * Pancreas ****<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">: ( ** Alphonse, Marlene)



· The pancreas is a digestive as well as endocrine system organ. · The pancreas secretes glucagon and [|insulin] that help in maintaining a steady level of sugar in the blood. · They also maintain energy stores and regularly supply energy to the body.

“Connections with structures of the endocrine and nervous systems enable the hypothalamus to play a vital role in maintaining [|homeostasis]. For example, [|blood vessel] connections between the hypothalamus and [|pituitary gland] allow hypothalamic hormones to control pituitary hormone secretion. As a [|limbic system] structure, the hypothalamus also influences various emotional responses.” ( [|Regina Bailey] <span style="font-family: inherit,serif; font-size: 10pt;">)

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Hormones are chemical signals made by the glands of the endocrine system “ Hormones carry messages from glands to cells to maintain [|chemical] levels in the bloodstream that achieve homeostasis <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">”. (wisegeek). Endocrine system used a progress called negative feedback <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> to maintain homeostasis. The cycle helps to regulate the relevant hormones. (biology-online)



<span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The level of glucose in the bloodstream drops <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The person requires glucose in cells to meet the demand for ATP <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The body detects this with a particular receptor designed for this function <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">These receptors release hormones, chemical messages that initiate the start of the feedback mechanism <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The hormones travel to their target tissue and initiate a corrective response <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">In this case, the corrective response is the secretion of more glucose into the bloodstream

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">If the hormone continues to be produced after the body reaches its ideal condition for homeostasis, it will harm the body. For example if the pituitary gland <span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> produces too much hormones, the baby will be abnormally tall.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; display: block; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;"> **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">CITATIONS ** Dowshen, Steven. "Endocrine System." // KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health //. Aug. 2009. Web. 15 May 2011. <http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/endocrine.html>. Alphonse, Marlene. "Endocrine System Organs." // Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web //. 18 Jan. 2010. Web. 11 May 2011. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/endocrine-system-organs.html>. Bailey, Regina. "Hypothalamus." // Biology //. Web. 15 May 2011. <http://biology.about.com/od/anatomy/p/Hypothalamus.htm>. "FAQ | Buy HCG | Premium Weight Loss HCG Diets, HCG Injections & HCG Pills." // | Buy HCG | Premium Weight Loss HCG Diets, HCG Injections & HCG Pills //. Web. 15 May 2011. <http://doctorhcg.net/faq>. Adrenal. "Adrenal | Ask.com Encyclopedia." // Ask.com - What's Your Question? // 7 Mar. 2011. Web. 15 May 2011. <http://www.ask.com/wiki/Adrenal>.

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