Endocrine System

Hormones and Endocrine System The endocrine system produces chemicals that control many of the body’s daily activities. It also regulates long-term changes such as growth and development. It is system is made up of glands. A gland is an organ that produces or releases a chemical. Some glands release chemicals into tiny tubes- saliva and sweat Endocrine glands produce and release their chemical products directly into the bloodstream. Hormones and Endocrine System

The chemical product of an endocrine gland is called a hormone. Hormones turn on, turn off, speed up, or slow down the activities of different organs and tissues. Hormones are carried throughout the body by the blood. They can regulate activities in tissues and organs that are not close to the glands that produce them. Hormones

Hormone production What causes the release of hormones? Nerve impulses from the brain. Nerve impulses travel from the eye to the brain- the brain interprets the information and then sends an impulse to an endocrine gland- like adrenaline Increases heart-rate and breathing Hormone production

When a hormone enters the bloodstream, it affects some organs, but not others. Why? The answer is within the hormone’s chemical structure. A hormone interacts only with specific target cells. Target cells are cells that recognize the hormone’s chemical structure. Hormones will travel through the bloodstream until they find the particular cell type- or fit Target Cells

Endocrine glands The endocrine glands include: Hypothalamus Pituitary Thyroid Parathyroid Adrenal Thymus Pancreas They also include the ovaries and testes Endocrine glands

The hypothalamus is a tiny part of the brain near the middle of your head, that links together the nervous system and the endocrine system. Nerve messages controlling sleep, hunger, and other basic body processes come from the hypothalamus. It also produces hormones that control other endocrine glands and organs. Plays a major role in maintain homeostasis. hypothalamus

Just below the hypothalamus is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea. The pituitary gland It communicates with the hypothalamus to control many body activities Nerve impulses or hormone signals give it directions It releases hormones- examples: some are on switches for growth hormones others for organs like the kidneys to regulate water Pituitary Gland

This gland controls the release of energy from food molecules inside cells. When there is not enough energy available, the hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland to release thyroid stimulating hormone TSH. That hormone signals the thyroid gland to release thyroxine. Thyroid

The pancreas produces the hormone insulin and glucagon, which control the level of glucose in the blood. Pancreas