Today’s Agenda Monday, Nov 24 Start of “Human Sexuality Unit” Endocrine System

Human Sexuality Unit “GROUND RULES” Listen to each other No “put downs” It’s OK to pass No personal questions Use correct words It’s all right to laugh “with” but not “at” other people

Hormones in the Balance Video

The endocrine system regulates long-term changes in the body such as growth and development. What Is the Endocrine System? It also controls many of your body’s daily activities.

Your endocrine (EN duh krin) system is made up of a group of organs, called endocrine glands. Endocrine Glands An endocrine gland produces and releases chemical substances that signal changes in other parts of the body. Endocrine glands release substances directly into the bloodstream.

A chemical substance produced by an endocrine gland is known as a hormone. Hormones You can think of a hormone as a chemical messenger. The endocrine system is kept in balance by the coordinated action of various hormones.

The endocrine glands include the Functions of the Endocrine Glands hypothalamus pituitary gland thyroid and parathyroid glands thymus gland adrenal glands pancreas reproductive glands

Thyroid Gland The thyroid gland regulates the body’s overall metabolic rate and controls calcium levels in the bloodstream. Parathyroid Glands Four tiny parathyroid glands regulate levels of calcium and phosphorus––minerals that are necessary for proper bone and tooth formation and for muscle and nerve activity. Pancreas The pancreas is a large gland, located behind the stomach, that controls sugar levels in the blood. The Endocrine System

Hypothalamus The hypothalamus links the nervous system and the endocrine system and controls many of the pituitary gland functions. Pituitary Gland The pituitary gland controls other endocrine glands and regulates growth rate, reproduction, and metabolism. Thymus Gland Hormones released by the thymus gland help the immune system develop during childhood. By adolescence, this gland has shrunk considerably in size. Adrenal Glands These glands release several hormones. Adrenaline triggers the body’s response to sudden stress. Other hormones affect salt and water balance in the kidneys and general metabolism.

The Endocrine System Ovaries The female reproductive glands release sex hormones that regulate egg maturation and control changes in a female’s body at puberty. Testes The male reproductive glands release a sex hormone that regulates sperm production and control changes in a male’s body at puberty.

Slide 15 of 18 The hypothalamus (hy poh THAL uh mus), an endocrine gland located in the brain, is actually part of both the nervous and the endocrine systems. Hypothalamus Nerve signals from the hypothalamus control body temperature and feelings of sleep and hunger. Hormones from the hypothalamus control the body’s water levels.

Slide 16 of 18 “Releasing hormones” from the hypothalamus signal the release of hormones from a pea-sized endocrine gland in the brain, called the pituitary gland (pih TOO ih tehr ee). Pituitary Gland The pituitary controls many of your body’s functions. These functions include growth reproduction metabolism

Slide 17 of 18 The reproductive glands are an important part of the endocrine system. Other Endocrine Glands Puberty is the period of sexual development during which a person becomes sexually mature and physically able to reproduce.

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM QUIZ

EXERCISES

Endocrine System Review What role does the endocrine system play in the body? It regulates long-term changes in the body, such as growth and development, and controls many of the body’s daily activities. What is a hormone? Explain how hormones reach the cells where they have their effect. A hormone is a chemical substance produced by an endocrine gland. Hormones travel through the bloodstream to reach target cells. What is the hypothalamus? How does it interact with the pituitary gland? The hypothalamus is an endocrine gland located in the brain. It produces hormones called “releasing hormones” that signal the pituitary gland to release its hormones.