Hormones are chemical messengers that travel thought the blood stream to a target organ
The effects of hormones are slower than the nervous system
Hormones act for a longer amount of time than the nervous system
The pituitary gland in the brain is a ‘master gland’ which secretes several hormones into the blood in response to body conditions. These hormones in turn act on other glands to stimulate other hormones to be released to bring about effects
The thyroid produces thyroxine which regulates metabolism, heart rate and temperature
The adrenal gland is places on top of the kidneys and produces adrenaline which is used to prepare the body for fight or flight response
The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose levels
The ovaries produce oestrogen which is involved in the menstrual cycle
The testes produces testosterone which controls puberty and sperm production
Adrenaline is produced by the adrenal glands in times of fear or stress. It increases the heart rate and boosts the delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles, preparing the body for ‘flight or fight’
Thyroxine from the thyroid gland stimulates the basal metabolic rate and it plays an important role in growth and development.
