Endocrine system

• What is the endocrine system ?

  • Network of glands throughout body that manufacture and secret chemical messengers (horomones)
  • Uses blood vessels to deliver hormones to target organs
  • Endocrine and NS work closely together to regulate physiological process of body
• What are endocrine glands ?

  • Pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, adrenal, ovaries, testes
  • Each gland produces different hormones which regulate the activity of organs and tissues in the body
• What are hormones ?

  • Chemicals that circulate bloodstream and are carried to target sites
  • Affect target cells which respond to a hormone because they have receptors for specific hormone
  • Enough receptor sites stimulated = physiological reaction