endocrine system

• What is the endocrine system?

  The collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate bodily functions
• What bodily functions is the endocrine system involved in?

  Metabolism, growth and development, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among other things
• What is the speed of the endocrine system?

  The endocrine system works much more slowly than the nervous system but has very widespread and powerful effects
• How does the endocrine system communicate?

  Hormones travel all around the body, but each individual hormone will only interact with it's relevant bodily process
• What are the three glands in the brain?

  Pineal gland, hypothalamus and pituitary gland
• What does the pineal gland release?

  Melatonin
• What is the pineal gland responsible for?

  Important biological rhythms such as the sleep-wake cycle
• What is the hypothalamus responsible for?

  Stimulates and controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland
• What is the pituitary gland responsible for?

  Sometimes known as the master gland because the hormones released by this gland control and stimulate the release of hormones from other glands
• What gland is found in the throat?

  Thyroid gland
• What does the thyroid gland release?

  Thyroxine
• What is the thyroid gland responsible for?

  Regulating metabolism
• What two glands are found in the kidneys?

  Adrenal Medulla Gland and Adrenal Cortex Gland
• What does the adrenal medulla release?

  Adrenaline and noradrenaline
• What does the adrenal cortex release?

  Cortisol
• What is the adrenal medulla responsible for?

  The fight/flight response
• What is the adrenal cortex responsible for?


  Stimulates the release of glucose to provide the body with energy while suppressing the immune system
• What gland is only found in females?

  Ovaries
• What do ovaries release?

  Oestrogen
• What is oestrogen and the ovaries responsible for?

  Controls the regulation of the female reproductive system, including the menstrual cycle and pregnancy
• What gland is only found in males?

  Testes
• What do testes release?

  Testosterone
• What is testosterone and the testes responsible for?

  The development of male sex characteristics during puberty and promoting muscle growth