ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

• What is the endocrine system?

  works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions in the body through releasing hormones into the bloodstream
• what are glands?

  organs in the body that produce and release hormones
• What are hormones?

  chemicals released by glands into the bloodstream
• what is the process of releasing hormones?

  the hypothalamus releases a stimulating hormone

  this goes to the pituitary gland which releases the hormone to go to the target gland, where the relevant hormone is released
• what is the pituitary gland?


  the “master gland”, located in the brain
• adrenaline

  produced in the adrenal gland

  function is fight or flight
• oestrogen

  produced in the ovaries

  function: female sex hormone
• thyroxine

  produced in the thyroid

  function: regulates metabolism
• testosterone

  produced in the testes

  function: male sex hormone
• differences between the endocrine system and the central nervous system

  Endocrine is slower, but longer lasting