endocrine system

• what is the endocrine system made up of?


  glands
• what does structure of the endocrine system mean?


  a series of glands
• what is the function of the endocrine system?


  to create, store and release hormones.
• what do hormones regulate?

  • metabolism
  • body growth
  • sexual function and devlopment
• what are hormones


  these are chemical messages created by the body to transfer information from one set of cells to another set.
• what do hormones coordinate?


  to coordinate the functions of different parts of the body.
• what are hormones regulated by?


  the pituitary gland
• what does the pituitary gland secretes?


  a stimulating hormone on circulation by the hypothalamus.
• the hypothalamus

  • located in the lower part of the brain.
  • regulates metabolism and body temperature.
  • secretes or suppresses the release of hormones in the pituitary.
  • secretes stomastatin.
  • the hormones secreted are able to get into the pituitary gland through the artery.
• what is the hormone stomastatin?


  this stops the pituitary gland from releasing the growth hormone.
• the pituitary gland

  • located in the lower bade of the Brain, below the hypothalamus.
  • no larger than a pea.
  • produces hormones that controls many functions of other endocrine glands.
  • most important part of the endocrine system.
  • divided into 2 parts.
• what is the pituitary gland split into?


  the anterior and posterior lobe.
• what is the anterior lobe?


  the lobe that produces hormones which regulates the hypothalamus.
• what does the growth hormone do?


  stimulates the growth bone and tissue.
• what does it mean if there is a decrease in the growth hormone?


  growth failure.
• what does it mean if an adult has a growth hormone deficiency?

  problems in maintaining proper amounts of:

  • body fat
  • muscle
  • body mass
• what does the thyroid stimulating hormone sitmulate?


  the thyroid gland to produces thyroid hormones.
• what is hypothyroidism?


  a lack of thyroid hormones due to a defect in the pituitary gland or thyroid.
• what does Adrenocorticotropin stimulate?


  adrenal glands to produce several related steroid hormones.
• what is LH?


  the Luteinising Hormone
• what is FSH?


  the Follicle Stimulating Hormone.
• what does LH and FSH do?


  controls sexual function and the production of sex steroids.
• examples of sex steroids.


  oestrogen and testosterone
• what is prolactin?


  this is the hormone that stimulates milk production in females.
• thyroid glands

  • located in the lower front part of the neck.
  • it produces thyroid hormones.
  • it regulates the body's metabolism, growth and development.
  • this plays a role in bone growth and development.
  • plays a role in the children's Brain and nervous system development.
  • the pituitary gland produces the release of thyroid hormones.
  • helps maintain blood pressure.
• parathyroid glands

  • these are 2 pairs of small glands embedded on the surface of the thyroid gland.
  • there is one on each side of the thyroid gland.
• what does the parathyroid gland regulate?


  calcium levels in the blood and bone metabolism.
• what does the parathyroid glands release?


  the parathyroid hormones.
• adrenal glands

  • there is 2 of these.
  • they are the shape of a triangle.
  • located at the top of each kidney.
  • there is an inner part and an outer cortex.
• what is the outer part of the adrenal glands called?


  the adrenal cortex.
• what is the inner cortex of the adrenal glands called?


  the adrenal medulla.
• what does the adrenal cortex produce?


  hormones called corticosteroids.
• what do corticosteroids regulate?

  • the body's metabolism.
  • the balance of salt and water in the body.
  • the immune system.
  • sexual function.
• what does the adrenal medulla produce?


  adrenaline.
• what does adrenaline do?


  helps the body cope with physical and emotional stress by increasing the heart rate and blood pressure.
• what are the male reproductive glands?


  the testes.
• male reproductive glands - testes

  • 2 of them
  • located in the scrotum
  • affect sexual development, growth of facial and pubic hair and sperm production.
• what do testes secrete?


  androgens and testosterone.
• what are the reproductive glands for females?


  the ovaries.
• female reproductive glands - ovaries

  • located in the uterus.
  • hormones control female characteristics such as breast growth.