• Controls many body

functions
exerts control by  Ductless
releasing special (without opening)
chemical substances
into the blood called
hormones  Secrete hormones
directly into
bloodstream
Hormones affect other
endocrine glands or
body systems
 The Endocrine System

• Consists of several glands located in

various parts of the body.

• Gland is a group of cells that secretes

chemicals
- found deep within the brain

- primary link bet. the Endocrine and

Nervous System

- directly controls the pituitary gland

- stimulate or suppress hormones

- located at the base of the brain

“The Master Gland”

- Primary function is to control
other glands
• The Pituitary Gland is divided into 2
segments:
– Posterior Lobe
• oxytocin (initiates labor of pregnant women)
• antidiuretic hormones (control the water
balance in the body-> URINE output)

– Anterior Lobe
• Growth hormone (stimulates body growth)
• Prolactin (milk)
 Anterior P. Homeostatic
Imbalances
Gigantism
- Overproduction of growth
hormones

Dwarfism
- Underproduction of growth
hormone
• Melatonin
– Inhibits early puberty
– Day/night cycles
• Timing of sleep, body temperature,
appetite
• Secretes melatonin during darkness
- Participates in setting the body’s clock
• Melatonin is a potent antioxidant
• Melatonin is high when young and is
reduced as we age
 - lies in the anterior neck just below
the larynx

- It secretes thyroxin and calcitonin

• Thyroxine contains large amount of Iodine.
- control the rate @ w/c cells burn food to
release energy
- bone growth
- development of nervous system of child

• Calcitonin regulate calcium metabolism in

the blood.
Goiter
- low levels of iodine
• Parathyroid Glands

– small, pea-shaped
– parathyroid
glands, located in the hormone  level of
neck near the thyroid calcium and in the
body
– 4 small glands

– regulate the level of

calcium in the body
 Insulin
– reduce blood sugar level

 Glucagon
– Increase blood sugar levels
 • the Adrenal
– 2 small glands that sit
atop both kidneys.
Medulla secretes
the catecholamine
hormones
– Each has 2 divisions,
each with different norepinephrine
functions. and epinephrine
(closely related to
the sympathetic
component of the
autonomic nervous
system).
 – the endocrine glands associated with human
reproduction.
– Female ovaries produce eggs
– Male gonads produce sperm

• Ovaries:
– located in the abdominal cavity adjacent to the
uterus.
– Under the control of LH and FSH from the
anterior pituitary they manufacture
• estrogen
• progesterone
• Estrogen and Progesterone have several
functions, including sexual development
and preparation of the uterus for
implantation of the egg.
• Testes:
– located in the scrotum
– produce sperm for reproduction
– manufacture testosterone - promotes male
growth and masculinization