The Endocrine system

Miroljub Djurdjanovi

The endocrine system works to produce a condition called homeostasis. The term homeostasis is used to describe a proper balance of chemicals and other substances in the body. The endocrine system consists primarily of glands and endocrine tissue inside other organs that secrete hormones directly into our bloodstream. A gland is an organ that synthesizes chemical substances (hormones). Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through our circulatory system to parts of the body in order to control or regulate a body process. Hormones have the following effects on the body: stimulation or inhibition of growth and development, mood swings, preparation of the body for a new phase of life, such as puberty, parenting or menopause and others. Some hormones stimulate other glands to release other hormones. The main components that comprise the endocrine system are the: hypothalamus, pituitary gland (the hypophysis), thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, thymus gland, adrenal glands, pancreas and reproductive glands (ovaries and testes). The hypothalamus is a part of the nervous system located in the interbrain. It acts as a line between the endocrine system and the circulatory system. Among others, it regulates our bodys metabolism through eating, drinking, temperature control and sexual drives. The hypophysis is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea. It is functionally linked to the hypothalamus. While the pituitary gland is known as the master endocrine gland, it is in fact under the control of the hypothalamus. It secretes nine hormones. The thyroid is one of the largest endocrine glands, and is in a shape of a butterfly. The thyroid gland controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins and controls how sensitive the body should be to other hormones. The parathyroid glands are small glands in the neck that produce parathyroid hormones. Humans usually have four parathyroid glands. They control the amount of calcium in the blood and within the bones. The thymus is a specialized organ of the immune system and the endocrine system. The only known function of the thymus is the production of T cells which are critical cells of adaptive immune system. The adrenal glands are endocrine glands that sit atop the kidneys. They are directly responsible for releasing hormones in response to stress. They also affect kidney function.

The pancreas, located behind the stomach, is involved in the bodys ability to use glucose. Within the pancreas, tiny structures called Islets of Langerhans secrete hormones (insulin) into the blood. These Islets are comprised of several cell types. Diabetes is a disease in which the body has trouble using glucose, due to the reduction of insulin secretion. The reproductive glands (the gonads) include: testicles (the male gonads) and ovaries (the female gonads). The testicles secrete testosterone, while the ovaries secrete both estrogen and progesterone. The gonads are responsible for the appearance of the secondary sex characteristics. The role of the endocrine system and endocrine glands in our body is very important. Their products, hormones, regulate and maintain the overall metabolism, the composition of blood and other bodily fluids. There is hardly a process that is not directly or indirectly affected by one or more hormones. Each hormone has specific effects on metabolism and function of specific organs.