The Endocrine System

Chapter 25 Section 3
Objectives:
• Explain why the endocrine system is important
to the body

• Identify the glands of the endocrine system, and

describe what their hormones do

• Describe how feedback mechanisms stop and

start hormone release

• Name 2 hormone imbalances

Hormones as Chemical Messengers:
• Purpose: to control body functions by using
chemicals that are made by the endocrine glands

• Gland: a group of cells that make special

chemicals for your body

• Hormone: a chemical messenger made in one

cell or tissue that causes change in another cell
or tissue in another part of the body
 The Endocrine System:

http://www.innatehealthsolutions.com/images/hormones1.jpg
The Endocrine Glands & Their
Functions:
1. Pituitary
2. Thyroid
3. Parathyroid
4. Thymus
5. Adrenal
6. Pancreas
7. Ovaries
8. Testes
 The Pituitary Gland:
• Location: The brain

• Function: secretes hormones that affect other

glands and organs
▫ Stimulates skeletal growth
▫ Helps the thyroid gland work properly
▫ Regulates the amount of water in your blood
▫ Stimulates the birth process in women

http://www.tvscoop.tv/pituitary_gland.gif
 The Thyroid Gland:
• Location: the neck

• Function: Increase the rate at which you use

energy
▫ Very important during childhood and infancy
▫ Controls the secretion of growth hormones for
normal body growth
▫ Control the development of the CNS
▫ Control metabolism
http://www.abc.net.au/health/library/img/thyroid_gland_diag.gif
 The Parathyroid Gland:
• Location: behind the thyroid gland

• Function: regulated calcium levels in the blood

http://www.clarian.org/ADAM/doc/graphics/images/en/8890.jpg
 The Thymus Gland:
• Location: behind the breastbone

• Function: important to the immune system

▫ Killer T cells grow and mature here
▫ Helps protect the body against pathogens

http://www.dana.org/uploadedImages/Images/Spotlight_Images/DanaGuide_CH16C52_P532_spot.jpg
 The Adrenal Gland:
• Location: on the kidneys

• Function: help the body respond to danger

▫ Release epinephrine (adrenaline) – increases HR
and respiration; “fight or flight” response

http://www.web-books.com/eLibrary/Medicine/Physiology/Endocrine/adrenal_gland.jpg
 The Pancreas:
• Location: deep in the abdomen

• Function: regulates blood glucose levels

▫ Insulin
▫ Glucagon

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/images/ency/fullsize/8883.jpg
 The Ovaries:
• Location: in the female pelvis

• Function: produce hormones needed for reproduction

▫ Estrogen
▫ Progesterone

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/01/health/adam/19263.jpg
 The Testes:
• Location: male pelvic region

• Function: produce hormones needed for

reproduction
▫ Testosterone

http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/images/10-07-testes.jpg
Controlling Endocrine Glands:
• Similar to the feedback mechanism in the
nervous system

• Ex: Pancreas
▫ Has specialize cells that make 2 hormones: insulin
& glucagon
▫ Insulin lower blood glucose levels – tells liver to
convert glucose into glycogen
▫ Glucagon tells liver to convert glycogen into
glucose to release into the blood
 Pancreatic Hormones:

http://biomed.brown.edu/Courses/BI108/BI108_2002_Groups/pancstems/stemcell/pancreas.gif
Hormone Imbalances:
• Sometimes an endocrine gland makes too much
or not enough of a hormone

• Diabetes Mellitus: when the pancreas does not

make enough insulin

• Imbalance in the Pituitary Gland: not enough

growth hormone
 Diabetes Mellitus:

http://www.ghsa.net/files/images/Checking_Blood_Sugar.jpg http://www.ghsa.net/files/images/Insulin_Pump.jpg