The Endocrine System - Day 1

Vocabulary

• Endocrine System

• Hormone

• Gland

The Endocrine System - The Body’s
Other Control System

The nervous system controls every part of the body that touches it

But...not every cell in the body is connected to a nerve

The endocrine system uses the bloodstream, not the nervous
system, to control bodily functions and maintain homeostasis

It’s one of the body’s two control centers, along with the nervous
system

The Functions of The Endocrine System

The endocrine system is responsible for:

• Reproduction

• Metabolism

• Growth and Development

• Body Defenses

• Maintaining Homeostasis

It does this by triggering reactions in specific cells in the body

Hormones and Glands

The endocrine system uses more than 50 different hormones to
trigger reactions in specific cells

• Hormone - A chemical produced by the endocrine system that
  triggers cells

• Gland - A tissue in the body that produces hormones

Glands release hormones directly into the bloodstream, where
they travel throughout the body

Important Glands and Their Functions

Gland

Function

Hypothalamus

Connects Nervous System and

Endocrine System Together

Pituitary

Controls Stress, Growth, Reproduction

Thyroid

Controls Metabolism

Adrenal

Produces Adrenaline and Steroid Hormones

Pancreas

Regulates Blood Sugar

Example Of Hormone Action - Insulin
and Blood Glucose

The HPA Axis In Detail

The HPA Axis involves:

●The Hypothalamus (in the brain)

●The Pituitary Gland

●The Adrenal Glands

The hypothalamus releases CRH (a hormone)

This causes the pituitary gland to release ACTH
(another hormone!)

This causes the adrenal glands to release cortisol
(yep, another hormone!)