Hormones and the Endocrine System

The endocrine system uses hormones to control and coordinate your body’s internal metabolism (or homeostasis) energy level, reproduction, growth and development, and response to injury, stress, and environmental factors. Consider the following hormones and their role in the workings of the endocrine system:

Hormones and Endocrine Function | Endocrine Society

Hormones and Endocrine Function | Endocrine Society

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Patient Resources

January 24, 2022

Hormones are are the body’s chemical messengers, sending signals into the bloodstream and tissues.  Hormones work slowly, over time, and affect many different processes, including growth and development, metabolism – how your body gets energy from the foods you eat- sexual function, reproduction, and mood. When glands do not produce the right amount of hormones, diseases develop that can affect many aspects of life. 

Some factors that affect endocrine organs include puberty, aging, pregnancy, the environment, genetics and certain diseases and medications, including naturopathic medicine, herbal supplements, and prescription medicines such as opioids or steroids. Hormones are vital to your health and well-being. 

Hormone stability can be a delicate balancing act, which is why you want to work with a hormone specialist. If you suspect hormone or endocrine-related problems get help from an endocrinologist near you.

Endocrine Library >>

• Adrenal gland secretes steroid hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. It also makes precursors that can be converted to sex steroids such as androgen, estrogen. Learn more about adrenal disorders that can be caused by too much or too little of a particular hormone.

  Adrenal Hormones

• Found deep inside the brain, the hypothalamus produces releasing and inhibiting hormones and controls the “master gland”— the pituitary. Together, the hypothalamus and pituitary tell the other endocrine glands in your body to make the hormones that affect and protect every aspect of your health.

  Brain Hormones

• Several organs play a major role in helping the endocrine system to work well. Although these organs are not glands themselves, they do produce, store, and send out hormones that help the body to function properly and maintain a healthy balance.

  Endocrine-related Organs and Hormones

• Pancreas plays a crucial role in converting food into energy for cells and digestion. Learn what happens when too much or too little of the hormones glucagon and insulin affect the endocrine system.

  Pancreas Hormones

• Reproductive hormones play a big role in sexual development, weight, energy and fertility. Puberty, menstruation, sperm development and even menopause Learn more about the common hormones and disorders that impact both women and men.

  Reproductive Hormones

• Thyroid gland uses iodine from food to make two thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism, whereas the parathyroid glands produces hormones that control calcium. Learn how too much or too little can affect endocrine function.

  Thyroid and Parathyroid Hormones

• This resource will help you decode the most important hormones and explain how changes in hormone levels can affect your body and your well-being.

  Download the Essential Guide to Hormones

• Descifraremos las hormonas más importantes del organismo humano y explicaremos de qué manera los cambios en los niveles hormonales pueden afectar su organismo y su bienestar.

  Descargar Guia Esencial De Sus Hormonas

Last Updated:
January 24, 2022

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LEAGUE | What is the endocrine system?

The endocrine system in children is a very complex and sensitive mechanism.

The children’s body grows and forms, so the children’s endocrine glands work a little differently than in adults. The endocrine system is the center that regulates the work of the entire body of the child, this happens with the help of hormones that are produced by the glands.

When this process fails or problems develop, various diseases of the endocrine system develop.

The endocrine system is made up of glands that produce hormones. Hormones are the chemical messengers of the endocrine system. They carry information and instructions from one set of cells to another. The endocrine system affects almost every cell, organ and function in our body.

What does the endocrine system do?

Endocrine glands secrete hormones into the blood. This allows the hormones to move to the cells of other parts of the body, taking part in every process that takes place in the body. Hormones help control mood, growth and development, organ function, metabolism, and sexual function.

The endocrine system regulates the amount of hormone released depending on the levels of hormones already in the blood or on the levels of other substances in the blood, such as calcium. Hormone levels are affected by many factors, such as stress, infections, and changes in fluid and mineral balance in the blood.

Too much or too little of any hormone can harm the body. Medicines can solve many of these problems.

What are the parts of the endocrine system?

While many parts of the body produce hormones, the main glands that make up the endocrine system are:

The pancreas is part of the endocrine system and digestive system because it releases hormones into the bloodstream and also makes and releases enzymes in the digestive tract.

Hypothalamus : The hypothalamus is located in the lower central part of the brain. It links the endocrine system and the nervous system. Nerve cells in the hypothalamus produce chemicals that control the release of hormones released by the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus collects information perceived by the brain (such as ambient temperature, light, and sensations) and sends it to the pituitary gland. This information affects the hormones that the pituitary gland produces and secretes.

Pituitary gland: The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and is no larger than a pea. Despite its small size, the pituitary gland is often referred to as the “master gland”. The hormones it produces control many other endocrine glands.

The pituitary gland produces many hormones, such as:

• growth hormone, which stimulates the growth of bones and other body tissues and plays a role in the body’s processing of nutrients and minerals;

• prolactin, which activates milk production in lactating women;

• thyrotropin, which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones;

• corticotropin, which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce certain hormones;

• antidiuretic hormone, which helps control the body’s water balance through effects on the kidneys;

• oxytocin, which causes uterine contractions that occur during childbirth.

The pituitary gland also releases endorphins, chemicals that act on the nervous system and reduce the feeling of pain. The pituitary gland also secretes hormones that signal the reproductive organs to produce sex hormones. The pituitary gland also controls ovulation and the menstrual cycle in women.

Thyroid: The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck. It has the shape of a butterfly. Produces the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. These hormones control the rate at which cells burn fuel from food to produce energy. The more thyroid hormones in the blood, the faster the chemical reactions in the body.

Thyroid hormones are important because they help the bones of children and teens grow and develop, and they play a role in the development of the brain and nervous system.

Parathyroid Glands: Attached to the thyroid gland are four tiny glands that work together, called the parathyroid glands. They secrete parathyroid hormone, which controls calcium levels in the blood with the help of calcitonin, which is produced by the thyroid gland.

Adrenals: These are triangular paired glands located above each kidney. The adrenal glands consist of two parts, each of which produces a set of hormones and performs different functions:

1. The outer part is the adrenal cortex. It produces hormones called corticosteroids, which help control salt and water balance in the body, are involved in metabolism and in the development of stress reactions, stimulate the immune system, sexual development.

2. The inner part is the adrenal medulla. It produces catecholamines such as adrenaline, which is responsible for a quick response when the body is under stress, increases blood pressure and heart rate.

Pineal Gland: The pineal body, also called the pineal gland, is located in the middle of the brain. Produces melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate circadian rhythms and sleep patterns.

Sex glands: The sex (reproductive) glands include testicles (testicles) in men, ovaries in women. The ovaries and testicles begin to produce female and male sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone). This leads to a high growth rate of the child and the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics.

In addition to reproductive function, the gonads also influence, through their own hormones, the level of blood pressure, metabolism in muscles, bones and adipose tissue, appearance (fat distribution, secondary sexual characteristics, skin and hair condition).

Pancreas: The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon, which are hormones that control blood glucose levels. Insulin helps to supply the body with energy reserves, and it uses this stored energy for activity, and also helps the organs to work properly.

How do you keep your endocrine system healthy?

To keep your endocrine system healthy:

• Be physically active.

• Stick to a healthy diet.

• Go for regular medical checkups.

• Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements or herbal treatments.

• Tell your doctor about any family history of endocrine problems, such as diabetes or thyroid problems.

When should I see a doctor?

Tell your doctor if you:

• I drink a lot of water, but I’m still thirsty

• having to urinate frequently

• frequent abdominal pain or nausea

• very tired or weak

• gain or lose a lot of weight

• tremors or heavy sweating

• constipation

• not growing and developing as expected

What affects hormones? How does the endocrine system work? — Art Life 9 company blog0001

There are no organs of greater or lesser importance in the human body, it is a single multifunctional system in which everything is interconnected. An important role in ensuring the fine regulation of human vital processes is played by the health of the endocrine glands, or in other words, the endocrine system. This is a complex system with a three-level hierarchy that governs all subcortical acts of life support (that is, actions that occur outside the control of the cerebral cortex): hunger, thirst, satiety, sweating, the ability to procreate. The function of the endocrine system is to ensure the constancy of the internal environment of the body by maintaining the physiological level of substances in the blood.

The hypothalamus is located in the brain and produces special substances – liberins, which act as signal molecules on the underlying pituitary gland, ensuring the production and distribution of hormones in the right amount and at the right time. The pituitary gland is a gland that secretes a large amount of hormones that stimulate the work of other endocrine glands. These hormones are called tropins, or triple hormones, which means that they have an affinity for a specific target organ. Thyrotropic hormone activates the production of hormones by the thyroid gland, luteotropic hormone – the formation of the corpus luteum and the production of progesterone (the hormone that fixes pregnancy), adrenocorticotropic hormone activates the adrenal gland and the production of adrenaline and cortisol, stress hormones.

The endocrine glands located on the lower level of the hierarchy of the system, having received a signal from the pituitary gland, begin the production of hormones that perform a regulatory function. The work of these glands is controlled by a biofeedback mechanism. The level of the hormone produced in the blood at a certain concentration serves as a signal to stop the production of the hormone by the gland. And vice versa, its lack in the blood will be constantly replenished with more and more new production of the hormone.

If you take a closer look at the functions of the executing glands, it becomes clear how important a factor is the presence of the correct feedback in the regulation of not only the activity of the glands themselves, but also the performance of the body as a whole.

Let’s dwell on some endocrine glands

The thyroid gland, located in the front of the neck, secretes three hormones containing iodine, which are responsible for metabolism, which determines the work of each internal organ, the rate of protein production, memory functions, emotions , as well as intelligence and reproductive viability. In the event of a lack of iodine in the diet, which is necessary for the synthesis of hormones of this gland, it does not receive a feedback signal about the saturation of the blood with hormones and continues to produce them. As a result, gland tissue (goiter) can grow.

Adjacent to the thyroid gland are four small parathyroid glands involved in calcium metabolism. There are different opinions about the causes of dysfunction of these glands. But many reputable scientists cite dietary calcium deficiency as a risk factor. Its deficiency can provoke an excess production of the hormone by the parathyroid glands, which will lead to its washing out of the bones until the gland receives a biofeedback signal in the form of a physiological level of calcium in the blood.

The pancreas as an endocrine organ produces two hormones: insulin and glucagon, which regulate carbohydrate metabolism. The adrenal glands are two small glands, located one above each kidney and consisting of two independent parts – the cortex and the medulla. These glands produce adrenaline, cortisol (stress hormones) and hormones that regulate water-salt metabolism in the body. Using the example of the interaction of the pancreas and adrenal glands, it is easy to demonstrate the absolute relationship of all glands of the endocrine system and their functions. It is known that under stress, a lot of adrenaline and cortisol are released into the blood, chronic stress is no exception. It is also known that a high level of stress hormones blocks the synthesis of insulin, and at a certain point in time, its decrease can become critical and lead to the development of diabetes mellitus (an endocrine disease in which a lack of insulin in the blood makes it impossible for cells to absorb incoming glucose).

This example clearly illustrates that in the modern world it is impossible to ignore the need for timely attention and support in relation to the endocrine system. You can not smoke or abuse alcohol, but even this does not provide absolute protection against adverse risk factors that disrupt the functions of the endocrine system. Among them: 90,201 stress, 90,202 infectious diseases (acute and chronic), physical inactivity and improper diet and type of nutrition – in a word, everything that accompanies the life of a city dweller of working age. And since up to 80% of the inhabitants of the Earth live in cities, it is appropriate to ask the question: is there a way to universally prevent diseases and dysfunctions of the glands of the endocrine system?

Yes, absolutely! Based on the diversity of the chemical structure of hormones and the functions of the glands that produce them, the first place among the measures that help maintain the health of the endocrine system should be given to the daily diet. Ideally, it should be balanced in amino acids, phospholipids, and unsaturated fats. Particular attention is paid to the adequate content of iodine. Daily intake of dietary fiber, the presence of hepatoprotectors and antioxidants in the diet, the rejection of alcohol abuse and excessive consumption of sugar-containing foods are additional steps in strengthening all levels of the endocrine system.