The Endocrine System of the Human Body

The endocrine system includes organs and glands that produce and secrete hormones to regulate and coordinate many of the body’s functions. Hormones (chemical substances) are released directly into the bloodstream from the glands. Hormones have an effect on metabolism, growth and sexual development. Endocrinologists are doctors that specialize in diseases and disorders of the endocrine system.

Function

• The endocrine system communicates and coordinates with the nervous system, kidneys, liver, reproductive system, pancreas, gut and fat, according to The Hormone Foundation. It helps to control these systems to maintain energy levels, reproduction, homeostasis (internal balance of systems) and your body’s response to situations such as injury or stress.

Glands

• The endocrine system’s major glands include the hypothalamus, the thyroid gland, the pituitary gland, the islets of the pancreas, the adrenal glands, the parathyroid glands, ovaries in women and testes in men. Merck notes that hormone-secreting organs are not necessarily all part of the endocrine system. An example is the kidneys, which produce renin (a hormone that helps control blood pressure) and erythropoietin (which stimulates the production of red blood cells). In addition, some glands do not produce hormones, but other substances, such as sweat glands.

Hormones

• The majority of hormones are proteins, but some are steroids, according to WebMD. Each hormone has a different function, such as oxytocin, produced by the pituitary gland, which causes contraction of the uterine muscles and the milk ducts in the breasts. Parathyroid hormone, produced by the parathyroid glands, aids in bone formation and the release of calcium and phosphorus. Another example is the hormones produced by the adrenal glands. Aldosterone helps maintain a balance of water and salt, and cortisol is anti-inflammatory, helps regulate blood pressure, blood sugar and muscle strength, as well as the salt and water balance.

Imbalance

• Changes in your body can result in a hormonal imbalance, such as aging, illness, chronic or acute conditions (liver kidney, heart) and endocrine pathologies (congenital or genetic defects, surgery and trauma). Other factors include stress, environmental substances (chemicals), genetics and hormonal release cycles, such as is the case with growth hormone, estrogen and progesterone, according to The Hormone Foundation.

Conditions

• Certain conditions can result from an imbalance of hormones such as diabetes, which is caused by the production of insufficient amounts of insulin by the pancreas or the body not using it effectively. Growth disorders can result in gigantism or stunted growth in children or decreased bone mass in adults. The Hormone Foundation indicates that there are over 6,000 disorders related to hormonal imbalance, many of which are rare.