Question

Create a discussion question about Endocrine System and submit a thorough response to this question.

Answer 1

The endocrine system is a series of glands that produce and secrete hormones that the body uses for a wide range of functions. Many different bodily functions are controlled by these, including:

• Respiration
• Metabolism
• Reproduction
• Sensory perception
• Movement
• Sexual development
• Growth

Glands produce hormones and send into the bloodstream to the various tissues in the body. They send signals to those tissues to tell them what they are supposed to do.

Endocrine System Functions:

• Makes hormones that control moods, growth and development, metabolism, organs, and reproduction
• Controls how hormones are released

The main hormone producing glands are:

Hypothalamus: This organ connects endocrine system with nervous system. Its main job is to tell your pituitary gland to start or stop making hormones.

Pituitary gland: This is endocrine system’s master gland. It uses information it gets from your brain to tell other glands in body what to do. It makes many important hormones, including growth hormone; prolactin, which helps breastfeeding moms make milk; and luteinizing hormone, which manages estrogen in women and testosterone in men.

Pineal gland: It makes a chemical called melatonin that helps the body get ready to go to sleep.

Thyroid gland: This gland makes thyroid hormone, which controls metabolism. If this gland doesn't make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism), everything happens more slowly.Heart rate might slow down. One could get constipated. And one might gain weight. If it makes too much (hyperthyroidism), everything speeds up. Heart might race. One could have diarrhea. And one might lose weight without trying.

Parathyroid: This is a set of four small glands behind thyroid. They play a role in bone health. The glands control the levels of calcium and phosphorus.

Thymus: This gland makes white blood cells called T-lymphocytes that fight infection and are crucial as a child's immune system develops. The thymus starts to shrink after puberty.

Adrenals: Best known for making the hormone adrenaline (also called epinephrine), these two glands also make hormones called corticosteroids. They affect the metabolism and sexual function, among other things.

Pancreas: This organ is part of both the digestive and endocrine systems. It makes digestive enzymes that break down food. It also makes the hormones insulin and glucagon. These ensure one have the right amount of sugar in the bloodstream and the cells.

Ovaries: In women, these organs make estrogen and progesterone. These hormones help develop breasts at puberty, regulate the menstrual cycle, and support a pregnancy.

Testes: In men, the testes make testosterone. It helps them grow facial and body hair at puberty. It also tells the male genital to grow larger and plays a role in making sperm.

Endocrine System Disorders:

When the glands do not produce the right amount of hormones, diseases develop that can affect many aspects of life.

• Acromegaly: Sometimes the pituitary gland makes too much growth hormone and the bones get bigger. It usually affects the hands, feet, and face. It usually starts in middle age.
• Adrenal insufficiency: The adrenal glands don’t make enough of certain hormones, like cortisol, which controls stress.
• Cushing's diseas: In this, the body makes too much cortisol. One could gain weight, get stretch marks, bruise easily at first, then get weakened muscles and bones and possibly develop a hump on their upper back.
• Hyperthyroidism: This is when the thyroid gland makes more hormones than the body needs. It makes the system run fast and one might feel nervous, lose weight, and have a rapid heartbeat or trouble sleeping.
• Hypothyroidism: When the body doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone, the system slows down. One might feel tired, gain weight, have a slow heartbeat, and get joint and muscle pains.
• Hypopituitarism: Sometimes the pituitary gland doesn’t make enough of certain hormones and the adrenal and thyroid glands can’t work right.
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia: This is a group of disorders that affect the endocrine system. It causes tumors on at least two endocrine glands or in other organs and tissues.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome: An imbalance of reproductive hormones can cause the ovaries to either not make an egg or not release it during ovulation. This can throw off the periods, cause acne, and make hair to grow on your face or chin.
• Precocious puberty : When glands that control reproduction don’t work properly, some kids start puberty abnormally early -- around 8 in girls and 9 in boys.