Question

The endocrine system consists of several different glands, pineal, thyroid, adrenal glands, and the gonads (ovaries for women, and testes for men). Please answer the question: which of these glands do you believe is most important? Explain why and defend your answer. Your response should be a minimum of 100 words, with in-text citations and references.

Answer 1

Endocrine system

The endocrine system is made up of glands that make hormones. Hormones are the body's chemical messengers. They carry information and instructions from one set of cells to another.

Functions of Endocrine system

· Endocrine glands release hormones into the bloodstream. This lets the hormones travel to cells in other parts of the body.

· The endocrine hormones help control mood, growth and development, the way our organs work, metabolism , and reproduction.

· The endocrine system regulates how much of each hormone is released. This can depend on levels of hormones already in the blood, or on levels of other substances in the blood, like calcium. Many things affect hormone levels, such as stress, infection, and changes in the balance of fluid and minerals in blood.

Parts of the Endocrine System

· Hypothalamus

· Pituitary

· Thyroid

· Parathyroids

· Adrenals

· Pineal Body

· The Ovaries

· The Testes

Ø The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain beneath the hypothalamus and is no larger than a pea. It is often considered the most important part of the endocrine system because it produces hormones that control many functions of other endocrine glands.

Hormones Regulated by the Hypothalamic/Pituitary System

Thyroid hormones T4, T3	Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)	Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
Cortisol	Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH)	Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)
Estrogen or testosterone	Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH)	Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Insulinlike growth factor-I (IGF-I)	Growth hormone	Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)

https://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_endocrine_system/article_em.htm#what_is_the_endocrine_system

https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/endocrine-system-facts