Meenal and Khushi Patel Kammerer Period # 4

 The endocrine system is made up of glands that produce and secrete hormones, chemical substances produced in the body that regulate the activity of cells or organs.

. These hormones regulate the body's growth, metabolism (the physical and chemical processes of the body), and sexual development and function. -The hormones are released into the bloodstream and may affect one or several organs throughout the body.

-hypothalamus -pituitary gland -thyroid gland -parathyroid glands -pancreas -adrenal glands -gonads -pineal gland -thymus

 It produces and builds up t cells early in life which aids in the immune system. t cells recognize foreign antigens and destroy them.

 The most important function of hypothalamus is homeostasis  Different factors which are maintained during the process of homeostasis include:  body temperature,  blood pressure, electrolyte balance,  fluid balance and body weight.  Temperature is regulated by the anterior (cooling) and posterior (heating) parts of the hypothalamus.

 Secretes hormones necessary for growth reproduction

- The two main hormones produced by it are iodine and Triiodothyronine - -These hormones are essential for life and have many effects on body metabolism, growth and development. - For example, thyroid hormones make the heart beat faster and cause the body to burn up calories more quickly.

They produce parathyroid hormone (PTH) the main regulator of blood calcium levels. It's produced when Ca levels decrease, it elevates it by: 1. increasing bone destruction to release Ca 2. increasing re- absorption of Ca from kidneys 3. activating vitamin D which increases the absorption of Ca from the gut it's inhibited by high Ca levels in blood

It produces hormones, the two main ones being insulin and glucagon, that maintain homeostasis in the blood sugar concentration. The pancreas is a small organ located near the lower part of the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine.

The adrenal and thyroid glands are located in the throat and above the kidneys, respectively. These glands produce hormones, which are chemicals that help give orders throughout the body. The adrenal and thyroid glands actually work together, the hormones they produce feeding off each other and combining to regulate the activities of your body.

The gonads are the reproductive cells found in the testes in males and the ovaries in females. They are haploid gametes.

Pineal Gland is an endocrine structure located on the posterior, superior surface of the diencephalon. It is responsible for the production of melatonin, a hormone, that increases in production when light exposure decreases and vise versa. Due to the pineal gland's activity it plays a role in circadian rhythms.

 The role of the thymus gland is to process lymphocytes, which are white blood cellsthat travel the body through the bloodstream.  They stop at lymph nodes to ensure everything is working properly, and if not, it is believed that they jump into action to fix any issues.  These T-lymphocytes, or T-cells, play a part in cellular immunity by blocking the invasion of harmful foreign agents, viruses, and bacteria.  They also aid in preventing the abnormal cell growth that occurs with cancer.

Diseases and disorders caused by the endocrine system.

 Hypersecretion: gland produces too much of a hormone  May result in hurt or trauma  e.g. primary hyperparathyroidism: parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone and may result in kidney stones and damage.  Hyposecretion: gland’s ability to secrete a hormone decreases causing a deficiency of hormones  e.g. hypothyroidism: an abnormally low activity of the thyroid gland, resulting in retardation of growth and mental development.

 Adrenal glands produce excessive cortisol  Causes:  pituitary gland secretes excess ACTH (adrenocortiocotopin hormone), which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol  Some kinds of tumors also secrete ACTH and can stimulate the adrenal glands to produce cortisol  Symptoms include: weight gain, a redistribution of fat to the face (moon face), the upper back (buffalo hump) and in the neck above the clavicle thinning extremities due to muscle weakness  Not common, but still fatal  can be treated with radiation therapy and medication

 Type 1 and Type 2  Pancreatic failure in which the pancreas can not produce enough insulin, a hormone used to convert sugar into energy used by the body (metabolism), causing sugar to build up in the bloodstream  Symptoms:  Type 1: frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, fatigue and irritability  Type 2: all of Type 1 diabetes, frequent infection, blurred vision, easy bruising, recurring infections

 More likely to develop in girls, but still present in boys  Happens due to increased aging  Body produces less sex hormones, testosterone for men and estrogen for women  “silent diseases” –no visible symptoms  Bones may break from the slightest falls

 Exercise regularly  Can also alleviate stress which can cause damage to the endocrine system  Eat healthy  Mostly fruits, vegetables, and herbs such as garlic