WHAT ARE THE GLANDS PRESENT IN THE HUMAN BODY?
THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM DEFINITION
A network of glands that make hormones which help cells talk to each other is known as the endocrine system. Almost every, organ, cell, and function in our body is a product of the endocrine system. You might have problems developing during puberty, or while getting pregnant or managing stress, if your endocrine system for any reason is not healthy. You might have weak bons, or lack energy, or gain weight easily since a lot of the sugar stays in your blood, rather than moving into our cells where it’s needed for energy.
DEFINITION OF A GLAND
An organ that makes and puts out hormones that do a specific job in your body is called a gland. Exocrine and endocrine glands release the substances that they made into your bloodstream.
FUNCTIONS OF THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Your endocrine systems control your development and growth, moods, organs, metabolism and reproduction. It also controls the how your hormones are released in the body. So that they can travel to other parts of the body, the endocrine system sends these hormones into your bloodstream.
PARTS OF THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
There are many glands that make up the endocrine system. The pineal gland, the hypothalamus, and pituitary gland are present in your brain. The parathyroid and the thyroid glands are present in your neck. The thymus is present in between your lungs, the pancreas is behind your stomach and the adrenals are top of your kidneys. If you are a woman, your ovaries are in your pelvic region, similarly if you are a man, your testes are present in your pelvic region.
HYPOTHALAMUS
Your endocrine system is connected with your nervous system by this organ. To tell the pituitary glands to stop or start making hormones is its main job.
PITUITARY GALND
This is known as the master gland of your endocrine system. It tells the other glands what to do based on the information that it gets from your brain. Many important hormones such as growth hormone; prolactin, the hormone which helps breastfeeding moms make milk; the hormone which controls blood pressure and helps control body water balance through its effect on the kidney, the antidiuretic hormone; ACTH / corticotrophin, the adrenocorticotrophic hormone, that stimulates the adrenal gland to make certain hormones; TSH thyroid stimulating hormones that stimulates the secretion and production of thyroid hormones; oxytocin is that which helps milk ejection during breast feeding; and the hormone which manages testosterone in men and estrogen in women, the luteinizing hormone., are all made by the pituitary glands.
PINEAL GLAND
The pineal gland helps your body get ready to sleep by making a chemical called melatonin.
THYROID GLAND
The thyroid hormone is made by this gland, it controls your metabolism and growth. In a condition called hypothyroidism, if this gland is not able to make enough thyroid hormone, then everything in your body happens slowly. You could get constipates, or your heart rate may slow down, and you might also gain weight. Now on the other hand in a condition called hyperthyroidism, if they thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormones then you your heart might race, or you could have diarrhoea and even without trying you might lose weight. Calcitonin is another hormone that is produced by the thyroid glands. They help calcium to be incorporated into the bones, and thus contribute to bone strength.
PARATHYRIOD
A set of four small glands behind your thyroid is the parathyroid glands. As these glands control your levels of phosphorus and calcium, they play a vital role in bone health.
THYMUS
With blood cells called as T-lymphocytes are made by this gland. The white blood cells fight infections and are crucial when a child’s immune system is developing. After puberty the thymus starts to shrink.
ADRENALS
These glands are best known to make epinephrine or more commonly known as the fight or flight t hormone, adrenaline. Corticosteroid hormones are also made by these two glands. These hormones affect your heart rate, metabolism, oxygen intake, sexual function, and blood flow among other things.
PANCREAS
This organ is both a part of your endocrine system and your digestive system. Digestive enzymes are made by it, which break down food. Hormones like glucagon and insulin are also made by it. These two hormones make sure that you have enough or the right amount of sugar in your body.
OVARIES
These organs make progesterone and estrogen in women. These are hormones that help in developing breasts at puberty, support pregnancy and regulate the menstrual cycle.
TESTES
Testes make testosterone in men. During puberty it helps them grow facial and body hair. It also plays a major role in making sperm and tells the penis when it has to grow larger.
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