Download The Endocrine System

The Endocrine System
•The Endocrine System
are the glands that
secrete hormones into
the bloodstream
Hypothalamus
• Brain region that controls
the pituitary gland
• Controls homeostasis – the
bodies ability to remain at
a status quo level
Pituitary Gland
• The “master gland” receives
instructions from the brain, and in turn
directs the rest of the endocrine system
• Controls thirst by controlling the
amount of water in the body’s cells
• Controls female contractions, and tells
the mammary glands to produce milk
for newborns
Pituitary Gland
• May control grooming habits,
companionship, and sexual
behavior
• Controls the flow of the
human growth hormones –
dwarfism and gigantism
Pineal Gland
• Responsible for the hormone
“Melatonin”
• Increased levels of Melatonin cause
behaviors associated with sleep
• Decreased levels of Melatonin cause
behaviors associated with
wakefulness
Thyroid Gland
• Releases the hormone “Thyroxin”
• Thyroxin controls body temperature
• Controls metabolism – our body’s ability
to transform the food we eat into usable
energy
• Overactive? Behaviors may include
excitability, insomnia, ADD, agitation,
difficulty focusing
• Reduced Activity? Behaviors may include
Parathyroids
• There are four parathyroid glands which
are normally about the size and shape of
a grain of rice.
• The sole purpose of the parathyroid
glands are to regulate the calcium level
in our bodies within a very narrow range
so that the nervous and muscular
systems can function properly.
Thymus Gland
• Responsible for producing “TLymphocytes” – white-blood cells
that fight infection
• Regulates the body’s Immune System
– protecting the body against
infection
• Hay fever, allergies, migraines may
also be associated with poor thymus
function
Adrenal Glands
• Located right above the kidneys and
signaled by the autonomic system
• Secrete the hormones epinephrine
(adrenaline) and norepinephrine
(noradrenaline), which help to
arouse the body in times of stress
• Increase heart rate, blood pressure,
and blood sugar
Pancreas
• Controls the chemical “Insulin”
• Insulin is needed in the body to
break down sugars in the body
• Too much insulin in the body devours
all of the sugar in the blood.
Behaviors exhibited include
sluggishness and inattentiveness.
• Too little insulin causes a buildup of
sugar in the blood and makes the
kidneys use a lot more water to flush
it out of the body. The extra water
needed to flush the sugar comes
from surrounding cells, which in turn
dehydrates them and leaves them
vulnerable to infection and poisons.
Gonads
• Testicles – release androgens (male
hormones)
• Ovaries – release estrogens (female
hormones)
• The presence of these chemicals
influence male and female
reproductive characteristics.