Endocrine System
A chap walks into a bar and asks the barman “how do you make a hormone?” the barman replies … (actually ill let you think of your own punch line to that joke).
So … Hormones … these are chemical messengers that are produced by one part of the body and have an effect on another part of the body. The endocrine system is made up of organs in the body called “glands”, which secrete hormones into the blood. The endocrine system uses chemicals that must travel round the body in the blood before they have an effect and so it is typically a slow process. This is compared to something like the nervous system, which causes its effects by using a system more like electricity running through wires.
There are quite a few glands of the endocrine system, each releasing several types of hormones, each with varying effects. This means that there is quite a lot of interesting facts to learn about. Because this would take lots of room, here is a short (and I agree incomplete) list of them.
While the names of many of the hormones below (and their effects) may be unknown to you, hormones play a huge role in loads of different functions that are vital for our life, effecting many different systems of the body. Therefore treat hormones with respect because many body functions would not be possible without systems being managed by hormones, produced by glands of the endocrine system!
So … Hormones … these are chemical messengers that are produced by one part of the body and have an effect on another part of the body. The endocrine system is made up of organs in the body called “glands”, which secrete hormones into the blood. The endocrine system uses chemicals that must travel round the body in the blood before they have an effect and so it is typically a slow process. This is compared to something like the nervous system, which causes its effects by using a system more like electricity running through wires.
There are quite a few glands of the endocrine system, each releasing several types of hormones, each with varying effects. This means that there is quite a lot of interesting facts to learn about. Because this would take lots of room, here is a short (and I agree incomplete) list of them.
While the names of many of the hormones below (and their effects) may be unknown to you, hormones play a huge role in loads of different functions that are vital for our life, effecting many different systems of the body. Therefore treat hormones with respect because many body functions would not be possible without systems being managed by hormones, produced by glands of the endocrine system!
Hypothalamus: this is a tiny gland in the bottom of the brain, which has a big role to play, though much of its role is to affect a neighbouring gland called the anterior pituitary gland. Its hormones include:
Thyrotropin releasing hormone (causes anterior pituitary to release thyroid stimulating hormone).
Dopamine (inhibits the anterior pituitary from releasing prolactin).
Growth hormone releasing hormone (causes anterior pituitary to release growth hormone).
Somatostatin (inhibits the anterior pituitary from releasing growth hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone).
Gonadotropin releasing hormone (causes anterior pituitary to release follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone).
Corticotropin releasing hormone (causes anterior pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone).
Oxytocin (causes uterine contraction and lactation).
Vasopressin (in nephrons – see kidneys and urinary system – increases water going from convoluted tubule and collecting duct, into the blood).
Anterior Pituitary: another tiny gland next, which is stuck on to the hypothalamus. Its hormones include:
Growth hormone (causes growth and cell reproduction and causes the liver to release insulin like growth factor 1).
Thyroid stimulating hormone (causes thyroid gland to release thyroxine and triiodothyronine and to absorb iodine).
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (causes adrenocortical cells to release corticosteroid and androgen).
Beta endorphin (reduces pain perception).
Follicle stimulating hormone (in men causes testes to make sperm. In women causes maturation of ovarian follicles in ovary. For reproduction – lots of sites online showing the mechanics of this, though look on this site for an understanding of the reproduction physiology).
Luteinizing hormone (in men causes leydig cells to make testosterones. In women causes ovulation.
Prolactin (causes mammary glands to release milk – Bring me a lactating woman and my milking stool… tonight we have cappuccino!).
Melanocyte stimulating hormone (causes melanocytes in the skin and hair to release melanin).
Posterior pituitary: Its hormones include:
Oxytocin (see hypothalamus).
Vasopressin (see hypothalamus).
Thyroid: A somewhat larger gland located at the top of the neck. Its hormones include:
Thyroxine (causes cells to use oxygen and energy and so increases metabolism. Causes the making of RNA polymerase I and II).
Triiodothyronine (same effects as thyroxine, but more effective).
Calcitonin (stimulates osteoblasts – see skeletal system - and so stimulates bone construction).
Thyrotropin releasing hormone (causes anterior pituitary to release thyroid stimulating hormone).
Dopamine (inhibits the anterior pituitary from releasing prolactin).
Growth hormone releasing hormone (causes anterior pituitary to release growth hormone).
Somatostatin (inhibits the anterior pituitary from releasing growth hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone).
Gonadotropin releasing hormone (causes anterior pituitary to release follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone).
Corticotropin releasing hormone (causes anterior pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone).
Oxytocin (causes uterine contraction and lactation).
Vasopressin (in nephrons – see kidneys and urinary system – increases water going from convoluted tubule and collecting duct, into the blood).
Anterior Pituitary: another tiny gland next, which is stuck on to the hypothalamus. Its hormones include:
Growth hormone (causes growth and cell reproduction and causes the liver to release insulin like growth factor 1).
Thyroid stimulating hormone (causes thyroid gland to release thyroxine and triiodothyronine and to absorb iodine).
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (causes adrenocortical cells to release corticosteroid and androgen).
Beta endorphin (reduces pain perception).
Follicle stimulating hormone (in men causes testes to make sperm. In women causes maturation of ovarian follicles in ovary. For reproduction – lots of sites online showing the mechanics of this, though look on this site for an understanding of the reproduction physiology).
Luteinizing hormone (in men causes leydig cells to make testosterones. In women causes ovulation.
Prolactin (causes mammary glands to release milk – Bring me a lactating woman and my milking stool… tonight we have cappuccino!).
Melanocyte stimulating hormone (causes melanocytes in the skin and hair to release melanin).
Posterior pituitary: Its hormones include:
Oxytocin (see hypothalamus).
Vasopressin (see hypothalamus).
Thyroid: A somewhat larger gland located at the top of the neck. Its hormones include:
Thyroxine (causes cells to use oxygen and energy and so increases metabolism. Causes the making of RNA polymerase I and II).
Triiodothyronine (same effects as thyroxine, but more effective).
Calcitonin (stimulates osteoblasts – see skeletal system - and so stimulates bone construction).