16: Endocrine System
After completing this section, you should know:
- The characteristics of endocrine glands and hormones
- The position of the main endocrine glands in the body
- The relationship between the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus
- The main hormones produced by the two parts of the pituitary gland and their effects on the body
- The main hormones produced by the pineal, thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands, the pancreas, ovary and testicle in regard to their effects on the body
- What is meant by homeostasis and feedback control
- The homeostatic mechanisms that allow an animal to control its body temperature, water balance, blood volume and acid/base balance
In order to survive, animals must constantly adapt to changes in the environment. The nervous and endocrine systems both work together to bring about this adaptation. In general the nervous system responds rapidly to short-term changes by sending electrical impulses along nerves and the endocrine system brings about longer-term adaptations by sending out chemical messengers called hormones into the blood stream.
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- 16.1: The Endocrine System
- In order to survive, animals must constantly adapt to changes in the environment. The nervous and endocrine systems both work together to bring about this adaptation. In general the nervous system responds rapidly to short-term changes by sending electrical impulses along nerves and the endocrine system brings about longer-term adaptations by sending out chemical messengers called hormones into the blood stream.
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- 16.3: The Pituitary Gland and Hypothalamus
- The pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure that is attached by a stalk to the underside of the cerebrum of the brain (see diagram 16.2). It is often called the “master” endocrine gland because it controls many of the other endocrine glands in the body. However, we now know that the pituitary gland is itself controlled by the hypothalamus.
Thumbnail: Thyroid gland. (Public Domain; LadyofHats ).