The Endocrine System

Warm-up

What is the purpose of the endocrine system?

Why do we need it?

The Endocrine System are the glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Endocrine System

One of the body’s two communication systemsNervous and endocrine

A set of glands that produce hormones-- chemical messengers that circulate in the blood

hormones

What are hormones? The things adults say teenagers have too

much of… Chemical messengers circulated in the

bloodstream.

Hormone

Chemical messengers produced by the endocrine glands and circulated in the blood

Similar to neurotransmitters in that they are also messengers

Slower communication system, but with longer lasting effects

Endocrine System

Hypothalamus

Brain region that controls the pituitary gland

Controls homeostasis – the bodies ability to remain at a status quo level

Pituitary Gland

The endocrine system’s gland that controls the other endocrine glands

Called the “master gland”Located at the base of the brain and connects to the hypothalamus

Pituitary Gland

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

Endocrine gland that helps regulate the energy level in the body

Located in the neck

Endocrine System

Thyroid Glandcontrols 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 sleepiness, reduced muscle tone, overweight

Adrenal Gland

Endocrine glands that help to arouse the body in times of stress

Located just above the kidneysRelease epinephrine (adrenaline)

and norepinephrine (noradrenaline)

Endocrine System

Adrenal Glands

Increase heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar

hormones involved in human stress response

Pancreatic Gland

Regulates the level of blood sugar (insulin) in the blood

Endocrine System

Pancreas

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.

Sex Glands

Ovaries (females) and testes (males) are the glands that influence emotion and physical development.

Testosterone – primary males hormoneEstrogen – primary female hormoneMales and females have both estrogen

and testosterone in their systems.

Endocrine System

Gonads

Testicles – release androgens (male hormones)

Ovaries – release estrogens (female hormones)

The presence of these chemicals influence male and female reproductive characteristics.