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There is another system in the human body called the endocrine system. The endocrine system is a system which uses chemicals secreted by glands that travel throughout the body and cause certain kinds of reactions.
These chemical communicators are called hormones. Hormones are chemicals that are secreted by glands that affect different kinds of bodily functions and behaviors.
They're carried throughout the body by the bloodstream and the lymph system, and they can trigger different kinds of events. Conversely, they can be triggered by different kinds of events, meaning the environment might create some arousal within the body.
EXAMPLE
When you're scared by an external event, you get a surge of adrenaline. This is a hormone response created by the endocrine system.Problem Solving: Skill Tip |
There are also regular growth and life events which regulate the hormones that are being used in the body to send messages to the rest of the cells and the different parts.
EXAMPLE
In adolescence, there are a lot of hormones that are being sent to encourage growth in the body, especially secondary sexual characteristic growth.These are all aspects of hormones and the communication involved with the endocrine system.
Some of the most important glands in the endocrine system are located in the head and neck area. The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland located towards the front, in the middle of the brain. This is what is known as the “master gland,” meaning that it controls the other glands within the body.
It sends out signals telling them when they should and should not release hormones for various kinds of functions. In this way, the pituitary gland is the brain of the endocrine system.
However, it's important to note that the pituitary gland is actually being regulated largely by the hypothalamus, which is the organ that's just above it. This provides a kind of link between these two communication systems, the nervous system and the endocrine system. The hypothalamus helps to tell the pituitary gland when it should send out those controlling hormones.
The pituitary gland also has an important function in secreting growth hormones, which regulate the body's development over time. At certain periods of a person's life, more growth hormones are being sent out. Too much or too little of these growth hormones can lead to different conditions, like dwarfism or gigantism.
The pineal gland is another endocrine gland located in the brain; this one is located a bit more towards the center and middle of the brain. The pineal gland helps to regulate the body's rhythms and cycles.
The pineal gland secretes a hormone called melatonin. The pineal gland is photosensitive, meaning it is sensitive to the amount of light within our environment. It will secrete more melatonin when it is dark, and less when it is light. In other words, light dictates melatonin production, which in turn affects our level of sleepiness or wakefulness. This is why we often feel sluggish on a cloudy day. Our self and social awareness skill can help us predict how we’ll react to these issues related to the pineal gland and prepare for what to do to feel better.
The thyroid glands are located within the neck. They control the rate of metabolism within the body. In other words, they tell the body how quickly it should make and use different sorts of energy.
You may have heard of different disorders that have to do with the thyroid gland, such as hyperthyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid produces too many hormones. This can lead to feelings of fatigue, because the body is tired from using so much energy, as well as increased sweating and appetite, difficulty concentrating, nervousness or restlessness. You can see how this creates more energy in the body than a person can use. A person with hyperthyroidism might be a very excitable or irritable kind of person.
The opposite of that is hypothyroidism, which is when there are too few hormones being produced. This can lead to feelings of depression, fatigue, weakness, as well as weight gain. Needless to say, the thyroid gland has a powerful effect on a person's personality and mood.
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Adrenal glands are the endocrine glands located on the top of the kidneys. They secrete hormones that are related to short-term things like stress and arousal. Two hormones in particular are released by the adrenal glands:
The pancreas is a long gland located just under the stomach and liver, and hovers above the small intestine. It helps in digestion and has a twofold use:
Sex glands are endocrine glands that produce sex hormones. These hormones regulate sexual growth, arousal, and reproduction.
It's important to note that sex hormones are present in both men and women. The difference is the amount of each hormone found in males and females. Males have more androgens, or testosterone, produced by the testes. Females have more estrogens, the female hormones produced by the ovaries. Estrogens can be used in different kinds of situations such as birth control.
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