ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

The endocrine system is an organized mechanism of glands that produce and secrete chemical substances named hormones, which are used for different metabolic processes in the body. It is comparable to the nervous system in the sense that the former uses nerve impulses to carry out its functions and the latter uses hormonal action. Some glands have ducts through which they release their secretions, such as the salivary glands. These are called exocrine glands. On the other hand, endocrine glands are those that have their product travel through the circulation and selectively find its target organs.

OpenStax College, CC BY 3.0

The endocrine system, through hormones, regulates many important metabolic processes. Some of its functions are:

• Growth and development • Sexual function and reproduction • Heart rate • Blood pressure • Appetite • Sleeping and waking cycles • Body temperature The endocrine system regulates its functions through feedback loops. This means that a hormone that stimulates the secretion of a product stops being produced as soon as that product is in circulation in sufficient quantity. Once the amount decreases, the hormone production will be activated again. By the time any hormonal imbalance occurs, the symptoms are noticeable, and treatment is required to regulate the secretion and use of the hormones. This treatment is sometimes medical and sometimes surgical. In the figures below, you can see the hormones produced by each of the body’s endocrine glands.