How does endocrine system work

Hormones are the chemicals the endocrine system uses to send messages to organs and tissue throughout the body. Once released into the bloodstream, they travel to their target organ or tissue, which has receptors that recognize and react to the hormone.

Sometimes, hormone levels can be too high or too low. When this happens, it can have a number of effects on your health. Hyperthyroidism happens when your thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormone than necessary. This can be caused by a range of things, including autoimmune conditions. Treatment depends on how severe the condition is, as well as its underlying cause.

Options include medications, radioiodine therapy, or surgery. Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder and common form of hyperthyroidism. In people with Graves disease, the immune system attacks the thyroid, which causes it to produce more thyroid hormone than normal. Like hyperthyroidism, it has many potential causes.

Cushing syndrome happens due to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Treatment depends on the cause of the condition and can include medications, radiation therapy, or surgery. Some symptoms of Addison disease include:. People with diabetes have too much glucose in their blood high blood sugar. There are two types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

The pituitary gland also controls ovulation and the menstrual cycle in women. Thyroid: The thyroid pronounced: THY-royd is in the front part of the lower neck. It's shaped like a bow tie or butterfly. These hormones control the rate at which cells burn fuels from food to make energy.

The more thyroid hormone there is in the bloodstream, the faster chemical reactions happen in the body. Thyroid hormones are important because they help kids' and teens' bones grow and develop, and they also play a role in the development of the brain and nervous system.

Parathyroids: Attached to the thyroid are four tiny glands that work together called the parathyroids pronounced: par-uh-THY-roydz. They release parathyroid hormone, which controls the level of calcium in the blood with the help of calcitonin pronounced: kal-suh-TOE-nin , which the thyroid makes. The adrenal glands have two parts, each of which makes a set of hormones and has a different function:.

Pineal: The pineal pronounced: pih-NEE-ul body, also called the pineal gland, is in the middle of the brain. It secretes melatonin pronounced: meh-luh-TOE-nin , a hormone that may help regulate when you sleep at night and when you wake in the morning.

Reproductive Glands: The gonads are the main source of sex hormones. Most people don't realize it, but both guys and girls have gonads. In guys the male gonads , or testes pronounced: TES-teez , are in the scrotum. They secrete hormones called androgens pronounced: AN-druh-junz , the most important of which is testosterone pronounced: tess-TOSS-tuh-rone. These hormones tell a guy's body when it's time to make the changes associated with puberty, like penis and height growth, deepening voice, and growth in facial and pubic hair.

Working with hormones from the pituitary gland, testosterone also tells a guy's body when it's time to make sperm in the testes. The released hormone then has its effect on other organs.

This effect on the organ feeds back to the original signal to control any further hormone release. The pituitary gland is well known for its feedback loops. Numerous problems can occur in the endocrine system. These can be considered as excessive or deficient hormone production.

Endocrine organs are also prone to tumours adenomas which can over produce hormones. Some problems of the endocrine system include:. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.

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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Hormonal system endocrine. Home Hormonal system endocrine.

Hormonal endocrine system. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Exocrine glands Functions of the endocrine system How hormones work Endocrine glands and organs Problems of the endocrine system Where to get help Things to remember. Exocrine glands An exocrine gland, unlike an endocrine gland, is a gland that secretes substances electrolytes, proteins or enzymes straight to a target site via ducts or tube.

Various types of scientific studies epidemiology, mammalian toxicology, and ecological toxicology are necessary to resolve many of the scientific questions and uncertainty surrounding the endocrine disruptor issue.

Many such studies are currently underway by government agencies, industry, and academia. Learn more with EDSP about concerns and examples of endocrine disruption. Skip to main content. Endocrine Disruption. Contact Us. What is the Endocrine System? They are made up of: Glands located throughout the body; Hormones that are made by the glands and released into the bloodstream or the fluid surrounding cells; and Receptors in various organs and tissues that recognize and respond to the hormones.

Learn more about endocrine systems: Why are hormones important? Where are endocrine glands located in the human body? How can chemicals affect endocrine systems? Why are Hormones Important?