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Thursday, June 9, 2016

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
The chemical coordination of physiological processes to maintain the homeostasis is the work of the endocrine system. The endocrine system controls and coordinates the physical processes of growth, reproduction and sustenance of life.

The endocrine system consists of a number of endocrine glands and their hormones.
The endocrine glands are ductless glands (without ducts), secreting chemical substances called hormones. The hormones are carried by the blood from the site of production to the site of action.

The endocrine glands in man are distributed in the different regions of the body without interconnections. The various endocrine glands which are found in different regions of human’s body are as follows:

Head
a) pituitary gland
b) pineal gland
Neck
a) thyroid gland
b) parathyroid gland

Thorax 
thymus gland 

Abdomen
a) pancreas – Islets of Langerhans
b) adrenal glands – adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla
c) gonads – testes in man and ovaries in woman
Hormones
Chemical hormones are proteins or steroids. Though the hormones are secreted in small quantities, their performance is profound in action.

Pituitary Gland

It is a tiny gland, the size of a pea, attached to the hypothalamus of the brain. The pituitary gland regulates the endocrine glands and so it is called as the conductor of the Endocrine Orchestra.

Divisions of pituitary : 
Pituitary gland is divided into an anterior lobe called adenohypophysis and a posterior lobe called neurohypophysis.

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