Review of the Human Endocrine System

Endocrine system is part of a human body that is composed of several organs  in coordination  required to regulate or maintain activities, such as causing our heart to beat faster when we are afraid which prepares us for quick actions necessary or maintaining proper glucose levels in our blood which requires monitoring 24 hours a day. This type of coordination is performed by the endocrine system. The endocrine system works to produce a condition called homeostasis literally standing still or stationary. In this context it is used to describe the proper balance of chemicals and other substances in the body and the harmonious functioning and coordination of all the various bodily processes and organ systems. The endocrine system helps maintain the state of balance in the body by performing a regulatory role for all the other organ systems. The endocrine system insists primarily on glands and endocrine tissue inside other organs like the pancreas that secrete hormones directly into our bloodstream. Hormones are chemical messengers that travel though our circulatory system to other parts of the body in order to control or regulate our body process such as growth, temperature control or water retention. In some cases the hormone targets a specific organ or tissue. In other cases the hormones effect is more general while some hormones stimulate other glands to release yet other hormones. Hormones work by only binding to those cells which have appropriate receptors on their cell walls. Kind of like that child’s toy in which holes and blocks have different shapes and you must match the correct block with the appropriate hole. Once the hormone binds to its target cell and delivers its message, the cell goes to work and does whatever it’s been prepared to.

The pituitary gland and the Hypothalamus

Endocrine activity is also controlled indirectly by the hypothalamus, part of the nervous system located in the diencephalon or interbrain. This is where the nervous system and the endocrine system coordinates. The hypothalamus is involved in the control of our body temperature, emotions and sexual activity among many other things. These activities are initiated by the hypothalamus based on negative feedback.  The hypothalamus accomplishes this in three ways. The hypothalamus regulates the anterior pituitary gland by stimulating or inhibiting the production of pituitary hormone. It also releases hormones directly into the circulatory system through the posterior pituitary gland. And  lastly hypothalamus controls the endocrine cells of the adrenal medulla which produce a very important hormone called adrenaline.

Other endocrine gland and tissues

In addition to the pituitary gland, the other glands of the endocrine system include
the thyroid gland, thymus gland, adrenal glands parathyroid glands, and pineal gland.

As we have seen, our bodies’ endocrine glands and tissues work behind the scenes, initiating complex chemical interactions to stimulate and coordinate a wide range of cellular and organ processes. From metabolism to reproduction and all of this goes on everyday, year after year without any conscious control as we go about our lives.

Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI2qYRWzSZ4&feature=fvwrel
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