YOUR GUIDE TO THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM-PART 1

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Anatomy of the Endocrine System

1. Hormones and Their Functions

• Conclusion

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how your body talks with itself without using words? Well, all this communication happens with the endocrine system. It is like your body’s very own messaging squad. Think of it as you are texting someone with your device, but your body uses hormones to send messages. In this blog, I will break down the science behind the endocrine system and how it works throughout the body.

The endocrine systems are responsible for communication between different body tissues. Hormones are created in the endocrine glands and is released into the bloodstream to reach the other body tissues. The hormones move through the bloodstream to their directed tissues where they do their job helping to maintain balance within the body. A hormone can travel wherever the blood goes and will only treat the cell that have the sensor for. Some examples of bodily hormones are Estrogen, Testosterone, Thyroid Hormones, and insulin.

The endocrine system is responsible for 90% of the cell organs and functions in our body. Hormones is in contact with processes in your body such as emotions, metabolism, sleep, and blood pressure. The endocrine system consists of organs called glands and you have glands in every part of your body that keep the body functioning properly.

Anatomy of the Endocrine System

The endocrine system is made of a collection of cells and glands. Each of these glands plays an important role in regulating the body’s functions. Each gland of the endocrine system produces chemicals called hormones and each hormone has a different job. These glands are located throughout the body so they can perform their job with little effort. We will discuss each of these glands, their location, structure, and functions of each.

Main Glands:

Pituitary Gland- This is a tiny organ that is referred to as the primary gland. And it is located at the base of your skull just below the brain and without this gland you cannot survive because it produces hormones for the body most important function like growth reproduction, metabolism, and water balance. This gland is made up of two parts which are the anterior and posterior pituitary, and these parts perform different functions within the body.

• Posterior Pituitary: The posterior pituitary is like a little storage area located in the brain and it controls many things in your body. This part of the body houses two important hormones until the body have need of them.

One of those hormones are called oxytocin. And oxytocin helps when a mother is giving birth to a child by helping the mom stomach muscles contact. This hormone also assists with feeding the baby. Oxytocin give people the instinct to make other people feel happy and safe. This hormone can be referred to as the love hormone or cuddle chemical because it’s influence on a person feeling to want to show express of love.

• Anterior Pituitary: The anterior pituitary gland also makes hormones, but it can’t make these hormones alone. The hypothalamus communicates with the anterior pituitary gland to tell it to make the hormones needed and when it should no longer make these hormones. Let discuss some of the hormones this gland is responsible for creating.

1. Prolactin (PRL): The hormone helps the birthing mother produce milk and is responsible for the development of the breast.
2. Growth Hormone (GH): GH make sure your body grow tall, repair damaged parts of the body, and create new cells. Many doctors may prescribe hormones to patients to help them heal from injuries faster.

• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH): Helps your body handles stress. This hormone tells the adrenal glands to make more cortisol which helps with unwelcomed situations.

1. Thyroid stimulating Hormone (TSH): This hormone is a small gland in the neck that tells your body how fast and slowly your body works. This is the boss gland that control your metabolism.
2. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH): They help with producing eggs in females and sperm for boys. The hormones that give us the ability to show femineity or masculinity.
3. Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH): This hormone determines how light or dark your skin is by controlling the pigmentation.

So, these hormones are special for our bodies and can be seen as the engine to our bodies. Because without these hormones our body would not work as smoothly.

Thyroid Gland- The thyroid gland is in the front of the neck near the windpipe (trachea) and the voice box (larynx). It looks similar to a small butterfly. This small member of the body plays a key role in your body’s growth and energy.

The thyroid gland produces two important hormones in the body called T3 and T4. These hormones signal the body with how fast you should burn energy, how hot or cold you feel, and the rhythm of your heart beats. This gland also plays a critical role in the function of your muscles, the development of your brain and the normal growth for children.

Parathyroid Gland- There are four parathyroid glands and is located behind the thyroid glands which is the Adam Apple in your neck. The parathyroid glands controls the calcium in the body, and it allows you to have the right amount of calcium in your blood and too much or too little calcium in your blood can cause many health issues.

 Calcium is a mineral that plays crucial roles in the human body. Think of calcium like the builder and manager of your body.

1. Strong Bones and Teeth: Calcium helps make and keep your bones and teeth strong. 99% of the calcium is stored in the bones and teeth. It can be seen as the bricks that makes your skeleton sturdy.
2. Healthy Muscles: Calcium helps your muscles contract (squeeze) when your body is active. Without an adequate amount of calcium your muscles wouldn’t work properly. It’s like the gas that makes your muscles respond to movement.

• Brain Connections: Calcium helps your brain talk with your muscles and other parts of the body. It’s like a mail man carrying messages from your brain and your body.

1. Healing Helper: When you get a cut, calcium helps your blood make the scab stop the bleeding and start the healing process. It’s the superhero that helps you heal when your body gets injured or beaten up.
2. Cell Support: Inside your body, calcium helps your cells (tiny factories that works together to keep you alive and well). It is like the tiny little master that helps keep the body on point.

Calcium is like the control tower inside the body and making sure everything works the way it should. It’s an important mineral that the body requires to function properly.

Sometimes the thyroid gland can malfunction and cause problems within the body. If it is not making enough hormones, you might feel tired and gain weight easily. If it is making too many hormones you might feel nervous, rapid weight loss without intentions, and feel too hot. So, the thyroid gland may be small, but it does a big job for your body and if you suspect you may have these issues, please see a doctor.

Adrenal Gland- The adrenal glands are two triangles of fat the sit on top of your kidney about the size of a ritz cracker. Think of two small hats sitting on top of your kidneys. Those are your adrenal glands! Each adrenal gland has two parts like a layered cake. The outside is the adrenal cortex and this hormone make cortisol which helps the body deal with stress, stay awake, and fight against sickness. It makes another hormone called aldosterone which helps your body balance water and salt, and it makes DHEA which help you grow and develop.

Adrenal Medulla (Inside part) makes the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline. They help you react quickly in a scary or an exciting situation. If you ever been on a roller coaster you’ve felt your adrenal gland working the hormone adrenaline comes from adrenal glands another name for adrenaline. This helps you feel alert and ready to handle whatever situation you may encounter.

The adrenal glands hormones help your body deal with stress, stay alert, and react quickly. They’re like your body’s superheroes, always ready to jump into action when needed!

Pancreas Gland- The pancreas is a leaf shaped organ located under the liver right next to the gallbladder. The pancreas roles in the body are to support the functions of the endocrine and exocrine.

1. Endocrine Function: The endocrine controls the blood sugar in the body. When you eat your body breaks down the food into sugar called glucose which convert into energy. Insulin, one of the superheroes created by the pancreas helps your body’s cells take in glucose from your blood. It’s like a key that unlocks the door of the cell to let the glucose inside. Another hormone produced by the pancreas is glucagon and this support when the blood sugar gets to low it sends out glucagon to tell your liver to release the stored glucose which is released in your blood sugar to regulate it.
2. Exocrine Function: The exocrine makes a special hormone full of enzymes which are tiny workers that help break down the food you eat. Enzymes includes amylase which breaks down carbohydrates like bread and pasta. Lipase breaks down fats like cheese and oil and proteases bread down proteins such as meats and beans. The pancreas also makes bicarbonate, and this helps balance out the acid from your stomach to the enzymes that can work correctly in your intestines.

When your pancreas is not working well, it will cause problems such as getting diabetes which means your blood sugar level is too high and this is because your pancreas is not making enough insulin. So, it is important to keep your pancreas healthy by exercising and eating the right foods and seeing your doctor regularly.

Ovaries Gland- Ovaries are the reproductive organs of the female and they main responsibility is producing female gametes known as ex cells and ovam. This gland creates and disburse hormones known as the female sex hormone which helps to produce estrogen and progesterone. This chemical helps the body to go through growth changes for puberty. Imagine the ovaries as little workers inside body with two main jobs and that is making eggs and making hormones.

1. Producing Eggs: There are tiny pockets called follicles and each pocket has an egg inside. One of these eggs get released from the ovary every month. It’s like watching a ball of bubble gum exiting a bubble gum machine. If one of these eggs from the ovaries that travel through the fallopian tube encounters a male sperm, a baby can be made. For a woman this time of the month is called ovulation and the best time of the month for a woman to become pregnant. So, the ovaries are the egg factories inside the female body and every month they prepare eggs for the idea of procreating or if pregnancy doesn’t happen the egg eventually dissolve on its own.
2. Hormones: There are two hormones produce in the female body called estrogen and progesterone and these chemicals help the body go through developmental during puberty. These two hormones assist the body to be ready to become a mother one day. They also assist with growing breasts and getting a menstrual cycle every month.

• Estrogen: Helps girls grow taller, grow pubic hair, underarm air, and grow breasts. Estrogen plays a role in the menstrual cycle. It does this by helping the lining of the uterus change every month, preparing it in case a baby comes. So, the life stages involve estrogen is puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. Estrogen is important to the female body and helping it grow and keeping the body healthy as it gets older.
• Progesterone: Progesterone is the protector of the uterus and partners with estrogen to make sure things are balanced. Progesterone prepares the uterus lining to get thicker and prepares for a potential baby and if an egg gets fertilized the progesterone will keep the lining thick in support for the growing baby. Progesterone levels decrease at a certain age when menstruation is getting ready to stop. This is a sign of menopause about to start happening in the female body. To sum it up, progesterone takes care of hormones preparing for a baby and support the baby during pregnancy. It’s important part of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy journey.

Testes- The testes located inside the scrotum and the scrotum is a sack of skin and muscle located beneath the penis. The primary function is to secure and protect the testes. The testes produce the liquid that help makes babies called sperm. The testes also produce testosterone and testosterone produce a hormone that help men make muscles and be strong and grow hair on various parts of the body.

The three main function of the testes is to produce, transport and maintain sperm which is the male reproductive cell. The function of testosterone is to also maintain the libido, and this give an individual the desire for sex. The testes like a mini assembly line inside the male’s body. The brain signal the testes to make testosterone and the testes start producing testosterone. The testes knowns when to stop making testosterone due to communication with the brain. When the body has received enough testosterone, it will slow done the production process.

So, in simple language, the testes make testosterone which helps boys grow strong, grown hair on their bodies, produce semen and help them create babies when they are of age.

Conclusion:

The endocrine system is particularly important to understand or to at least know the basic functions of the endocrine system. Because this system regulates many other bodily functions, it’s important to make sure it healthy especially for the female reproduction system.

The endocrine system is the head of the endocrine system which send hormones to other parts of the body, the system helps you grow and develop correctly, it controls how your body uses and stores energy from food, helps handle stress and remain calm during stressful situation, and helps keep you healthy by removing your body of germs and helping the body to heal if it becomes hurt.

If you find yourself having issues with your endocrine system, you should always seek professional medical help sooner than later. Before you consider taking medication, consider a lifestyle change or natural help before turning to medication. Don’t let made chemical be your first option when considering treatment because it’s never a cure only a band aid.

 Make sure you weigh out all your options when it comes to you taking any medication. You can never assume the doctor knows your body better than you. It is up to you to take control of your health and not 100% put all your trust in your doctor. This is your life, your health and it’s your responsibility to see that you are getting the best care possible. Don’t let your health be a mystery start your journey of awareness today!