GLAND LOCATION HORMONES RELEASED FUNCTION

Hypothalamus A part of neurosecretory cells—neurons that secrete hormones:

the brain 
Responsible
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating
located hormone for the direct
superior
and
Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) & Growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH) work to control of the
regulate the release of growth hormone—GHRH stimulates growth hormone release, GHIH inhibits its release.
anterior to
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates the release of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing
endocrine
the brain
stem and hormone system
inferior to Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulates the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone. through the
the oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone—are produced by the hypothalamus and transported to the posterior
thalamus pituitary, where they are stored and later released. pituitary
gland.
Pituitary Gland At the base
(hypophysis) of the brain

o Posterior Oxytocin triggers uterine contractions during childbirth and the release of milk during breastfeeding. Small extension of
Pituitary the hypothalamus
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) prevents water loss in the body by increasing the re-uptake of water in the kidneys and through which the
reducing blood flow to sweat glands. axons of some of
the neurosecretory
cells of the
hypothalamus
extend.
Anterior Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is a tropic hormone responsible for the stimulation of the thyroid gland.
o
Pituitary
controlled by
(true Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulates the adrenal cortex, the outer part of the adrenal gland, to produce its the releasing
glandular
part)
hormones. and inhibiting
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates the follicle cells of the gonads to produce gametes—ova in females and hormones of
sperm in males. the
Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates the gonads to produce the sex hormones—estrogens in females and testosterone in hypothalamus
males.

Human growth hormone (HGH) affects many target cells throughout the body by stimulating their growth, repair, and
reproduction.

Prolactin (PRL) has many effects on the body, chief of which is that it stimulates the mammary glands of the breast to
produce milk.
Pineal Gland found just  Melatonin helps to regulate the human sleep-wake cycle known as the circadian rhythm. The activity of the
A small pinecone- posterior to pineal gland is
shaped mass of the  Light sensitivity causes melatonin to be produced only in low light or darkness. Increased melatonin inhibited by
glandular tissue thalamus of production causes humans to feel drowsy at nighttime when the pineal gland is active. stimulation from the
the brain photoreceptors of
the retina
Thyroid Gland Below the Calcitonin. reduce the concentration of calcium ions in the blood by aiding the absorption of calcium into the matrix of bones. Regulates body
voice box The hormones
Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4) work together to regulate the body’s metabolic rate; lead to increased cellular metabolism and
activity and energy usage in the body. causes storage
of calcium in
 bones
Parathyroid In the neck  parathyroid hormone (PTH), involved in calcium ion homeostasis Controls the calcium
Glands levels in your body
and normalizes bone
growth
Adrenal Glands On top of  Adrenaline Prepares the body for
the kidneys action, controls the
heart rate and
breathing in times of
emergency
Pancreas(heteroc Between  alpha cells-GLUCAGON-( raising blood glucose levels ) triggers muscle and liver cells to break down the Regulates
rine gland) the kidneys polysaccharide glycogen to release glucose into the bloodstream
blood sugar
 beta cells- INSULIN-( lowering blood glucose levels after a meal) triggers the absorption of glucose from the levels
blood into cells, where it is added to glycogen molecules for storage

Gonads Lower  males- androgen testosterone- growth and increases in strength of the bones and muscles
ovaries in females abdomen
and testes in males  progesterone- most active during ovulation and pregnancy & estrogens- primary female sex hormones,
uterine development, breast development, and the growth of pubic hair

Thymus In front of  Thymosin Enables the body to

the heart produce certain
antibodies
Heart: The cardiac  Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in response to high blood pressure levels
muscle tissue
 reduce blood pressure by triggering vasodilation; reduces blood volume and pressure by causing water and
salt to be excreted out of the blood by the kidneys
Kidneys  Erythropoietin (EPO) stimulates an
increased production
of red blood cells
Digestive System cholecystokinin (CCK), secretin, and gastrin help to regulate the
secretion of
pancreatic juice, bile,
and gastric juice.
CCK “fullness” after
eating a meal. 
Adipose  Leptin- involved in the management of appetite and energy usage by the body

Placenta  Progesterone is produced to relax the uterus, protect the fetus from the mother’s immune system, and
prevent premature delivery of the fetus

 Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) assists progesterone by signaling the ovaries to maintain the
production of estrogen and progesterone throughout pregnancy

Local Hormones Prostaglandins cause swelling, inflammation, help block damaged regions of the body from infection or further damage

Leukotrienes help the body heal after prostaglandins have taken effect by reducing inflammation while helping white blood
cells to move into the region to clean up pathogens and damaged tissues.

The endocrine system includes all of the glands of the body and the hormones produced by those glands. The glands are controlled directly by stimulation from
the nervous system as well as by chemical receptors in the blood and hormones produced by other glands. By regulating the functions of organs in the body,
these glands help to maintain the body’s homeostasis. Cellular metabolism, reproduction, sexual development, sugar and mineral homeostasis, heart rate, and
digestion are among the many processes regulated by the actions of hormones.

Endocrine System vs. Nervous System Function

The endocrine system works alongside of the nervous system to form the control systems of the body. The nervous system provides a very fast and narrowly
targeted system to turn on specific glands and muscles throughout the body. The endocrine system, on the other hand, is much slower acting, but has very
widespread, long lasting, and powerful effects. Hormones are distributed by glands through the bloodstream to the entire body, affecting any cell with a receptor
for a particular hormone. Most hormones affect cells in several organs or throughout the entire body, leading to many diverse and powerful responses.   

Hormone Properties
Once hormones have been produced by glands, they are distributed through the body via the bloodstream. As hormones travel through the body, they pass
through cells or along the plasma membranes of cells until they encounter a receptor for that particular hormone. Hormones can only affect target cells that have
the appropriate receptors. This property of hormones is known as specificity. Hormone specificity explains how each hormone can have specific effects in
widespread parts of the body.
 Many hormones produced by the endocrine system are classified as tropic hormones. A tropic hormone is a hormone that is able to trigger the release of another
hormone in another gland. Tropic hormones provide a pathway of control for hormone production as well as a way for glands to be controlled in distant regions of
the body. Many of the hormones produced by the pituitary gland, such as TSH, ACTH, and FSH are tropic hormones
Hormonal Regulation
The levels of hormones in the body can be regulated by several factors. The nervous system can control hormone levels through the action of the hypothalamus
and its releasing and inhibiting hormones. For example, TRH produced by the hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary to produce TSH. Tropic hormones
provide another level of control for the release of hormones. For example, TSH is a tropic hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce T3 and T4.
Nutrition can also control the levels of hormones in the body. For example, the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 require 3 or 4 iodine atoms, respectively, to be
produced. In people lacking iodine in their diet, they will fail to produce sufficient levels of thyroid hormones to maintain a healthy metabolic rate. Finally, the
number of receptors present in cells can be varied by cells in response to hormones. Cells that are exposed to high levels of hormones for extended periods of
time can begin to reduce the number of receptors that they produce, leading to reduced hormonal control of the cell. 

Classes of Hormones
Hormones are classified into 2 categories depending on their chemical make-up and solubility: water-soluble and lipid-soluble hormones. Each of these classes of
hormones has specific mechanisms for their function that dictate how they affect their target cells.
 Water-soluble hormones: Water-soluble hormones include the peptide and amino-acid hormones such as insulin, epinephrine, HGH, and oxytocin. As
their name indicates, these hormones are soluble in water. Water-soluble hormones are unable to pass through the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma
membrane and are therefore dependent upon receptor molecules on the surface of cells. When a water-soluble hormone binds to a receptor molecule on the
surface of a cell, it triggers a reaction inside of the cell. This reaction may change a factor inside of the cell such as the permeability of the membrane or the
activation of another molecule. A common reaction is to cause molecules of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) to be synthesized from adenosine
triphosphate (ATP) present in the cell. cAMP acts as a second messenger within the cell where it binds to a second receptor to change the function of the cell’s
physiology.

 Lipid-soluble hormones: Lipid-soluble hormones include the steroid hormones such as testosterone, estrogens, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids.
Because they are  soluble in lipids, these hormones are able to pass directly through the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma membrane and bind directly to
receptors inside the cell nucleus. Lipid-soluble hormones are able to directly control the function of a cell from these receptors, often triggering the transcription
of particular genes in the DNA to produce "messenger RNAs (mRNAs)" that are used to make proteins that affect the cell’s growth and function.