Endocrine Glands

The table below gives details of specific endocrine glands, their main hormones and functions.

Gland * Hormone(s) secreted & their functions Notes

Pituitary Growth hormone: stimulates growth in animals Sometimes called master gland as
several of the hormones it produces
Gonadotrophic hormone: controls development and activate other glands. It produces
release of ova and sperms more than 10 hormones.

ADH: controls reabsorption of water from the kidney

Other pituitary hormones stimulate secretion by the

thyroid and adrenals

Thyroid Thyroxin: stimulates respiratory enzymes and therefore Thyroxin contains iodine. Lack of this
general metabolic rate can cause swelling of the gland.

The cells which produce insulin are

Pancreas Insulin: controls the uptake and use of sugar by cells called Islets of Langerhans. The rest of
throughout the body; controls the reaction the pancreas manufactures digestive
sugarglycogen in the liver enzymes which pass through the
duodenum.
Adrenals Adrenalin: this hormone is secreted at times of stress or Adrenalin increases blood flow to
danger and prepare the body to function at maximum muscles, heart rate, breathing rate
efficiency and rate of glucose production.

Testes Male sex hormones: control development and

maintenance of male secondary sex characteristics
Ovaries Female sex hormones: control development and
maintenance of female secondary sex characteristics
The testes and ovaries function both
as reproductive organs producing
gametes (sex cells) and as endocrine
glands.

*Something which produces hormones.

Differences between

NERVOUS CO-ORDINATION & ENDOCRINE CO-ORDINATION.

1. Nerve Electrical Impulses 1. Hormonal Chemical Messages
2. Rapid 2. Slow
3. Short Lasting Effect 3. Long Lasting Effect
4. Restricted Effect 4. Wide Spread Effect
5 Impulses Travel Along Neurons 5. Hormones Travel In The Blood