A structure which makes hormones in the body is called

endocrine glands.
They are also called ductless glands because they donot
have ducts to secrete their hormones.
A group of endocrine glands which produces various
hormones is called an endocrine system. It is also called
hormonal system.
Endocrine system helps in coordinating the activities of our
body.
CLASSIFICATION
• On the basis of location:
1. Cranial Endocrine glands:
Pituitary gland, Pineal gland & Hypothalamus
2. Pharyngeal Endocrine glands:
Thyroid & Parathyroid gland
3. Abdominal Endocrine glands:
Pancreas, Adrenal, Testes & Ovaries
• On the basis of number:
1. Unilateral:
Pituitary, pineal, thymus & pancreas
2. Bilateral:
Thyroid, Adrenal & PTH
• On the basis of secretion:
1. Telecrine glands:
Hormones are released by specialized endocrine cells
into the extracellular space and are thence carried by
blood to the distant target cells e.g. Thyroid, adrenal &
pituitary gland.
2. Paracrine glands:
Hormones diffuse locally through the interstitial fluid
from the secretory cells to the adjacent target cells e.g.
pancreas (In islets of Langerhans, somatostatin is
secreted from δ-cells, that reacts on adjacent α and β
cells).
The hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that contains a
number of small nuclei with a variety of functions.
One of the most important functions of the hypothalamus
is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via
the pituitary gland.
The hypothalamus is responsible for
certain metabolic processes and other activities of
the autonomic nervous system.
It synthesizes and secretes certain neurohormones, often
called releasing hormones or hypothalamic hormones, and
these in turn stimulate or inhibit thesecretion
of pituitary hormones.
The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger,
fatigue, sleep, etc.
Concerned with homeostasis.
Regulates many vital functions such as hunger, thirst,
sleep etc.
 The pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an endocrine
gland located between hypothalamus and pineal gland
just behind the bridge of nose and is about the size of a
pea and weighing 0.5 grams in humans.

It is composed of three lobes: anterior, intermediate,

and posterior.
Growth
Blood pressure
Some aspects of pregnancy and childbirth including stimulation
of uterine contractions during childbirth
Breast milk production
Sex organ functions in both males and females
Thyroid gland function
The conversion of food into energy (metabolism)
Water and osmolarity regulation in the body
Water balance via the control of reabsorption of water by
the kidneys
Temperature regulation
Pain relief
The thyroid gland or just thyroid is one of the
largest endocrine glands and consists of two
connected lobes.
Each lobe is about 5 cm long, 3 cm wide and 2 cmthick.
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ.
The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid
cartilage (which forms “Adam’s apple”).
It secretes throxine hormone also called T4
The thyroid also produces calcitonin, which plays arole
in calcium homeostasis.
The thyroid gland controls how quickly the body uses
energy, makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the
body is to other hormones.
These hormones regulate the growth and rate of function
of many other systems in the body.
Thyroid hormones act throughout the body, influencing
metabolism, growth and development, and body
temperature.
During infancy and childhood, adequate thyroid hormone
is crucial for brain development
There are four parathyroid glands, and they are each about
the size of a grain of rice.
Though they’re located near each other, the parathyroid
glands are not related to the thyroid gland.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) has a very powerful influence
on the cells of your bones by causing them to release their
calcium into the bloodstream.
Parathyroid hormone regulates the body’s calcium and
phosphate levels.
The parathyroid essentially helps the nervous and
muscular systems to function properly.
Calcium is the primary element that causes muscles to
contract, and calcium levels are very important for the
normal conduction of electrical currents along nerves.
The most common disease of parathyroid glands is
hyperparathyroidism, which is characterized by excess
PTH hormone.
The thymus is a specialized organ of the immune system.
The thymus is composed of two identical lobes and is
located anatomically in the anterior superior mediastinum,
in front of the heart and behind the sternum.
each lobe of the thymus can be divided into a
central medulla and a peripheral cortex which is
surrounded by an outer capsule.
The thymus is largest and most active during the neonatal
and pre-adolescent periods.
The thymus produces and secretes thymosin.
Helping the body protect itself against autoimmunity,
which occurs when the immune system turns against
itself.
The thymus produces progenitor cells, which
mature into T-cells (thymus-derived cells). The
body uses T-cells help destroy infected or cancerous
cells. T-cells created by the thymus also help other
organs in the immune system grow properly.
The thymus plays a vital role in the lymphatic system(your
body’s defence network) and endocrine system.
Protects the body from certain threats, including viruses
and infections.
The adrenal glands are two glands that sit on top of your
kidneys that are made up of two distinct parts- The adrenal
cortex and The adrenal medulla.
They are also known as suprarenal glands.
The adrenal glands are two, triangular-shaped organs that
measure about 1.5 inches in height and 3 inches in length.
The adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla have very
different functions. One of the main distinctions between
them is that the hormones released by the adrenal cortex
are necessary for life; those secreted by the adrenal medulla
are not.
The pancreas is unique in that it’s both an endocrine and
exocrine gland. In other words, the pancreas has the dual
function of secreting hormones into blood (endocrine) and
secreting enzymes through ducts (exocrine).
The pancreas is a 6 inch-long flattened gland that lies deep
within the abdomen, between the stomach and the spine.
It is connected to the duodenum, which is part of the small
intestine.
It secretes insulin.
The pancreas maintains the body’s blood glucose (sugar)
balance.
Primary hormones of the pancreas include insulin and
glucagon, and both regulate blood glucose.
Diabetes is the most common disorder associated with the
pancreas.
The testes (or testicles) are a pair of sperm-producing
organs that maintain the health of the male reproductive
system.
The testes are twin oval-shaped organs about the size ofa
large grape.
They are located within the scrotum, which is the loose
pouch of skin that hangs outside the body behind the
penis.
The testes secrete testosterone, which is necessary for
proper physical development in boys.
In adulthood, testosterone maintains libido, muscle
strength, and bone density.
Disorders of the testes are caused by too little testosterone
production.
The ovaries are oval shaped and about the size of alarge
grape.
They are located on opposite ends of the pelvic wall, on
either side of the uterus.
The ovaries are each attached tothe fimbria (tissue that
connects the ovaries to the fallopian tube).
Ovaries produce and release two groups of sex hormones—
progesterone and oestrogen.
The ovaries maintain the health of the female reproductive
system.
Diseases associated with the ovaries include ovarian cysts,
ovarian cancer, menstrual cycle disorders, and polycystic
ovarian syndrome.