The endocrine system is made up of glands that make hormones. Hormones are the body's chemical messengers. They carry information and instructions from one set of cells to another.
The endocrine (pronounced: EN-duh-krin) system influences almost every cell, organ, and function of our bodies.
What Does the Endocrine System Do?
Endocrine glands release hormones into the bloodstream. This lets the hormones travel to cells in other parts of the body.
The endocrine hormones help control mood, growth and development, the way our organs work, metabolism , and reproduction.
The endocrine system regulates how much of each hormone is released. This can depend on levels of hormones already in the blood, or on levels of other substances in the blood, like calcium. Many things affect hormone levels, such as stress, infection, and changes in the balance of fluid and minerals in blood.
Too much or too little of any hormone can harm the body. Medicines can treat many of these problems.
What Are the Parts of the Endocrine System?
While many parts of the body make hormones, the major glands that make up the endocrine system are the:
hypothalamus
pituitary
thyroid
parathyroids
adrenals
pineal body
the ovaries
the testes
