Endocrine system: functions and structure

The endocrine system is made up of glands that produce and secrete hormones. The latter mediate almost any process in our body. Let’s see it in detail.

The endocrine system is like a precise orchestra conductor. Not only does it mediate our survival and adaptation, but this set of cells, glands and hormones regulate our behavior and metabolism, rest and activation, growth, stress, sexuality… A large part of our biological processes are controlled by this fascinating structure.

If we have defined the endocrine system as “precise” in the first place it is due to a simple reason.. Any small alteration in any of the organs that make it up means, without a doubt, experiencing more than one consequence.. For example, anyone who suffers from any imbalance in the thyroid, that gland so sensitive to our lifestyle, knows this well.

Endocrine disorders are undoubtedly one of the most common conditions. In addition to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, we must know that diabetes is also another type of metabolic disorder. mediated by a low production of insulin by the pancreas, which also performs endocrine tasks.

Knowing better how this broad set of organs, tissues and sophisticated hormonal mechanisms works will help us not only to know more things about our body.. We will understand in turn the importance of mediating your well-beingto take care of our lifestyle habits, our circadian rhythms and our diet.

The endocrine system refers to a set of internal secretion glands, located in different parts of the body and that produce hormones to mediate our well-being, adaptation and growth.

Endocrine system: what is it and what is its purpose?

The endocrine system is made up of glands that produce and secrete hormones.. These chemical substances mediate almost any process in our body: they provide energy to cells and organs, activate them, travel through the bloodstream to regulate our behavior, emotions, metabolism, etc.

There are those who compare the endocrine system with the nervous system. They are equally relevant, however, the latter makes use of electrical signals to communicate. The endocrine system, for its part, uses hormones, which travel through our blood acting as precise chemical messengers.

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Likewise, there is another big difference between both systems. When the brain orders the release of certain hormones, their effect takes a long time to fade. Thus, while the nervous system sends an electrical signal to a specific and precise point in our body, the hormones reach many more points, producing diverse (and not always so positive) effects.

An example of this is cortisol. When the adrenal gland releases it, its effect can last for hours or days. And its stimulating effect impacts, as we already know, in very different ways: it produces tachycardia, muscle tension, headaches, digestive problems… The endocrine system controls, as we can see, a series of processes that are as complex as they are important.

However, to understand it much better we must know how it is structured and what organs make it up.

Parts of the endocrine system

He endocrine system It is made up of many different glands that secrete hormones. Likewise, it is interesting to remember that not only our glands produce hormones, there are also organs that carry out important endocrine tasks, such as the stomach, duodenum, liver or pancreas.

However, let’s see which components are the most distinctive of our endocrine system.

hypothalamus

The hypothalamus, located just below the thalamus of the brain, It is key to mediate processes such as metabolism, body temperature, hunger, satiety, our emotions… Additionally, it secretes hormones that stimulate or suppress the release of hormones in the pituitary gland.

An example of the hormones released by the hypothalamus is somatostatin, which causes the pituitary gland to stop the release of growth hormone. On the other hand, something interesting that the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshel University has revealed to us through a study is that This structure is also what regulates our aging process.

The pituitary gland

The pituitary gland is as small as a pea, but its importance within the endocrine system is immense, so much so that it is considered almost like “the conductor of the orchestra.” To understand its functions we must first know how it is formed:

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The pituitary gland is divided into two parts: the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe. The first lobe carries out the following processes:

Produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) Regulates adrenocorticotropic hormone. Stimulates the production of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These hormones control our sexual function. Prolactin: hormone that stimulates milk production in women.

The posterior lobe, for its part, favors the production of the following hormones:

Antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin): controls water loss through the kidneys.Oxytocin, which is key during childbirth and in the production of breast milk.

Adrenal gland

The two adrenal glands are located on top of each kidney. They produce a type of hormones called corticosteroids, which, in addition to regulating the body’s metabolism, the balance of salt and water in the body, also activate our sexual function and mediate our immune response.

In addition, These glands are what activate and regulate our stress responses. They do this by producing catecholamines, such as adrenaline.

Thyroid gland

We talked about it at the beginning and its importance in our internal balance, in our metabolism and well-being.. This butterfly-shaped gland located on the trachea secretes three types of hormones: calcitonin, triiodothyronine and thyroxine.

These specialized substances regulate, as we already know, the body’s metabolism. In addition to that, favors other processes, such as the maturation of the nervous system in children, regulates a blood pressure, l at heart ratedigestion, muscle tone and reproductive functions… The thyroid gland is undoubtedly another key structure in our body.

Pineal gland

The pineal gland or epiphysis is undoubtedly one of the most interesting structures in our brain.. Located right in its center and called by spiritual currents as “the third eye”, it has an essential significance in our daily lives. It is that small gland that regulates our sleep-wake cycles, it is responsible for secreting melatonin.

In view of its great importance, it is important to take one aspect into account: the pineal gland, as Dr. Jennifer Luke reveals in a study from the University of Surrey, in the United Kingdom, is very sensitive to chemical agents. Thus, factors such as living in a highly polluted environment or eating an unhealthy diet can impact its functions or even its early calcification.

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reproductive glands

Also called gonads, They are the main generators of sex hormones. Both men and women have them and, depending on the sex of the individual, they will have certain characteristics and functions:

female gonads. In the women, the reproductive glands are the ovaries, which are responsible for manufacturing eggs and secreting female hormones: estrogen and progesterone. In this case, estrogen plays a fundamental role in the onset of puberty in girls, contributing to breast growth, widening of the hips, and increased height. Likewise, both estrogen and progesterone participate in the regulation of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.Male gonads. In men they are the testicles, which secrete hormones called androgens, testosterone being one of the most important. In this case, androgens play a fundamental role in puberty in boys, as they indicate to the child’s body that the time has come to make bodily changes, such as: penis enlargement, growth growth, worsening of the voice and growth of facial and pubic hair. Furthermore, testosterone, in conjunction with other hormones, are responsible for the production of semen.

To conclude, as we see the endocrine system is that part of our body responsible for facilitating all those key processes in our growth, maturation, adaptation to the environment and its cycles. Promoting our health, taking care of stress and leading more relaxed and natural lifestyle habits would undoubtedly allow us to optimize its functions to the maximum.