Human Endocrine System - 4.5.3.1

human endocrine system

a system that coordinates the body’s responses to environmental changes using hormones in the blood stream

pituitary gland

the main gland in the brain which is linked with the hypothalamus which receives signals from receptors and releases hormones when the hypothalamus detects a change

thyroid gland

in the neck and secretes thyroxine and regulates metabolism, heart rate and temperature

pancreas

produces insulin and glucagon and regulates blood sugar

what happens when blood sugar levels are high

insulin is secreted

what happens when blood sugar levels are low

glucagon is secreted

adrenal gland

above each kidney and produces adrenaline and controls the fight and flight response

ovaries

found in females only and produces oestrogen and progesterone and controls puberty and is the main hormone in the menstrual cycle

testes

found in males only and produces testosterone and controls puberty and sperm production

properties of the CNS

rapid responses, electrical impulse to neurones, response time is short, and sent to precise parts of the body

properties of the endocrine system

slow responses, hormones to blood, response time is longer lasting, and sent to large areas of the body