Endocrine Structures

What gland is this?

hypothalamus

What hormones does the hypothalamus produce?

oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Where is oxytocin sent to?

uterus muscles and breast tissue

What actions does oxytocin perform?

• causes contractions to start childbirth

• causes milk to flow from the breasts during nursing

Where is ADH sent to?

kidneys

What actions does ADH perform?

• triggers to reabsorb water (instead of making it into urine)

• helps to hold in urine through the night

What gland is this?

anterior pituitary gland

What hormones are produced in the anterior pituitary gland?

Prolactin, growth hormone (GH) Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and adrenocorticotropic hormone

Where is prolactin sent to?

breast tissue

What action does prolactin perform?

stimulates milk production for breastfeeding

Where is GH sent to?

the liver, which releases a second hormone that targets the bones and muscles

What action does GH perform?

Tells the bones, muscles, and other organs to grow by doing mitosis

Where is FSH sent to?

• ovaries in females

• testes in males

What actions does FSH perform?

• stimulates egg production in ovaries

• stimulates sperm production in testes

Where is LH sent to?

• ovaries in females

• testes in males

What actions does LH perform?

Ovaries

• triggers ovulation each month

• stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone

Testes

• stimulates testosterone production

Where is TSH sent to?

Thyroid gland

What action does TSH perform?

regulates when the thyroid releases its own hormones

Where is adrenocorticotropic hormone sent to?

Adrenal cortex

What action does adrenocorticotropic perform?

Triggers the adrenal cortex to produce its own hormones

What gland is this?

pineal gland

What hormone is produced in the pineal gland?

Melatonin

Where is melatonin sent to?

nervous tissue

What actions does melatonin perform?

• causes feelings of calm and sleepiness

• biological clock

What gland is this?

Thyroid gland

What hormones are produced in the thyroid gland?

Triiodo-thryonine (T3), Thyroxine (T4), Calcitonin

Where are T3 and T4 sent to?

most organs

What actions does T3 perform?

• increase metabolic rate (how quickly the body uses energy)

• high levels = fast metabolism

What action does T4 perform?

Gets converted into T3 which regulates metabolism

Where is Calcitonin sent to?

bones

What action does calcitonin perform?

triggers calcium ions to EXIT the bloodstream and ENTER the bones (so the calcium can build the bones)

What gland is this?

parathyroid gland

What hormone are produced in the parathyroid gland

parathyroid hormone

Where is parathyroid hormone sent to?

bones

What action does parathyroid perform?

triggers calcium ions to EXIT the bones and ENTER the bloodstream (so that calcium is available for other functions)

What gland is this?

thymus

What hormone is produced in the thymus?

Thymosin

Where is thymosin sent to?

T cells and immune system

What action does thymosin perform?

Triggers T cells to mature

What glands are these?

Adrenal medulla and adrenal cortex

What hormones are produced in the adrenal medulla

Epinephrine and norepinephrine

Where is epinephrine and norepinephrine sent to?

most organs

What actions do epinephrine and norepinephrine perform?

• recognizes stress and helps with the “fight or flight” response

• increases heart and lungs

• causes the bronchioles in the lungs to enlarge and the pupils to dilate

What hormones are produced in the medulla cortex?

Cortisol and Aldosterone

Where is cortisol sent to?

All tissues

What actions does cortisol perform?

• important in the production of glucose

• released in stressful situations

Where is aldosterone sent to?

kidneys

What actions does aldosterone perform?

• stimulates the kidneys to keep salt and water in the blood (rather than excreting them)

• causes blood pressure to rise

What gland is this?

ovaries

What hormones are produced in the ovaries?

Estrogen and Progesterone

Where is estrogen sent to?

Many targets in the female reproductive system

What actions does estrogen perform?

• triggers the uterine lining to build up in preparation for pregnancy

• Regulates secondary female characteristics such as breast development

Where is progesterone sent to?

Uterus

What actions does progesterone perform?

• triggers the uterine lining to build up in preparation for pregnancy

• Triggers the uterine lining to stay thick during pregnancy

What gland is this?

testes

What hormone is produced in the testes?

Testosterone

Where is testosterone sent to?

Male reproductive system

What actions does testosterone perform?

• stimulates the production of sperm

• Responsible for male secondary sex characteristics such as facial hair, muscle development, and sex drive

What gland is this?

Pancreas

What hormones are produced in the pancreas?

Insulin and glucagon

Where is insulin sent to?

Many organs

What actions does insulin perform?

• helps to regulate blood sugar, along with glucagon

• released when blood sugar is too high

• stimulates body cells to suck up sugar from the blood and store it

• causes blood sugar levels to drop

Where is glucagon sent to?

Liver cells

What actions does glucagon perform?

• helps to regulate blood sugar along with insulin

• released when blood sugar is too low

• stimulates liver cells to release sugar into the bloodstream

• caused blood sugar levels to raise