other endocrine glands (2.3-thyroid+parathyroid)

im the dark lord

pineal gland

after puberty it slowly gets smaller

it produces melatonin: stimulated by darkness, impacting sleep pattern

thymus

• located in chest, and shrinks after puberty

• secretes thymosin, which influence maturation of T lymphocytes

adrenal medulla (adrenal gland)

produces adrenaline and noradrenaline

> adrenaline prepares body for reactions to threatening situations

> noradrenaline has similar effects as adrenaline, and increases rate and force of heart beat

adrenal cortex (adrenal gland)

produces twenty different hormones, main ones:

> aldosterone → acts on kidney to reduce sodium and increase potassium in urine

> cortisol → promotes normal metabolism, helping body to withstand stress and repair of damaged tissues

pancreas (exocrine + endocrine gland)

• secrete digestive enzymes into small intestine

• made up of pancreatic islets which secret insulin (beta) and glucagon (alpha)

  • insulin → reduces glucose in blood by promoting uptake of glucose from by cells of body
    
    in liver: glucose → glycogen
    skeletal muscles: form glycogen from glucose
    fat storage: glucose → fat
    
    level of secretion of insulin by pancreas is determined by glucose in blood and is controlled through negative feedback system

  • glucagon → increases blood glucose level by promoting breakdown of glycogen to glucose in liver. Stimulates breakdown of fat in liver and fat storage in tissues.

gonad (testes + ovaries)

• androgens - develop maintenance of sex characteristic. levels in females are lower than males

• oestrogens + progesterone (female): stimulate development and maintenance of female sex characteristics, regulate menstrual cycle and are involved in changes that occur during pregnancy.

other endocrine tissues

• stomach + SI → secrete hormones that coordinate exocrine gland of digestive system

• kidneys → secrete hormone, including erythropoietin (EPD)

• heart → secretes hormone that helps reduce blood pressure

• placenta → secretes hormones during pregnancy that help maintain pregnancy, stimulating development of foetus and mothers mammary glands.