Hormones | Released from | Target cells | effect | disruptions |
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) | Anterior pituitary gland | Ovaries testes | Growth of follicles Production of sperm | Too little – gonads don't make enough too much –gonads too many sex |
Luteinising Hormone (LH) | Ovaries testes | Ovulation and maintenance of corpus luteum. Secretion of testosterone | Too little – gonads don't make enough sex hormones too much – gonads secrete too many sex hormones | |
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) | Adrenal Cortex | Secretion of hormones from the adrenal cortex | too little – the adrenal glands don't make enough of their hormones too much – the adrenal glands make too much of their hormones | |
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) | Thyroid | Secretion of hormones from the thyroid | too little – thyroid gland doesn't make enough of its hormones too much – thyroid gland makes too much of its hormones | |
Prolactin | Mammary glands | Milk production | too little – decrease in milk production too much – increase in milk production | |
Growth Hormone (GH) | All cells | Growth and protein synthesis | too little – less growth/protein synthesis Too much - increase in bone college and other tissue size | |
Oxytocin | Posterior Pituitary Gland | Uterus Mammary Gland | Contractions of the uterus during childbirth. Release of milk | too little – not a lot of milk and less contractions during childbirth too much – overactive uterus, and releases too much milk |
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) | Kidneys | Reabsorption of water | Too little – unabsorbed water too much – body routines too much water | |
Cortisol | Adrenal Cortex | Most body cells | Promotes normal metabolism; helps the body deal with stress; promotes tissue repair | Too little – irregular metabolism, more stress, damaged tissues too much – causes Cushing's syndrome |
Aldoesterone (mineralcorticoid) | kidneys | Increases reabsorption of sodium ions and excretion of potassium ions | too little – low sodium levels less excretion of potassium ions too much – high blood pressure, too much sodium and two little potassium ions | |
Gonadocorticoids | Many tissues | Production of small amounts of sex hormones | too little – less sex hormones too much – too many sex hormones | |
Glucocorticoids | Most body cells | Growth and protein synthesis | ||
Adrenaline | Adrenal Medulla | Most body tissues | Prepares the body for fight/flight response. Mimics & magnifies the effect of the sympathetic nervous system. | too little – body doesn't react properly or quick enough in a stressful situation. too much – high blood pressure/anxiety, hyper aware |
Non-adrenaline | Most body tissues | Prepares the body for fight/flight response. Mimics & magnifies the effect of the sympathetic nervous system. | too little – decrease rate and force of heartbeat too much – high increase of heart rate, and forceful heartbeat | |
Glucagon | Pancreas: the islet of Langerhans alpha cells | Liver and fat storage tissues | Stimulates the breakdown of glycogen and fat Increase blood glucose levels. | Too little – decreased blood glucose levels, less breakdown of glycogen/fats. too much – increase in blood glucose levels |
Insulin | Pancreas: the islet of Langerhans beta cells | Most body cells | Stimulates uptake of glucose; lowers blood glucose levels | Too much – low blood glucose level levels too little – high blood glucose levels |
Parathyroid Hormone | Parathyroid Gland | Bones Kidneys | Increases calcium levels in the blood | too little – blood calcium levels fall too much – too much calcium in the blood, weaker bones |
Melatonin | Pineal Gland | All body cells | Sleep (biological clock) | too little – stay awake more too much – asleep more/more tired |
Thyroxine | Thyroid Gland | Most body cells | Increases metabolic rate of cells | too little – decrease in metabolic rate and oxygen consumption, decreased body heat too much – very high metabolic rate, too much oxygen and increased body heat |
Calcitonin | Bones, kidneys | Decreases calcium and phosphate levels in the blood | too little – too much calcium in the blood too much – decrease calcium phosphate levels in blood | |
Thymosin | Thymus | T-Lymphocytes | Stimulates development and maturation of T-lymphocytes | too little – increase susceptibility of infection too much – strong immunity to infection |
Testosterone | Testes | Many tissues | Stimulates sperm production and development of secondary sexual characteristics. | too little – less spam production, decrease skeleton/muscle growth/sexual development too much – low sperm count, shrinking of testes |
Progesterone | Ovaries | Uterus Mammary glands | Regulates menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Preps mammary glands for milk secretion | too little – irregular menstrual periods, glands not prepared for milk too much on a regular menstrual cycle, weight gain, mood changes |
Oestrogen | Many tissues | Regulate menstrual cycle Stimulate the development of secondary sexual characteristics. | too little – may delay puberty and slow and/or prevent sexual development too much – irregular period, weight gain |