Endocrine system

The endocrine system includes those organs of the body which produce hormones.
It helps to regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, and plays a part also in mood.
The field of medicine that deals with disorders of endocrine glands is endocrinology.
In physiology, the endocrine system is a system of glands, each of which secretes a type of hormone directly into the bloodstream to regulate the body.
The endocrine system is in contrast to the exocrine system, which secretes its chemicals using ducts. The endocrine system is an information signal system like the nervous system, yet its effects and mechanism are different.
The endocrine system's effects are slow to start, and long-lasting in their response. The nervous system sends information quickly, and responses are generally short lived. Hormones are complex chemicals released from endocrine tissue into the bloodstream where they travel to target tissues and trigger a response.
Features of endocrine glands are, in general, they have no ducts, they have a good blood supply, and usually they have vacuoles or granules inside their cells, storing their hormones.
Endocrine glands and the hormones they secrete
Central nervous system
Hypothalamus produces
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) Parvocellular neurosecretory neurons
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) Neuroendocine cells of the Preoptic area
Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) Neuroendocrine neurons of the Arcuate nucleus
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) Parvocellular neurosecretory neurons
Vasopressin Parvocellular neurosecretory neurons
Somatostatin (SS; also GHIH, growth hormone-inhibiting hormone) Neuroendocrince cells of the Periventricular nucleus
Prolactin inhibiting hormone or PIH or Dopamine (DA) Dopamine neurons of the arcuate nucleus
Prolactin releasing hormone
Pineal body produces
Melatonin (mainly) Pinealocytes
Pituitary gland (hypophysis) produces
Anterior pituitary lobe (adenohypophysis)
Growth hormone (GH) Somatotropes
Prolactin (PRL) Lactotropes
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, corticotropin) Corticotropes
Lipotropin Corticotropes
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, thyrotropin) Thyrotropes
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) Gonadotropes
Luteinizing hormone (LH) Gonadotropes
Posterior pituitary lobe (neurohypophysis)
Oxytocin Magnocellular neurosecretory cells
Vasopressin (AVP; also ADH, antidiuretic hormone) Magnocellular neurosecretory cells
Intermediate pituitary lobe (pars intermedia)
Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) Melanotroph
Thyroid
Thyroid produces
Triiodothyronine (T3), the potent form of thyroid hormone Thyroid epithelial cell
Thyroxine (T4), also known as tetraiodothyronine: it is a less active form of thyroid hormone (mainly) Thyroid epithelial cells
Calcitonin Parafollicular cells
Parathyroid
Parathyroid hormone PTH triggers an increase in blood calcium levels.
Muscles
Striated muscle produces
Thrombopoietin Myocytes
Alimentary system
Stomach produces
Gastrin (mainly) G cells
Ghrelin P/D1 cells
Neuropeptide Y (NPY)
Secretin S cells
Somatostatin D cells
Histamine ECL cells
Endothelin X cells
Duodenum produces
Cholecystokinin I cells
Liver produces
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) (mainly) Hepatocytes
Angiotensinogen Hepatocytes
Thrombopoietin Hepatocytes
Pancreas produces
Insulin (mainly) b Islet cells
Glucagon (also mainly) a Islet cells
Somatostatin d Islet cells
Pancreatic polypeptide PP cells
Kidney
Kidney produces
Renin (Primarily) Juxtaglomerular cells
Erythropoietin (EPO) Extraglomerular mesangial cells
Calcitriol (the active form of vitamin D3)
Thrombopoietin
Adrenal glands
Adrenal glands
Adrenal cortex produces
Glucocorticoids (chiefly cortisol) Zona fasciculata and Zona reticularis cells
Mineralocorticoids (chiefly aldosterone) Zona glomerulosa cells
Androgens (including DHEA and testosterone) Zona fasciculata and Zona reticularis cells
Adrenal medulla produces
Adrenaline (epinephrine) (Primarily) Chromaffin cells
Noradrenaline (norepinephrine) Chromaffin cells
Dopamine Chromaffin cells
Enkephalin Chromaffin cells
Reproductive system
Male
Testes
Androgens (chiefly testosterone) Leydig cells
Oestradiol Sertoli cells
Inhibin Sertoli cells
Female
Oestrous cycle
Ovarian follicle/Corpus luteum
Progesterone Granulosa cells, Theca cells
Androstenedione Theca cells
Oestrogens (mainly oestradiol) Granulosa cells
Inhibin Granulosa cells
Placenta (when a woman is pregnant)
Progesterone (Primarily)
Oestrogens (mainly oestriol) (Also primarily)
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) Syncytiotrophoblast
Human placental lactogen (HPL) Syncytiotrophoblast
Inhibin Fetal trophoblasts
Uterus (when a woman is pregnant)
Prolactin (PRL) Decidual cells
Relaxin Decidual cells
Calcium regulation
Parathyroid produces
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) Parathyroid chief cell
Skin produces
Vitamin D3 (calciferol)
Miscellaneous
Heart produces
Atrial-natriuretic peptide (ANP) Cardiac myocytes
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) Cardiac myocytes
Adenosine Cardiac myocytes
Adipose tissue
Leptin (Primarily) Adipocytes
Oestrogens (mainly oestrone) Adipocytes
Bone marrow produces
Thrombopoietin
Related pages
Hormones
Nervous system
References
Other websites
Journals Designed for Clinical Endocrinologists
Islet cell antibody
Binding of antibody to pancreas
Kidshealth.org
Hormones
Glands