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What Is the Endocrine System?

or understanding their instructions, cells and tissues may not work the right way. This can cause very serious illness—how serious depends on the hormone involved and what that hormone controls. The Endocrine System These are some of the major glands of the endocrine system, along with some of the hormones they produce: • Hypothalamus. This gland is a kind of control center for the endocrine system. It produces several hormones that direct other glands to produce hormones. It is located in the brain. • Pituitary gland. Just under the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, the pituitary gland produces growth hormone, vasopressin, and many other hormones that control the production of hormones in the thyroid, adrenal, and ovaries or testes. • Thyroid. Located in the neck, this gland produces thyroid hormone, which controls the speed of your metabolism. • Adrenal glands. These are two glands located on top of your kidneys. Their outer layer (the adrenal cortex) produces cortisol and aldosterone,

which are important to many body processes. The inner part of the adrenal glands produces adrenaline. • Pancreas. This organ has two completely different functions. Most of the pancreas isn’t part of the endocrine system at all—it produces enzymes

Educational Video Scan this code for a video about the endocrine system.

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