Endocrine Glands and Hormones Quiz

Endocrine Glands and Hormones

• Endocrine glands are ductless and produce hormones, chemical messengers that regulate cellular functions.
• Hormones are non-nutrient chemicals that act as intercellular messengers, produced in trace amounts.
• The human endocrine system includes organized endocrine glands (pituitary, pineal, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, parathyroid, thymus, and gonads) as well as hormone-producing tissues in other organs like the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney, and heart.

Human Endocrine System

• The endocrine system is a complex network of glands and hormones that regulate physiological functions.
• The hypothalamus, located in the basal part of the diencephalon, acts as a control center for the endocrine system, releasing hormones that regulate pituitary hormone production.
• The hypothalamus contains neurosecretory cells that produce releasing and inhibiting hormones.
• The pituitary gland, located below the hypothalamus, is often referred to as the "master gland" due to its role in controlling other endocrine glands.