Endocrine glands are glands of the endocrine system that secretes their products, hormones, directly into the blood stream. The major glands of the endocrine system and their actions are given below::
Adrenal gland
This gland helps to control blood sugar and also helps your body do the following:
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is in control of pituitary hormones by releasing the following types of hormones:
Ovaries
Found in women, this gland produces both estrogen and progesterone, which promote the development of breasts. They also help a woman maintain healthy menstrual periods.
Pancreas
The main function of the pancreas is to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. It is a large gland located behind the stomach.
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body doesn’t use insulin properly (called insulin resistance).
Parathyroid
This gland is vital to proper bone development because it helps control both calcium and phosphorous levels in the body. The parathyroid gland is actually a group of four small glands located behind the thyroid gland.
Pineal gland
The pineal gland releases melatonin, which helps the body recognize when it is time to go to sleep.
Pituitary gland
This gland is often referred to as the “master gland.” It greatly influences other organs in the body, and its function is vital to the overall well-being of a person. The pituitary gland produces several hormones. In fact, the front part of it, commonly called the anterior pituitary, produces the following types of hormones:
The back part of the pituitary gland is called the posterior pituitary. It produces the following two hormones:
When the pituitary gland doesn’t operate in a healthy manner, this can lead to pituitary disorders.
Testes
Found in men, this gland produces testosterone, which promotes the growth of the penis as a male gets older as well as facial and body hair. It also deepens the voice of a male at a certain age. Other functions of testosterone include:
Thymus
This gland secretes hormones that are commonly referred to as humoral factors and are important during puberty. The role of these hormones is to make sure a person develops a healthy immune system.
Thyroid
Found in both women and men, the thyroid controls a person’s metabolism. It is located in the front of the neck.
This gland secretes hormones that govern many of the functions in your body, such as the way the body uses energy, consumes oxygen and produces heat. Thyroid disorders typically occur when this gland releases too many or too few hormones. An overactive or underactive thyroid can lead to a wide range of health problems.