The Human Endocrine System

The System
The human endocrine system is the system in the body which acts like a postman so delivers
messages through the whole body and it’s also linked to many interesting processes for
example your mood. The endocrine system release hormones which serve these functions.
Hormones are chemical molecules which are only detacted and created in certain organs of
the body.

How hormones are produced?

Hormones are produced in different parts of the body and
they serve for example for the sleepiness, mood,
digestion, reproduction and behavior. They are producet
according to their duties. For example the sleep hormone
called melatonin is only produced in the pineal gland. The
pancreas and the stomach provide hormones that are
essential for digesting like insulin and the so called
happiness hormone, dopamine is generated in the
hypothalamus. Hormones are transported through the
circulatory system. Also the pituitary gland, thyroid
glands, thymus, adrenal glands, testes for men and
ovaries for women create these molecules. These
chemical structures are divided into three groups: amine
hormones, peptide hormones and steroid hormones

The different types of hormones

Steroid hormones freely
diffuse accross the plasma
membrane of a cell. This type
of hormone include
testosteron which is only
provided by men and related
to sexual activity and
estrogene which is the same
for women. The peptide
hormones can’t freely cross
the plasma memrance of a
cell so they bind to receptors on the cell. They contain peptides or proteins. Growth
hormone (GH) is a kind of this hormone and oxytocin which plays a role in happiness and
painkilling is in this class too. Amine hormones have similar properties to steroid hormones
and peptide hormones. For example adrenalin belongs to this group, it’s produced in the
adrenal glands and when it activates, it increases the blood flow in muscles and the blood
sugar level.

Diseases related to the endocrine system

Endocrine system disorders can be divided into two
groups: one is which causes hormone imbalance and the
other that don’t change hormone levels (like a tumor).
Hormone imbalance may appear when one of the glands
is not working well. Problems with the glands can cause
many disorders, like diabetes, when you overproduce
growth hormone: gigantism, depression and obesity. The
common symptoms of these disorders are weakness and
fatigue. It can be balanced by a healthy diet and different
kinds of medicines.