Endocrine+System

= Endocrine System =

Functions
The Endocrine System is in charge of the body processes that happens slowly. An example of what the endocrine system is in charge of is cell growth. Although cells growth is a very important function of this system, there are many other functions the the endocrine system is in charge of. The endocrine system plays a big part in helping regulate and maintain different body functions by making and releasing different hormones. Some of the major areas that they control are the responses your body has to stress and injury, growth and development, absorption of nutrients, energy metabolism, water and electrolyte balance. The Endocrine System also helps regulate our sexual function and the reproductive process. The Endocrine system also does many other things to our body! The Endocrine system tells our body where our cells go and what direction to go in. It is pretty amazing how you don't know so many things in your body and what they do.

Major Organs
What do you think about when you think about the most important parts of your body? Your heart, your liver, your pancreas? Well, it's funny that some of the most important parts are actually part of the endocrine system. They influence every cell, organ, and function of our bodies. The foundation of the system are the hormone glands. The major glands that make up the human endocrine system are: the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, pineal body, and the reproductive glands, which include the ovaries and testes. The pancreas is also part of the system, even though it is also associated with the digestive system because it also produces and secretes digestive enzymes.

Hormones
A hormone is carried throughout the blood, from the Endocrine gland to the tissue. The pituitary gland hangs from the bottom of the brain, and is as small as a pebble. This is a very important body part because this pebble sized organ produces **hormones**. The hormone system is a system that works with our brain and nerves. This controls how we grow, when we are hungry, our body temperature, and more. Hormones are released in small and large amounts. Like at night you grow faster because more hormones are released in our blood when you are asleep. Hormone levels are influenced by stress, infections, or changes to the body. One specific type of hormone is the growth hormone. This controls the growth of the bones and body tissues and takes care of the bodys **nutrients** and **minerals**. Many people have hormones at teens ages and also when you are adults!

How it works
The endocrine system is one of the body’s main systems for communicating, controlling and coordinating the body’s work The Endocrine system tells your cells where to go. That's a good thing! Without your endocrine glands, and hormones that are released, your cells wouldn't know when to do things important like helping fight a sickness. For example, your body wouldn't know when to get bigger or go through puberty, so thats the endocrine systems' job to make sure that happens. Hormones from the endocrine organs are sent directly into the bloodstream, where special proteins usually attach to them, helping the hormones to stick together as they travel throughout the body. The proteins have another function, in that they act as a reservoir, allowing only a small fraction of the hormone in the blood stream to affect the target tissue. Specialized proteins in the target tissue, called receptors, join together with the hormones in the bloodstream, causing chemical changes in response to the body’s needs. Typically, only minute concentrations of a hormone are needed to achieve the desired effect. The endocrine system is a very important to our bodies! You might of never of know this but this system tells you were and which directions were your cells go!

How it works with other systems (at least 3 different systems)
The endocrine system mainly works with the nervous system to control growth and maturation along with homeostasis, development, and reproduction. They are related in 3 main areas: structure, chemical, and function. It also works with the excretory system because it consists of glands that get rid of harmful wastes in the body. The circulatory system is the transport system for endocrine information, so it works with the circulatory system a lot as well.

Disorders of the endocrine system

Too much or too little hormones can be very harmful to the body. If too much growth hormone is produced a child could be abnormally tall, or if it produces too little, then the child could not grow at the normal amount and be short. Unfortunately there are many things that can go wrong with your endocrine system. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes is the most common of the disorders of the endocrine system. Type 1 diabetes is when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. Some of these side effects includes thirst, hunger, urination, and possibly weight loss. It could lead to kidney problems, nerve damage, an early stroke, and the chance of being blind. Type 2 diabetes is when the body can not work with insulin normally. Children and teens with type 2 diabetes are usually overweight, and the extra fat is why the body cannot work with insulin well. The endocrine system is very delicate, many things can go wrong. An extreme disorder is if a gland stops working, but they are more likely to work more or less than they should. If you don't get enough iodine in your food, the thyroid gland can have big problems and grow to the size of a baseball, thats called a goiter. Other problems with your thyroid can increase your body's metabolism and make you jumpy and sweaty or decrease the levels and make you sluggish.