Endocrine System

Principle Endocrine Glands and their Hormones

Endocrine gland	Hormone released	Traget Tissue/Organ	Chief Functions
Hypothalamus	Hypothalamic-releasing and release-inhibiting hormones	Anterior pituitary	Regulate anterior pituitary hormones
Posterior pituitary	Antidiuretic hormone	Kidneys	Water reabsorption
Anterior pituitary	Thyroid stimulating hormone	Thyroid	Stimulates thyroid
	Adrenocorticotropic hormone	Adrenal cortex	Stimulates adrenal cortex
	Follicle stimulating hormone	Gonads	Controls egg and sperm production
	Luteinizing hormone	Gonads	Controls sex hormone production
	Prolactin	Mammary glands	Stimulates milk production
	Growth hormone	Soft tissues, bones	Stimulates mitosis
	Melanocyte-stimulating hormone	Melanocytes in skin	Regulates skin color
Thyroid	Thyroxin	All tissues	Increases metabolic rate
	Calcitonin	Bones, kidneys, intestine	Lowers blood calcium levels
Parathyroids	Parathyroid hormone	Bones, kidneys, intestine	Raises blood calcium levels
Adrenal medulla	Epinephrine and norepinephrine	Cardiac muscle	Stimulate fight or flight, raise blood glucose levels
Adrenal cortex	Glucocorticoids	All tissues	Raise blood glucose levels, breakdown proteins
	Mineralcoritcoids	Kidneys	Reabsorb Na+ and secrete K+
	Sex hormones	Sex organs, skin, muscles, glands	Stimulates development of secondary sex characteristics
Pancreas	Insulin	Liver, muscles, fat	Lowers blood glucose levels
	Glucagon	Liver, muscles, fat	Raises blood glucose levels
Testes	Androgens	Sex organs, skin, bones, muscle	Spermatogenesis, develops secondary sex characteristics
Ovaries	Estrogen and progesterone	Sex organs, skin, bones, muscle	Growth of uterine lining, develops secondary sex characteristics
Thymus	Thymosins	T lymphocytes	Maturation of T lymphocytes
Pineal gland	Melatonin	Circadian rhythms	Involved in circadian rhythms