The endocrine system is a network of glands in your body that make the hormones that help cells talk to each other. They’re responsible for almost every cell, organ, and function in your body.If your endocrine system isn’t healthy, you might have problems developing during puberty, getting pregnant, or managing stress. You also might gain weight easily, have weak bones, or lack energy because too much sugar stays in your blood instead of moving into your cells where it’s needed for energy.
What Is a Gland?
Endocrine System Functions
Your endocrine system:
- Makes hormones that control your moods, growth and development, metabolism, organs, and reproduction
- Controls how your hormones are released
- Sends those hormones into your bloodstream so they can travel to other body parts
Parts of the Endocrine System
Many glands make up the endocrine system. The hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and pineal gland are in your brain. The thyroid and parathyroid glands are in your neck. The thymus is between your lungs, the adrenals are on top of your kidneys, and the pancreas is behind your stomach. Your ovaries (if you’re a woman) or testes (if you’re a man) are in your pelvic region.
Hypothalamus. This organ connects your endocrine system with your nervous system. Its main job is to tell your pituitary gland to start or stop making hormones. Pituitary gland. This is your endocrine system’s master gland.
It uses information it gets from your brain to tell other glands in your body what to do. It makes many important hormones, including growth hormone; prolactin,
which helps breastfeeding moms make milk; and luteinizing hormone, which manages estrogen in women and testosterone in men.
Pineal gland. It makes a chemical called melatonin that helps your body get ready to go to sleep.
