What is the function of endocrine glands?
Endocrine glands produce specialized chemicals called hormones. These regulate and integrate many activities to maintain internal stability of the body. The hormones pass directly into the blood to affect target cells elsewhere. The endocrine system includes the adrenal glands, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, pituitary gland and specialized cells in the pancreas called the Islets of Langerhans. Some cells in other tissues throughout the body also produce certain hormones. The pituitary gland at the base of the brain links to the other endocrine glands and regulates hormone production by the adrenals, thyroid and sexual organs as well as growth and the body’s day-to-day cycles of activity (diurnal rhythm). What are the adrenal glands? The adrenals are a pair of distinct endocrine glands, located close to the kidneys. Each adrenal gland has two parts. The outer part (cortex) is controlled by a hormone (adrenocorticotrophic hormone, ACTH) from the pituitary gland. The cortex produces st
