Endocrine System Glands and Hormones: Location and Functions

Pituitary

• Location: Head 2 lobes - anterior lobe
• Hormone: growth hormone
• Target organ: Whole body, skeleton
• Function: stimulate the growth

• Location: Head 2 lobes - anterior lobe
• Hormone: Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
• Target organ: Thyroid
• Function: stimulate production of thyroid hormones

• Location: Head 2 lobes - anterior lobe
• Hormone: Gonadotropes. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) Luteinizing hormone (LH)
• Target organ: Ovaries and testes
• Function: action ovaries and testes

• Location: Head 2 lobes - anterior lobe
• Hormone: Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
• Target organ: Adrenal glands
• Function: Stimulate the secretion of adrenal glands

• Location: Head 2 lobes - anterior lobe
• Hormone: Prolactin
• Target organ: breasts
• Function: stimulates breast growth and milk production

• Location: posterior lobe
• Hormone: Antidiuretic (ADH)
• Target organ: kidneys
• Function: Acts on kidneys. It prevents water loss by controlling the amount of water excreted in the urine

• Location: posterior lobe
• Hormones: Oxytocin
• Target organ: Uterus/breast
• Function: Uterine contraction and milk expulsion

Thyroid

• Location: Neck front of trachea. 2 lobes
• Hormone: T3 (Triodothyronine) and T4 (Thyroxine)
• Function: Increase the metabolic activity, oxygen consumption, synthesis of protein, use of glucose. Growth regulation
• Hormone: calatonin
• Function: calcium regulation development

Adrenal glands

• Location: 2 glands on the top of the kidneys cortex
• Hormone: cortisol
• Function: glucose synthesis, breakdown of fats and proteins. Produced in stress, infections or trauma situations
• Location: cortex medulla
• Hormone: adrenaline
• Function: acts over the ANS. Enables rapid response to stress (increasing heart and breathing rates, muscle strength...)

Parathyroid

• Location: four small glands at the thyroid
• Hormone: (PTH)
• Function: Increase the level of calcium in the blood by releasing it from bones

Pancreas

• Location: Flat, elongated gland behind the stomach
• Hormone: Insulin
• Function: Reduces the glucose by entering to the cells. Stored or used as energy specially in liver and muscles
• Hormone: Glucagon
• Function: increases the glycemia. By breaking the glucagon into glucose, to the blood

Ovaries

• Location: Female glands
• Hormone: Estrogens Progesterone
• Function: Stimulate the development of secondary sex characteristics. It prepares the uterus for pregnancy

Testes

• Location: Male glands
• Hormones: testosterone
• Function: Stimulates the production of sperm. Develops secondary sex characteristics