Endocrine system and glands of the human body

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The article was professionally consulted by a General Internal Medicine Doctor - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
The endocrine system is a network of glands that produce and release hormones that help control many important bodily functions and provide energy to cells and organs.

1. What is the endocrine system?

The endocrine system is a network of glands in the body that make hormones that help cells connect with each other. The endocrine system is vital to almost every cell, organ, and function in the body.
If the endocrine system is not healthy, the body may have problems developing during puberty, pregnancy or managing stress, easy weight gain, weak bones or lack of energy because there is too much sugar in the body. blood instead of moving into cells where energy is needed.
Parts of the endocrine system that produce hormones that control mood, promote growth and development, metabolism, organs and reproduction. Control the way hormones are released. Send those hormones into your bloodstream so they can travel to other body parts.

2. Glands of the endocrine system

Glands are organs that make hormones to meet the needs of different parts of the body. Glands of the endocrine system release the substances they make into your bloodstream Many glands make up the endocrine system.
The hypothalamus, pituitary and pineal glands are located in your brain. This organ connects the endocrine system to the nervous system. Its main job is to communicate with the pituitary gland to start or stop hormone production. The pituitary gland is part of the endocrine system. It uses the information it receives from the brain to tell other glands in the body what to do. The pituitary gland produces many important hormones, including growth hormone; prolactin, which helps nursing mothers make milk; and luteinizing hormone, administering estrogen in women and testosterone in men. The pineal gland produces a chemical called melatonin that helps the body get ready for sleep. The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormone, which controls metabolism. If this gland isn't enough, hypothyroidism occurs, which slows things down, slows the heart rate, causes constipation, and possibly weight gain. If hyperthyroidism occurs, which means everything is speeding up, the body will experience heart palpitations, diarrhea, weight loss The parathyroid gland is a set of four small glands behind the thyroid gland. They play a role in bone health. The glands control calcium and phosphorus levels. The thymus makes white blood cells called infection-fighting T lymphocytes and is important as a child's immune system develops. The thymus begins to shrink after puberty. The adrenal glands produce the hormone epinephrine, a corticosteroid. They affect metabolism and sexual function. The pancreas is part of both the digestive and endocrine systems. It causes digestive enzymes to break down food. It controls the proper insulin and glucagon hormones in the blood and cells. If the body does not make insulin, that is the cause of type 1 diabetes. If the pancreas normally makes some insulin but not enough for the body, it causes type 2 diabetes. The ovaries in women are where estrogen and progesterone are made. These hormones help with breast development during puberty, regulate the menstrual cycle, and support pregnancy. The testicles in men make testosterone. It aids in the growth of facial and body hair during puberty. It is also said that the penis grows larger and plays a role in making sperm.

3. Health problems related to the endocrine system

As the body ages, it is natural to develop some diseases related to the endocrine system. This happens because the body's metabolism tends to slow down, causing weight gain even without any changes in the way you eat or exercise.
Hormonal changes also partly explain why we are more susceptible to heart disease, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes as we age. Age factors, stress, infections and being around certain chemicals can also mess with parts of the endocrine system. Genetics or lifestyle habits can increase your chances of developing an endocrine disorder such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, or osteoporosis.

4. Endocrine system disorders

Enlarged limbs: Sometimes the pituitary gland makes too much growth hormone and the bones become larger. It usually affects the hands, feet, and face. It usually begins in middle age. Adrenal insufficiency: The adrenal glands make enough of certain hormones, like cortisol, to help manage stress. Cushing's disease: The body produces too much cortisol. Early signs can be weight gain, easy stretch marks, easy bruising, then muscle and bone weakness and possibly the development of a hump in the upper back - Hyperthyroidism. This is when the thyroid gland makes more hormones than the body needs. Or it can be called an overactive thyroid. It makes systems in the body work fast and you can feel anxious, lose weight, have a fast heartbeat or have trouble sleeping. Hypothyroidism is when your body doesn't make enough thyroid hormone, your system slows down and you can experience fatigue, weight gain, slow heart rate, and joint and muscle pain. Hypopituitarism means that the pituitary gland does not make certain hormones for the adrenal glands and thyroid gland to function properly. Multiple endocrine neoplasia. This is a group of disorders that affect the endocrine system. It causes tumors on at least two endocrine glands or in other organs and tissues. Polycystic ovary syndrome is an imbalance of reproductive hormones that can prevent the ovaries from making an egg or not releasing it during ovulation. This can cause acne and cause hair to grow on the face or chin. Precocious puberty is when the glands that control birth control are working properly, with some children starting puberty unusually early - around age 8 in girls and 9 years old in boys. The endocrine system plays a very important role in the human body. Therefore, as soon as the body has health problems related to the endocrine system, you need to immediately go to a medical facility for examination and early treatment. To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide, or register online HERE.

Reference source: webmd.com; mayoclinic.org