The endocrine system - An overview

A plethora of hormones regulate many of the body's functions, including gro wth and development, metabolism, electrolyte balances, and reproduction. Nu merous glands throughout the body produce hormones. The hypothalamus produc es several releasing and inhibiting hormones that act on the pituitary glan d, stimulating the release of pituitary hormones. Of the pituitary hormones , several act on other glands located in various regions of the body, where as other pituitary hormones directly affect their target organs. Other horm one-producing glands throughout the body include the adrenal glands, which primarily produce cortisol; the gonads (i.e., ovaries and testes), which pr oduce sex hormones; the thyroid which produces thyroid hormone; the parathy roid, which produces parathyroid hormone; and the pancreas, which produces insulin and glucagon. Many of these hormones are part of regulatory hormona l cascades involving a hypothalamic hormone, one or more pituitary hormones , and one or move target gland hormones.