In the human body there is a whole system of glands, the work of which is responsible for ensuring the normal functioning of all internal organs. In medicine, this concept is called the "endocrine system." We often hear about it, but most of us have practically no idea about the vital properties of the endocrine glands.
Endocrine cells are present throughout the body. They are regulators of hormone production. A certain part of the cells of the endocrine system is involved in the formation of the glandular apparatus. The internal secretion of the glands ensures the production and delivery of hormones directly to the cells of the organs and the circulatory system.
Types of glands
The human body is unique. Each organ performs a specific function: the stomach digests food, the lungs enrich the body with oxygen, etc. What is iron, many people can not explain. This is an organ that produces active substances that differ in their chemical composition.
In the human body, there are two systems of glands:
- The endocrine consists of endocrine glands.
- Exocrine - from the endocrine glands.
Functions
The endocrine system is a complex self-regulating mechanism. What is its feature and what functions does it perform, let's try to figure it out.
- Internal secretion regulates the functioning of organs and systems.
- The psychoemotional state depends on the endocrine system.
- Reproductive functions are directly dependent on hormonal levels.
- The endocrine glands are actively involved in various reactions, synthesizing certain substances.
- The development and growth of a person depends on the hormonal state.
- Thanks to the endocrine system, stability of vital processes is ensured, immunity is developed. A person becomes resistant to changes in the environment.
In various diseases, the functions of the glands may need to be regulated, therefore, doctors use drugs as therapy to help restore the hormonal background.
The endocrine system is quite fragile, and very often its work can be disrupted by certain factors:
- Nerve stress and stress.
- High radiation background.
- Strict diet.
- Lack of iodine in the body.
- Exposure to chemicals.
What are hormones?
What is iron, we have already figured out. Now let's try to find out the features of the product it produces. Highly active substances produced by glands are called hormones. They act on certain organs and systems of the body. But their influence is specific, since it is aimed at a certain sphere of metabolic processes.
There are three groups of hormones that differ from each other in chemical structure:
- Steroids are fat-like substances. Such hormones are produced by the adrenal cortex and genital glands.
- Peptides and proteins. These types of hormones include insulin and substances produced by the pituitary gland.
- Amino acids. This group includes adrenaline and thyroxine.
Hormones are able to affect the intensity of metabolic processes. They are responsible for the onset of puberty, tissue differentiation and growth.
The role of the pituitary gland in the endocrine system
What is the pituitary gland? What functions does it perform? Where is this organ located? In the endocrine system, one of the most vital glands is the pituitary gland. This organ is the brain appendage. It is located at the base of the brain (in its middle part). The pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus with a special leg. The mass of the gland is very small - 0.5 g.
The pituitary gland produces and synthesizes hormones such as:
- Gonadotropin affects the functioning of the gonads and stimulates the production of hormones in them.
- Corticotropin is responsible for the production of hormones by the adrenal cortex.
- Somatotropin is a growth hormone.
- Thyrotropin acts as a regulator in the thyroid gland.
- Prolactin regulates lactation and fertility in women.
- Oxytocin has a stimulating effect on the contraction of the smooth muscles of organs such as the intestines, gall bladder, uterus.
- Vasopressin reduces urine output, is responsible for vasoconstriction.
What is the endocrine gland, we figured out. Now it’s worth to find out what other organs of the endocrine system are in the human body.
Other glands
The thyroid gland is an organ whose mass is approximately 16 to 23 g. It produces hormones with iodine content: thyroxine, calcitonin, triiodothyronine. With violations in the work of the body, a myxedema disease can occur, which manifests itself in the form of swelling of the mucosa. A sick person has the following symptoms:
- worsening metabolic processes;
- lowering the temperature;
- slow heart rate;
- weight gain;
- lethargy;
- puffiness and dryness of the skin.
Such a disease occurs with a lack of iodine or with a decrease in the activity of the gland itself.
Violations of the thyroid gland in children provokes the development of a disease such as cretinism. It causes dementia and a delay in physical development.
Consider what hormones other glands of the endocrine system produce:
- The pancreas is a mixed type, as it performs an ex-secret function (secretion of the pancreas juice to break down nutrients) and an intrasecret (produces hormones such as insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, intestinal vasoactive polypeptide).
- Adrenal glands - an organ that secretes hormones from the brain and cortex of the adrenal glands: dopamine, adrenaline, aldosterone, cortisol, etc. Abnormalities in the work of the gland can provoke the development of addison's (bronze) disease.
- The thymus gland produces thymosin - a hormone responsible for growth processes and immunity. Participates in the formation of lymphocytes.
- Parathyroid glands produce parathyroid hormone, which is involved in the synthesis of phosphorus and calcium.
- The sex glands are of a mixed type. Intra secretory function - the production of sex hormones: estrogen, androgen and progesterone. External secretory function - the formation and secretion of female and male germ cells (sperm and egg).
In the article we answered the question of what iron is, examined its role in the human body.