Working closely with the nervous and circulatory systems, the endocrine system is a regulatory system of ductless glands secreting chemical messengers (hormones) to coordinate many cellular activities. Each of the 30+ hormones conducts unique business in the body such as managing body temperature, sleep cycles, weight, puberty, other age-related changes, and how you handle stress. Some chemicals are created by the organ that uses them, while others are emitted into the bloodstream to serve distant functions. Most of the time we are unaware of all this business, although sometimes when we temporarily feel ‘funny’, it very well could be that our endocrine system initiated a new activity while we were sensitive enough to detect the change.

Parts Involved & Functions in Chemical Regulation

• Hypothalamus – produces six hormones
• Pituitary gland – anterior and posterior combined produce eight hormones
• Pineal gland – produces melatonin
• Thyroid gland – produces three hormones
• Parathyroid glands – produces parathyroid hormone
• Heart – produces atrial-natriurietic peptide hormone
• Stomach and intestines – combined produces four hormones and one peptide neurotransmitter
• Liver – produces two peptides and a hormone
• Islets of Langerhans – in the Pancreas, producing two hormones and a polypeptide
• Adrenal glands – produce five hormones, many of which are also neurotransmitters
• Kidneys – each produce an enzyme, a hormone and a hormone precursor
• Skin – produces a hormone precursor
• Testes – males only, each produce testosterone
• Ovarian follicles – females only, each produce estrogen and testosterone
• Corpus luteum – females only, produces progesterone
• Placenta – pregnant females only, produces three hormones

Endocrine Fun Fact

The pituitary gland is often called the master gland because it controls so much. There are 60-100,000 liver cells per cubic milliliter, and each one is a tiny chemical factory. The chakra system is directly associated to the physical body via the endocrine system and the sensory system.