What is the role of the endocrine system in maintaining homeostasis in a human?

Question

What is the role of the endocrine system in maintaining homeostasis in a human?

Answer 1

it releases horomones

Answer 2

I have the answer here, but I would advice you to read directly from the source I have extracted it from.Note:on the website it is in PDF format.

When the body needs an immediate reaction, those messages are sent along the nervous

system

When the body needs to bring about a long term change, those messages are sent through

the endocrine system.

The Endocrine System does the following:

regulates metabolism.

maintains salt, water and nutrient balance in the blood.

controls the body’s response to stress.

regulates growth, development, and reproduction.

The Endocrine System is composed of several Endocrine Glands which are located in various

parts of the body.

An Endocrine Gland is an organ that produces and releases hormones directly into the blood.

Hormones are proteins that stimulate or inhibit cells from performing certain activities to

maintain homeostasis.

The Endocrine System is the only organ system where the organs do not touch each other.

There are 2 major types of Hormones

Protein Like Hormones

Steroid Hormones

Protein Type Hormones - are made of chains of amino acids and cannot pass through the cell

membrane.

On the surface of all cells are special proteins called Protein Receptors.

A hormone can only bond to a specific Protein Receptor.

When the hormone connects with the Protein Receptor, then the Protein Receptor sends a

message to the inside of the cell to alter the cells activity.

Steroid Hormones - are made up of lipids and can pass through the cell membrane to deliver

their message.

When a Steroid Hormone is released into the blood it will pass through the cell membrane

of its target cell and directly affect the cell’s activities.

The Major Endocrine Glands

The Pituitary Gland

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) - stimulates the production of thyroxine from the

thyroid gland.

Growth Hormone (GH) - regulates the growth of bone and cartilage in the body.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - causes the maturation of the egg cells in females.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) - causes the release of a mature egg cell.

Prolactin - stimulates the milk glands to produce milk.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) - stimulates the kidneys to absorb more water back into the

blood.

Hypothalamus - links the nervous system with the endocrine system.

Thyroid Gland

Thyroxine - regulates the rate of metabolism.

Parathyroid Gland

Parathormone - regulates the levels of calcium and phosphate metabolism.

Adrenal Gland

Adrenaline - causes the body to become very sensitive to environmental changes.

Noradrenaline - causes the body to become relaxed after times of stress.

Gonads

The Ovaries

Estrogen - promotes female secondary s*x characteristics

Progesterone - regulates the menstrual cycle, maintains pregnancy

The Testes

Testosterone - stimulates the development of the male reproductive system, stimulates the

develoment of secondary s*x characteristics in males, stimulates the growth of muscle.

Thymus

Thymosin - secreted during early childhood to promote the immune system.

Pineal

Melatonin - increases sleep, decreases sexual development

Pancreas

Insulin - removes excess glucose from the blood

Glucagon - adds glucose to the blood

Feedback Systems

Mechanisms of Control

Homeostasis maintains a dynamic equilibrium in the body.

Your body has a variety of feedback mechanisms that detect changes in he body’s internal

environment and makes corrections.

A Feedback Mechanism is a mechanism in which the last step in a series of events controls

the first step.

Homeostasis is maintained mostly through negative feedback.

In Positive Feedback, a change in the body causes even more change in the same direction.

An example of positive feedback would be when blood begins to clot after you cut yourself.

In Negative Feedback, the final step in a series of events inhibits the first step in the

series.