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The Endocrine system |
Functions of the endocrine systemThe Endocrine System regulates growth, water balance, reproduction, metabolism, calcium and glucose levels, and how we respond to stress. The endocrine system manages all this using different types of hormones that are regulated by different glands located around the body.
The endocrine system is the only system in the body that isn't physically connected. Each gland of the endocrine system is spaced around the body and these glands us the cardiovascular system to communicate with each other. They do this by sending hormones through the blood stream to target cells and organs. Hormones can affect these target cells and organs in one of five ways:
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Structure of the Endocrine systemThe endocrine system consists of ten different glands that secrete different specialized hormones. The hormones interact with each other and keep each other in check. For example the two hormones produced in the pancreas regulate the amount of glucose are insulin and glucagon. Insulin is responsible for lowering blood glucose levels while glucagon is responsible for raising blood glucose levels.
The glands of your endocrine system are:
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