Explain The Structure And The Function Of The Endocrine System

Within this assignment I will be explaining the structure and the function of the endocrine system. I will be looking into glucose levels and how the role of glucagon and insulin relate to these levels. I will also compare the endocrine system to the nervous system, in relation to how nerves and hormones react to substances.

The endocrine system is responsible for reacting to changes within the body and maintaining its stability. By reacting to changes it secretes specific hormones from glands, such as, the pancreas releases insulin to manage blood sugar. The group of components which make up the endocrine system are:

Hypothalamus

Pituitary gland

Pineal gland

Thyroid gland

Parathyroid glands

Adrenal glands

Pancreas

Thymus

Ovary (women)

Testis (men)

As well as being responsible for blood sugars, the endocrine system influences other changes within the body. These changes can be, emotional behaviour, growth and sexual activity. Working alongside the nervous system, the endocrine system helps control the body. The nervous system is fast acting and targets a specific point, whereas the endocrine system is slow acting, longer lasting and widespread over the body. Even though these systems are different they do compliment each other and work

The way the endocrine system works is by secreting hormones into the bloodstream, this then allows the hormones to travel and trigger specific actions. The nervous system uses sensory receptors, nerves and the brain to monitor and control your body’s cells. The endocrine system works slowly and can take hours for the hormone to carry out the desired action, whereas the nervous system works instantly. The structure of a hormone can depend on whether the hormone likes to be surrounded by water or fat. There are three general structures for a hormone, which