There are eight major glands that help in the functioning of the endocrine system. Depending on what kind of information it receives, the endocrine glands can start and stop the secretion of hormones in to the blood stream. When the chemical or nutrient level is too high or low, the endocrine glands secrete more hormones until the balance has been restored. It takes only a very small level of hormones to trigger significant reactions in the body. They also determine how energy is stored and used in the body, as well as how the body controls fluid, salt and sugar levels in the blood. It is these hormones which determine the development of sexual characteristics in puberty. The cells are encouraged to develop and act in certain ways according to the signals that the hormone transmits to them. These hormones travel to the organs and tissues of the body where they bind to the receptor cells, which are protein molecules embedded in the membrane or cytoplasm of the cell. It works through a series of glands that release hormones into the bloodstream. It does this by regulating bodily functions such as metabolism, growth and sexual development. The endrocrine system’s primary aim is to maintain a stable and balanced internal environment, known as homeostasis. What is it, how do I remember it all and how on earth do I pronounce it? We can help… What is it?
