• Report in health:Sumitted to: Christine luterteGrade 7 st martha

What Is Hypothalamus?• The hypothalamus is a section of the brain responsible for hormone production. The

hormones produced by this area of the brain govern body temperature, thirst, hunger, sleep, circadian rhythm, moods, sex drive, and the release of other hormones in the body. This area of the brain controls the pituitary gland and other glands in the body. This area of the brain is small, but involved in many necessary processes of the body including behavioral, autonomic, and endocrine functions. The hypothalamus' primary function is homeostasis, which is to maintain the body's status quo system-wide. Hypothalamic hormones include thyrotropin-releasing, gonadotropin-releasing, growth hormone-releasing, corticotrophin-releasing, somatostatin, and dopamine hormones. These hormones release into the blood through the capillaries, traveling to the pituitary gland where their effects are exerted. Oxytocin and vasopressin are also hypothalamic hormones. The hypothalamus uses a set-point to regulate the body's systems including electrolyte and fluid balance, body temperature, blood pressure, and body weight. It receives inputs from the body, then initiates compensatory changes if anything differentiates from this set-point. The set-point can migrate, but remains remarkably fixed from day-to-day.

What is the pituitary gland?• The pituitary is an important gland in the body and it is often referred to as the 'master gland', because it controls several of

the other hormone glands (e.g. adrenals, thyroid).

It is usually about the size of a pea and consists of two parts (often called lobes) - a front part, called the anterior pituitary and a back part, called the posterior pituitary.

The pituitary gland sits in a bony hollow called the pituitary fossa. This is behind the bridge of the nose and below the base of the brain, close to the optic nerves.

It is often considered the most important part of the endocrine system because it produces hormones that control many functions of other endocrine glands.

The anterior pituitary makes several important hormones - growth hormone, puberty hormones (or gonadotrophins), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH, which stimulates the thyroid gland to make Thyroxine), prolactin and Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal stress hormone, cortisol). The posterior pituitary makes the fluid balance hormone called anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).

What can go wrong with my pituitary gland?The most common problem with the pituitary gland occurs when a benign growth (often referred to as 'adenoma' or 'tumour') develops. This can cause the gland to produce excess hormone, or it can block hormone production, or it can be 'non functioning' (hormone production not affected in any way).

Other rarer causes of pituitary disorders can include, for example, traumatic brain injury and pituitary infarction (also known as pituitary apoplexy).

The endocrine systemEndocrine SystemThe endocrine system consists of various glands situated in different parts of the body (as shown above) and each gland produces different hormones which regulate the activity of other organs and tissues in the body. These hormones are released directly into the blood through the relevant gland.

What is Adrenal Glands• the adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are

endocrine glands that sit at the top of thekidneys. They are chiefly responsible for releasing hormones in response to stress through the synthesis ofcorticosteroids such as cortisol and catecholamines such as adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline. They also produce androgens in their innermost cortical layer. The adrenal glands affect kidney function through the secretion ofaldosterone, and recent data (1998) suggest that adrenocortical cells under pathological as well as under physiologicalconditions show neuroendocrine properties; within normal adrenal glands, this neuroendocrine differentiation seems to be restricted to cells of the zona glomerulosa and might be important for an autocrine regulation of adrenocortical function.[1]

What is Thyroid?• The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits low on the front of

the neck. Your thyroid lies below your Adam’s apple, along the front of the windpipe. The thyroid has two side lobes, connected by a bridge (isthmus) in the middle. When the thyroid is its normal size, you can’t feel it.

• Brownish-red in color, the thyroid is rich with blood vessels. Nerves important for voice quality also pass through the thyroid.

• The thyroid secretes several hormones, collectively called thyroid hormones. The main hormone is thyroxine, also called T4. Thyroid hormones act throughout the body, influencing metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature. During infancy and childhood, adequate thyroid hormone is crucial for brain development.

What is Pancreas?• The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen. It plays an essential role in converting the food we eat into fuel

for the body's cells. The pancreas has two main functions: an exocrine function that helps in digestion and an endocrine function that regulates blood sugar.

• Basic Anatomy: The pancreas is located behind the stomach and is surrounded by other organs including the small intestine, liver, and spleen. It is about six inches long and is shaped like a flat pear. The wide part, called the head of the pancreas, is positioned toward the center of the abdomen; the middle section is called the neck and the body of the pancreas; the thin end is called the tail and extends to the left side. Several major blood vessels surround the pancreas, the superior mesenteric artery, the superior mesenteric vein, the portal vein and the celiac axis, supplying blood to the pancreas and other abdominal organs.

• Exocrine Function: The pancreas contains exocrine glands that produceenzymes important to digestion. When food enters the stomach, these pancreatic juices are released into a system of ducts that culminate in the main pancreatic duct. The pancreatic duct joins the common bile duct to form the ampulla of Vater which is located at the first portion of the small intestine, called theduodenum. The common bile duct originates in the liver and the gallbladder and produces another important digestive juice called bile. The pancreatic juices and bile that are released into the duodenum, help the body to digest fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

• Endocrine Function: The endocrine component of the pancreas consists of islet cells that create and release important hormones directly into the bloodstream. Two of the main pancreatic hormones are insulin, which acts to lower blood sugar, and glucagon, which acts to raise blood sugar. Maintaining proper blood sugar levels is crucial to the functioning of key organs including the brain, liver, and kidneys.

What is Gonads?

• The reproductive organs (gonads) of the male are the testes and ovaries for the females. The testes hang in small outer pouch below the pelvis. During puberty it releases testosterone which leads to several physical changes. Likewise, the ovaries in female are located in each side of the womb in the pelvic region. They secrete estrogen which stimulates many physical changes young women go through at puberty.

By Robee Calero and Mina Carreon

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