The human endocrine system includes classical glands such as the thyroid, adrenal glands, and pancreas, as well as hormone-secreting tissues in organs like the heart, kidneys, and digestive tract. The endocrine system is a collection of glands. These glands secrete a variety of hormones, which travel to specific target organs via the bloodstream.

Understanding the Context

Hormones have specific functions such as regulating growth, metabolism, temperature and reproductive development. The endocrine system helps regulate bodily functions through hormone secretion. Learn about the organs and hormones involved, as well as how they work. This article was reviewed by Felix Gussone, MD.

Key Insights

Your endocrine system regulates many bodily functions, from metabolism to reproduction and growth, ensuring everything operates in balance. Hormones are ... Whilst the effect of the microbiome on the digestive system has been studied over the past decade, the understanding of its effect on the endocrine system is less well understood. The endocrine system ... Your endocrine system consists of the tissues (mainly glands) that create and release hormones.

Final Thoughts

Endocrine tissues include your pituitary gland, thyroid and others. The endocrine system includes not only the pancreas—the organ involved in the development of diabetes—but also the pituitary, thyroid, and other glands. The study of the endocrine system and its disorders is known as endocrinology. The thyroid secretes thyroxine, the pituitary secretes growth hormone, the pineal secretes melatonin, the testis secretes testosterone, and the ovaries secrete estrogen and progesterone. [2] Such a system may range, at its simplest, from the neurosecretory, involving one or more centres in the nervous system, to the complex array of glands found in the human endocrine system. The endocrine system also contains cells and tissues that are not exclusively classified as endocrine glands but contain cells that can secrete hormones.

Some of such cells and tissues are the hypothalamus, thymus, pancreas, skin, heart, and adipose tissues. Many glands make up the endocrine system. The hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and pineal gland are in your brain. The thyroid and parathyroid glands are in your neck.