The Human Endocrine
System
Pg. 37
,The Human Endocrine System
• The nervous and endocrine systems enable us to respond to external
changes and to control conditions inside their bodies
• The end goal is homeostasis
• Homeostasis is a state of balance among all the body systems needed
for the body to survive and function correctly
,Chemical Co-ordination
• Chemical co-ordination may be described as a slow, prolonged
process of communication information throughout the body using
chemicals called hormones
• Hormones are secreted by glands and tissue called endocrine glands
• The endocrine system works with the nervous system
• Endocrine gland
• A vascular, ductless gland that secretes hormones which are carried in the
blood stream to their target organs
• Vascular – richly supplied with blood vessels
, Chemical Co-ordination
• Hormone
• An organic chemical substance secreted by an endocrine gland and carried in
the blood stream to its target organ where it regulates metabolic reactions
• Usually a protein but can be a steroid
• Broken down by enzymes
• Target organ
• The specific cells that respond to a given hormone and have receptor sites for
that hormone
• Can be singular or scattered throughout the body
System
Pg. 37
,The Human Endocrine System
• The nervous and endocrine systems enable us to respond to external
changes and to control conditions inside their bodies
• The end goal is homeostasis
• Homeostasis is a state of balance among all the body systems needed
for the body to survive and function correctly
,Chemical Co-ordination
• Chemical co-ordination may be described as a slow, prolonged
process of communication information throughout the body using
chemicals called hormones
• Hormones are secreted by glands and tissue called endocrine glands
• The endocrine system works with the nervous system
• Endocrine gland
• A vascular, ductless gland that secretes hormones which are carried in the
blood stream to their target organs
• Vascular – richly supplied with blood vessels
, Chemical Co-ordination
• Hormone
• An organic chemical substance secreted by an endocrine gland and carried in
the blood stream to its target organ where it regulates metabolic reactions
• Usually a protein but can be a steroid
• Broken down by enzymes
• Target organ
• The specific cells that respond to a given hormone and have receptor sites for
that hormone
• Can be singular or scattered throughout the body
