By Kim Ann Zimmermann , Sarah Wild - Live Science
Facts and information about the endocrine system.
The endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce hormones, which are specialized proteins that regulate bodily functions. The endocrine system serves as the body's internal chemical signaling system, sending messages in the form of hormones to organs throughout the body via the circulatory system. Metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep and mood are all examples of body functions that are regulated by hormones.
The endocrine system is made up of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries and testes, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. These glands produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream for use elsewhere in the body. Although hormones circulate throughout the entire body, different types of hormones target different organs and tissues.
The endocrine system gets some help from other organs, such as the kidneys, liver and heart, which have secondary endocrine functions. For example, the main function of the kidneys is to filter the blood, but the kidneys also produce hormones that assist in the production of red blood cells, and they metabolize, or process, several other hormones for use in other parts of the body , as described in a 2018 review published in the Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal.
Endocrine system diseases or disorders occur as a result of hormone imbalance or when the body does not respond to hormones as it should. Stress, illness, infection or changes in blood composition can all influence hormone levels and in turn cause endocrine disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Here's a summary of some of the most common endocrine diseases:
Endocrinologists are medical doctors –– often gynecologists and pediatricians –– who specialize in typically one or two areas of endocrinology, such as diabetes or infertility. These specialists train to diagnose and treat specific endocrine disorders. Patients are usually referred to endocrinologists by their primary doctors.
To become an endocrinologist, a student needs to attend college as well as complete a degree in internal medicine before they specialize in endocrinology. In the U.S., this process takes about 13 years, before they are certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.