Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology

280

Introduction

The endocrine system exerts chemical control over the human
body by maintaining the body’s internal environment within
certain narrow ranges. See Concept Maps 12-1 and 12-2: The
endocrine system. This is known as homeostasis (hom-ee-
oh-STAY-sis). This maintenance of homeostasis, which
involves growth, maturation, reproduction, metabolism, and
human behavior, is shared by both the endocrine system and
the nervous system in a unique partnership. It is the
hypothalamus

Chapter 12

of the brain (a part of the nervous system) that sends

directions via chemical signals (neurotransmitters) to the

pituitary gland (a part of the endocrine system). The

pituitary is occasionally referred to as the master gland of

the system because many of its hormones (chemical

signals) stimulate the other endocrine glands to secrete their

hormones.

The endocrine glands are ductless glands that

secrete their hormones directly into the bloodstream. The

blood circulatory system then carries these chemi-cal

signals to target organs where their effects are seen

Endocrine System (^)
(^) has a specific performs specific (^)
(^) Structure enables Functions (^)
(^) includes (^)
Hypothal- Thyroid See Concept^
Adrenals Pineal^ Pancreas Other^ Map^
amus and and para- (^) gland organs 12 - 2
pituitary thyroids
(^) contain (^)
(^) Secretory cells (^)
(^) produce and release (^)
(^) Hormones (^)
(^) into (^)
(^) Blood (^)
(^) for delivery to (^)
(^) Target cells (^)
®^
Learni ng^
Cengage^
©^
Concept Map 12- 1 The endocrine system.