Your endocrine system is a complex network comprised of integrated hormone-producing glands and organs. Its function, like that of the nervous system, is communication; the endocrine system produces and releases different types of hormones to maintain and control a number of important functions throughout the body, including growth and development, metabolism, and tissue function. A hormone imbalance (either too much or too little hormone volume) can have a drastic effect on body function.
The main purpose of the endocrine system is extracellular (outside the cell) communication; while the nervous system communicates using neurons and electricity, the endocrine system uses chemicals, called hormones, to communicate between cells and regulate body functions. Components of the endocrine system include hormone-producing glands, such as the hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid, and organs such as the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Each of the glands and organs in the endocrine system produces different types of hormones that perform different functions.
A number of different conditions can affect the way the endocrine system functions. Some of these conditions are natural: our endocrine system functions differently when we age, for example. There can be a genetic, or hereditary, component to the way an individual's endocrine system works as well. However, a number of external substances can also affect endocrine function. These substances, called environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs), consist of commercial synthetic chemicals and, although the full effect of their introduction into our environment is unknown, have been linked to birth defects, immune system disorders, neurological changes, and more.
To learn more about the workings of this complex system and its effect on the body, please visit our overview of the endocrine system.
Types of Hormones and What They Do
In order to regulate the myriad functions required for normal bodily function, the glands and organs that comprise the endocrine system create many types of hormones, each with a specific function. Included in the different types of hormones your endocrine system produces are the following:
- Vasopressin -- Created by the hypothalamus, vasopressin prompts the pituitary gland to release a hormone that helps maintain blood pressure and water and electrolyte balance.
- Growth Hormone -- Growth hormone, or GH, is one of the types of hormones produced by the pituitary gland (one of the most important glands in the endocrine system); GH stimulates growth during childhood and also stimulates cell reproduction, which helps adults maintain muscle and bone mass.
- Calcitonin -- Calcitonin, produced by the thyroid gland, aids in bone construction.
- Insulin -- Insulin regulates glucose, or sugar intake, by helping it move from the blood into cells. It is one of the types of hormones produced by the pancreas.
- Adrenaline -- Produced within the adrenal glands (small glands located at the top of each kidney), adrenaline works with noradrenaline to produce the "fight or flight" response by increasing the supply of oxygen to the brain and muscles, dilating the pupils, and suppressing bodily functions not useful in an emergency situation (such as digestion).
- Noradrenaline -- Noradrenaline works with adrenaline to help the endocrine system produce the "flight or flight" response; in an emergency situation, it boosts the oxygen supply to the brain and the supply of glucose to the muscles.
This list comprises only a few of the types of hormones produced by the endocrine system. For more detailed information about the endocrine glands and the types of hormones they produce, please refer to our endocrine system overview.
Hormone Imbalance
Each of the many types of hormones fulfills a specific function by signaling a different message to the cells, tissues, or organs involved. A hormone imbalance, a situation in which there is too much or too little of a specific hormone, can result in a number of different endocrine system disorders, some more serious than others.
- Diabetes -- Diabetes is one of the more serious results of hormone imbalance in that, if it is left undiagnosed and/or untreated, it can result in blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, and death. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas either produces too little insulin or does not effectively use the insulin it does produce. Insulin is the hormone that helps the body process sugar in the bloodstream.
- Growth Disorders -- Your pituitary gland, also referred to as the "Master Gland" of the endocrine system, produces growth hormone (GH) which, in the proper levels, stimulates and regulates growth throughout the body. A growth hormone imbalance can, in the event of too much growth hormone, cause gigantism in children and acromegaly in adults; a hormone imbalance in which the endocrine system produces too little GH can result in growth hormone deficiency (GHD), which can lead to stunted growth in children and symptoms such as decreased bone mass in adults.
- Other Disorders -- There are more than 6,000 known endocrine system disorders caused by hormone imbalance; for information about these rare, or "orphan," diseases, please visit our resources page for rare conditions.
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A dangerous and potentially fatal hormone imbalance can also be caused by hormone abuse, which has become a growing problem in the United States, especially among high school-aged youth. The use of anabolic steroids--which should only be taken under the direction of a health professional--is increasing among both male and female members of that age group. At that time of development the endocrine system is working to bring about a number of changes, both physical and mental, and young athletes may be tempted to use steroids to increase their athletic ability and body image. The long-term effects of this misuse of hormones and the resulting hormone imbalance are unknown, but could include increased aggressive behavior and mood swings, and may lead to developmental disorders.
Editor:
- Annaswamy Raji, MD, M.M.Sc
- March 2008
To learn more about endocrine function, the types of hormones and the roles they play, and the effects of hormone imbalance read Endo 101, our comprehensive overview of the endocrine system.
Additional Information About the Endocrine System:
Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance
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Pituitary Gland Tumor
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Thyroid Problems
